of ointment called nard, that was pure and costly; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that were not content within themselves, and said, What needed this waste of ointment? for it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given unto the poor: and they grudged against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath done a good work on me for ye have poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good; but me have ye not always. She hath done that she could; she came aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be rehearsed in remembrance of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away unto the high priests to betray him unto them. When they heard that they were glad, and promised that they would give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. And the first day of sweet bread, (when they offered passover,) his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the passover? And he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them, Go ye unto the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him. And whithersoever he goeth in, say ye unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a great parlour paved and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when it was now eventide he came with the twelve. And as they sat at board, and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you (that eateth with me) shall betray me. And they began to be sorry, and to say to him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? He answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, even he that dippeth with me in the platter. The Son of man truly goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed: good were it for that man if he had never been born. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he took it to them: and they all drank of it. And he

d upon his head 1552.

e e

e the passover 1552.

said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had said grace, they went out to mount Olivet. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen again, I will go into Galilee before you. Peter said unto him, And though all men be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me three times. But he spake more vehemently, No, if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. Likewise also said they all. And they came into a place which was named Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go aside and pray. And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and began to wax abashed, and to be in an agony, and said unto them, My soul is heavy even unto the death; tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forth a little, and fell down flat on the ground, and prayed, that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not that I will, but that thou wilt be done. And he came and found them sleeping, and saith to Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldst not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went aside and prayed, and spake the same words. And he returned and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy, neither wist they what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said unto them, Sleep henceforth, and take your ease: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, (which was one of the twelve,) and with him a great number of people with swords and staves, from the high priests, and scribes, and elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a general token, saying, Whosoever I do kiss, the same is he; itake him, and lead him away warily. And as soon as he was come he goeth straightway to him, and saith unto him, Master, master; and kissed him. And they laid their hands on g the mount Olivet 1552. h not as I will 1552. i take and lead him 1532.

him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew out a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus answered, and said unto them, Ye be come out as unto a thief, with swords and staves, for to take me. I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not but these things come to pass that the scriptures should be fulfilled. And they all forsook him, and ran away. And there followed him a certain young man, clothed in linen upon the bare; and the young men caught him: and he left his linen garment, and fled from them naked. And they led Jesus away to the highest priest of all and with him came all the high priests, and the elders, and the scribes. And Peter followed him a great way off, (even till he was come into the palace of the high priest,) and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the high priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesu to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witnesses agreed not together. And there arose certain, and brought false witness against him, saying, We heard him. say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But yet their witnesses agreed not together. And the high priest stood up among them, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? how is it that these bear witness against thee? But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am; and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said, What need we any further of witnesses? ye have heard blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death. And some began to spit at him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to say unto him, Aread: and the servants buffeted him on the face. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there came one of the wenches of the high priest; and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked on him, and said, Wast not thou also with Jesus of Nazareth? And he denied, saying, I know him not, neither wot I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a damsel (when she saw him) began again to say to them

that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And anon after, they that stood by said again unto Peter, Surely thou art one of them; for thou art of Galilee, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. And again the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me three times. And he began to weep.

¶ Tuesday before Easter.

The Epistle. Esai. 1.

THE Lord God hath opened mine ear, therefore can I not say nay, neither withdraw myself. But I offer my back unto the smiters, and my cheeks to the nippers: I turn not my face from shame and spitting; and the Lord God shall help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. I have hardened my face like a flint stone, for I am sure that I shall not come to confusion. He is at hand that justifieth me; who will then go to law with me? Let us stand one against another; if there be any that will reason with me, let him come here aforth unto me. Behold, the Lord God standeth by me; what is he then that can condemn me? Lo, they shall be all like as an old cloth: the moth shall eat them up. Therefore, whoso feareth the Lord among you, let him hear the voice of his servant: whoso walketh in darkness, and no light shineth upon him, let him put his trust in the name of the Lord, and hold him by his God. But take heed, ye all kindle a fire of the wrath of God, and stir up the coals: walk on in the glistering of your own fire, and in the coals that ye have kindled. This cometh unto you from my hand, namely, that ye shall sleep in sorrow.

The Gospel. Mark xv.

AND anon in the dawning the high priests held a council with the elders, and the scribes, and the whole congregation, and bound Jesus, and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered and said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the high priests accused him of many things. So Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they a forth to me 1552. b they shall be like 1552.

d said to him 1552.

e hold him up by 1552.

dlay unto thy charge. Jesus yet answered nothing: so that Pilate marvelled. At that feast Pilate did deliver unto them a prisoner, whomsoever they would desire. And there was one that was named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that made insurrection: he had committed murder. And the people called unto him, and began to desire him that he would do according as he had ever done unto them. Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I let loose unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the high priests had delivered him of envy. But the high priests moved the people, that he should rather deliver Barabbas unto them. Pilate answered again, and said unto them, What will ye that I then do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried again, Crucify him. Pilate said unto them, What evil hath he done? And they cried the more fervently, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing to content the people, let loose Barabbas unto them, and delivered up Jesus (when he had scourged him) for to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the common hall; and called together the whole multitude. And they clothed him with purple, and they platted a crown of thorns, and crowned him withal; and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowed their knees and worshipped him. And when they had mocked him they took the purple off him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyrene, (the father of Alexander and Rufus,) which came out of the field, to bear his cross. And they brought him to a place named Golgotha, (which, if a man finterpret it, is the place of dead men's skulls :) and they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him. And the title of his cause was written, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And they crucified with him two thieves, the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, He was counted among the wicked. And they that went by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, A wretch! thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it again in three days, save thy⚫ answered yet nothing 1552. f interpret, is

lay to thy charge 1552.

the place 1552.