An Historical Account ofJesus 43Then Herod mocked mm, with aH his court, and
caused himto be dad in white as the fools are clad, and
sent him back to Pilate, saying to him, 'Do not fail in
justice to the people of Israel!'
And this Herod wrote, because the chief priests and
scribes and the Pharisees had given him a good quan
tity of money. The governor having heard that this was
so from a servant of Herod, in order that he also might
gain sorne rnoney, feigned that he desired to set Judas
at liberty. Whereupon he caused mm to be scourged by
his slaves, who were paid by the scribes to slay hirn
under the scourges. But God, Who had decreed the is
sue, reserved Judas for the cross, in order that he might
suffer that horrible death to which he had sold another.
He did not suffer Judas to die under the scourges, not
withstanding that the soldiers scourged mm so griev
ously that ms body rained blood. Thereupon, in mock
ery they dad him in an old purple garment, saying: 'It
is fitting to our new king to clothe him and crown him.'
50 they gathered thorns and made a crown, like those
of gold and precious stones which kings wear on their
heads. And this crown of thorns they placed upon Ju
das' head, putting in ms hand a reed for sceptre, and
they made him sit in a high place. And the soldiers came
before mm, bowing down in mockery, saluting him as
King of the [ews, And they held out their hands to re
ceive gifts, such as new kings are accustomed to give;
and receiving nothing they smote Judas, saying: 'Now,
how are you crowned, foolish king, if you will not pay
your soldiers and servants?'
The chief priests with the scribes and Pharisees, see
ing that Judas died not by the scourges, and fearing lest
Pilate should set him at liberty, made a gift of money to
the governor, who having received it gave Judas to the
scribes and Pharisees as guilty unto death. Whereupon
they condemned two robbers with him to the death of
the cross.
50 they led mm to Mount Calvary, where they used
to hang malefactors, and there they crucified him na
ked, for the greater ignominy.