The Towneley Play of the Scourging

Pilate:
Peasse at my bydyng, ye wyghtys in wold!
Looke none be so hardy to speke a word bot I,
Or by mahowne most myghty, maker on mold,
With this brande that I bere ye shall bytterly aby.
Say, wote ye not that I am pylate, perles to behold,?
Most doughty in dedys of dukys of the Iury;
In bradyng of batels I am the most bold,
Therfor my name to you will I dyscry,
No mys.
I am full of sotelty,
ffalshed, gyll, and trechery;
Therfor am I namyd by clergy
As mali actoris.
ffor like as on both sydys the Iren the hamer makith playn,
So do I, that the law has here in my kepyng;
The right side to socoure, certys, I am full bayn,
If I may get therby a vantege or wynyng;
Then to the fals parte I turne me agayn,
ffor I se more Vayll will to me be risyng;
Thus euery man to drede me shalbe full fayn,
And all faynt of thare fayth to me be obeyng,

Truly.
All fals endytars,
Quest-gangars, and Iurars,
And thise out-rydars
Ar welcom to me.
Bot this prophete, that has prechyd and puplyshed so playn
Cristen law, crist thay call hym in oure cuntre;
Bot oure prynces full prowdly this nyght haue hym tayn,
ffull tytt to be dampned he shall be hurlyd byfore me;
I shall fownde to be his freynd vtward, in certayn,
And shew hym fare cowntenance and wordys of vanyte;
Bot or this day at nyght on crosse shall he be slayn,
Thus agans hym in my hart I bere great enmyte
ffull sore.
ye men that vse bak-bytyngys,
and rasars of slanderyngys,
ye ar my dere darlyngys,
And mahowns for euermore.
ffor no thyng in this warld dos me more grefe
Then for to here of crist and of his new lawes;
To trow that he is godys son my hart wold all to clefe,
Though he be neuer so trew both in dedys and in sawes
Therfor shall he suffre mekill myschefe,
And all the dyscypyls that vnto hym drawes;
ffor ouer all solace to me it is most lefe,
The shedyng of cristen bloode, and that all Iury knawes,
I say you.
My knyghtys full swythe
Thare strengthes will thay kyth,
And bryng hym be-lyfe;
lo, where thay com now!