e which he was soon to make, and to
give a good reception to the messengers who would come to announce the
doctrine of him who had just died. The evil spirits were forced in this
manner by the power of God to inform this good man of their defeat, and
announce it to the world. He had the vessels put in safety, and then an
awful storm arose: the devils cast themselves howling into the sea, and
half the city fell down. His house remained standing. Soon afterwards
he went on a great journey, and announced the death of the great Pan,
if that is the name by which our Saviour had been called. Later he came
to Rome, where much amazement was caused by what he related. His name
was something like Thamus or Thramus.

CHAPTER LVII.

Guards are placed around the Tomb of Jesus.

Late on Friday night, I saw Caiphas and some of the chief men among
the Jews holding a consultation concerning the best course to pursue
with regard to the prodigies which had taken place, and the effect they
had had upon the people. They continued their deliberations quite into
the morning, and then hurried to Pilate's house, to tell him that, as
that seducer said, while he was yet alive, 'After three days I will rise
again,' it would be right to command the sepulchre to be guarded until
the third day, as otherwise his disciples might come and steal him
away, and say to the people, 'He is risen from the dead,' and the last
error would be worse that the first. Pilate was determined to have
nothing more to do with the business, and he only answered: 'You have a
guard; go, guard it as you know.' However, he appointed Cassius to keep a
watch over all that took place, and give him an exact account of every
circumstance. I saw these men, twelve in number, leave the town before
sunrise, accompanied by some soldiers who did not wear the Roman
uniform, being attached to the Temple. They carried lanterns fastened
to the end of long poles, in order that they might be able to see every
surrounding object, in spite of the darkness of the night, and also
that they might have some light in the dark cave of the sepulchre.

No sooner had they reached the sepulchre than, having first seen
with their own eyes that the body of Jesus was really there, they
fastened one rope across the door of the tomb, and a second across the
great stone which was placed in front, sealing the whole with a seal of
half-circular shape. They then returned to the city, and the guards
sta