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.
