d said, 'I see plainly that all they allege is false.' But his accusers,
whose anger continued to increase, cried out, 'You find no cause in him?
Is it no crime to incite the people to revolt in all parts of the
kingdom?--to spread his false doctrines, not only here, but in Galilee
likewise?'

The mention of Galilee made Pilate pause: he reflected for a moment,
and then asked, 'Is this man a Galilean, and a subject of Herod's?' They made
answer, 'He is; his parents lived at Nazareth, and his present dwelling
is in Capharnaum.'

'Since that is the case,' replied Pilate, 'take him before Herod; he is
here for the festival, and can judge him at once, as he is his subject.'
Jesus was immediately led out of the tribunal, and Pilate dispatched an
officer to Herod, to inform him that Jesus of Nazareth, who was his
subject, was about to be brought to him to be judged. Pilate had two
reasons for following this line of conduct; in the first place he was
delighted to escape having to pass sentence himself, as he felt very
uncomfortable about the whole affair; and in the second place he was
glad of an opportunity of pleasing Herod, with whom he had had a
disagreement, for he knew him to be very curious to see Jesus.

The enemies of our Lord were enraged at being thus dismissed by
Pilate in the presence of the whole multitude, and gave vent to their
anger by ill-treating him even more than before. They pinioned him
afresh, and then ceased not overwhelming him with curses and blows as
they led him hurriedly through the crowd, towards the palace of Herod,
which was situated at no great distance from the forum. Some Roman
soldiers had joined the procession.

During the time of the trial Claudia Procles, the wife of Pilate,
had sent him frequent messages to intimate that she wished extremely to
speak to him; and when Jesus was sent to Herod, she placed herself on a
balcony and watched the cruel conduct of his enemies with mingled
feelings of fear, grief, and horror.

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Origin of the Way of the Cross.

During the whole of the scene which we have just described, the
Mother of Jesus, with Magdalen and John, had stood in a recess in the
forum: they were overwhelmed with the most bitter sorrow, which was but
increased by all they heard and saw. When Jesus was taken before Herod,
John led the Blessed Virgin and Magdalen over the parts which had been
sanctified by his footsteps. They again looked at the house