neighbourhood of Pilate's palace, gather together the rabble, and bribe
them to make a tumult, and demand the condemnation of our Lord. They
likewise sent forth secret agents to alarm the people by threats of the
divine vengeance if they did not insist on the execution of Jesus, whom
they termed a sacrilegious blasphemer. These agents were ordered
likewise to alarm them by intimating that if Jesus were not put to
death, he would go over to the Romans, assist in the extermination of
the Jewish nation, for that it was to this he referred when he spoke of
his future kingdom. They endeavoured to spread a report in other parts
of the city, that Herod had condemned him, but still that it was
necessary for the people likewise to express their wishes, as his
partisans were to be feared; for that if he were released he would join
the Romans, make a disturbance on the festival day, and take the most
inhuman revenge. Some among them circulated contradictory and alarming
reports, in order to excite the people and cause an insurrection; while
others distributed money among the soldiers to bribe them to ill-treat
Jesus, so as to cause his death, which they were most anxious should be
brought about as quickly as possible, lest Pilate should acquit him.

Whilst the Pharisees were busying themselves in this manner, our
Blessed Saviour was suffering the greatest outrages from the brutal
soldiers to whom Herod had delivered him, that they might deride him as
a fool. They dragged him into the court, and one of their number having
procured a large white sack which had once been filled with cotton,
they made a hole in its centre with a sword, and then tossed it over
the head of Jesus, accompanying each action with bursts of the most
contemptuous laughter. Another soldier brought the remnant of an old
scarlet cloak, and passed it round his neck, while the rest bent their
knee before him--shoved him--abused him--spat upon him--struck him on the check,
because he had refused to answer their king, mocked him by pretending
to pay homage--threw mud upon him--seized him by the waist, pretending to
make him dance; then, having thrown him down, dragged him through a
gutter which ran on the side of the court, thus causing his sacred head
to strike against the columns and sides of the wall, and when at last
they raised him up, it was only in order to recommence their insults.
The soldiers and servants of Herod who were assembled in this court
amounted t