l of St. John, xii. 3-6) as follows:-- Judas,
being accustomed as bearer of the bag to take a tithe of all moneys
passing through his hands, considered that he had lost thirty pence on
the ointment that might have been sold for three hundred pence, and so
took his revenge.

A Wendish ballad makes him lose the thirty pieces of silver, intrusted
to him for buying bread, in gambling with certain Jews, who, when he had
lost everything, suggested that he should sell his Master. Afterwards,
in remorse, he rushes away to hang himself. The fir-tree is soft wood
and will not bear him. The aspen is hard wood, and will bear him; so he
hangs himself on the aspen. Since when, the aspen always trembles in
fear of the Judgement day.

JUDAS

PARAPHRASE

1.
Hit wes upon a Scere-thorsday
that ure loverd aros;
Ful milde were the wordes
he spec to Iudas.

1.
It was upon a Scere-Thursday
That our Lord arose;
Full mild were the words
He spake to Judas.

2.
'Iudas, thou most to Iurselem,
oure mete for to bugge;
Thritti platen of selver
thou bere up othi rugge.

2.
'Judas, thou must to Jerusalem,
Our meat for to buy;
Thirty plates of silver
Bear thou upon thy back.

3.
'Thou comest fer ithe brode stret,
fer ithe brode strete,
Summe of thine tunesmen
ther thou meist i-mete.'

3.
'Come thou far in the broad street,
Far in the broad street,
Some of thy townsmen
Where thou might'st meet.'

4.
Imette wid is soster,
the swikele wimon:
'Iudas, thou were wrthe
me stende the wid ston,
For the false prophete
that tou bilevest upon.'

4.
Being met with his sister,
The treacherous woman:
'Judas, thou wert worthy
One should have stoned thee with stone.
For the false prophet
That thou believest upon.'

5.
'Be stille, leve soster,
thin herte the to-breke!
Wiste min loverd Crist,
ful wel he wolde be wreke.'

5.
'Be still, dear sister,
May thine heart burst thee in twain!
Did my Lord Christ know,
Full well would he be avenged.'

6.
'Iudas, go thou on the roc,
heie up on the ston;
Lei thin heved i my barm,
slep thou the anon.'

6.
'Judas, go thou on the rock,
High up on the stone;
Lay thine head in my bosom,