Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/330

 I xal asay, and this wol be To bryng Pylat in belef; Withinne a whyle, ȝe xal se, How my craft I wole go pref.

Here xal the devyl gon to Pylatys wyf, the corteyn drawyn as she lyth in bedde; and he xal no dene make; but she xal sone after that he is come in, makyn a rewly noyse, commyng and rennyng of the schaffald, and her shert and here kyrtyl in here hand, and sche xal come beforn Pylat leke a mad woman, seyng thus,

Uxor Pilaty. Pylat, I charge the that thou take hede! Deme not Jhesu, but be his frende! ȝyf thou jewge hym to be dede, Thou art dampnyd withowtyn ende! A fend aperyd me beforn, As I lay in my bed slepyng fast; Sethyn the tyme that I was born Was I nevyr so sore agast!

As wylde fyre and thondyr blast, He cam cryeng onto me; He seyd, thei that bete Jhesu or bownd hym fast, Withowtyn ende dampnyd xal be!

Therfore a wey herein thou se, And lete Jhesu from the clere pace; The Jewys thei wole begyle the, And put on the alle the trespace.

Pylat. Gramercy, myn wyf, for evyr ȝe be trewe; ȝour cowncel is good and evyr hath be! Now to ȝour chawmer ȝe do sewe, And alle xal be weyl, dame, as ȝe xal se.