Open Writing

It wor still dark when Jesus wor browt inter t' palace o' Caiaphas, t' 'Igh Priest, afooare a gurt crahd o' Jeewish big-wigs — chief preeasts, elders, Scribes an' fowk o' that sooart. Nowt wor plainer ner the' wanted ter get t' job ower an' done wi', so this preycher thru t' north could bi got rid on afooare t' Passover Sabbath.

Ah bet some on 'em wer' reight vexed at bein' called aht o' the'r wahrm beds, 'cos the' wer' nithered standin' abaht waitin'. Just ahtside, i' t' courtyard, t' guards an't' servants 'ad lit a nice fire.

The' didn't seeam ter nooatice 'at the'd been joined bi a stranger, wahrmin' 'is 'ands an' cahrin' quiet. It wor Peter, 'oo'd been follering at a distance. It's thanks ter Peter 'at wi knaw what 'appened at this so-called trial.

After a bit Caiaphas came in, an't' witnesses wer' called. Peter couldn't catch all 'at went on, but seeamin'ly t' witnesses wer' tellin' all sooarts o' different tales, an' no two on 'em agreed. But then two fellers said the'd both sweear 'at the'd 'eeard Jesus say this: 'Ah s'll pull dahn this Temple med bi 'uman 'ands — an' three days later Ah s'll build another, nut med bi 'uman 'ands.'

Well, that wor enough fer Caiaphas ter think 'e could move t' job on.

'Nah, then', 'e said ter Jesus. 'Tha's 'eeard all this evidence spokken ageean thi. What does-ta say fer thissen? Come on! Speyk up!'

But Jesus wouldn't answer 'im, choose 'ah much 'e kept on axin' 'im.

T' 'Igh Priest wor lossin' patience nah, an' gettin' in a reight 'igg. Suddenly 'e says ter Jesus:
'Sither! Let's stop mullockin' abaht, an' get dahn ter brass tacks. Just answer this one question: On thi solemn oath, art thou t' Messiah — t' Son o' the Livin' God?'

'I am that!' says Jesus in a strong, clear voice. 'An' tha'll see t' Son o' Man sittin' on t' reight-'and o' t' Almighty, ridin' on t' clahds of Eaven!'

Well, ther' wor a gurt rooar from all t' fowk i' t' court.

'Blasphemy!', the' bawled aht. 'Blasphemy!'

An' ter show 'at blasphemy 'ad been committed, Caiaphas did what t' Jeewish law said 'e should do — 'e took 'od of 'is coit an' rived it. (It wor is awn coit 'e rived, think on — nut t' coit o' Jesus, 'as Ah've seen 'em show i' some o' them theeare Bible fillums.)

'By Gum!', says Caiaphas. 'Ther's no need o' witnesses nah! Yer've all 'eeard 'im commit blasphemy. So what do yer say?'

An' the're all yellin' aht 'at Jesus mun bi put ter deeath — 'cos that's what it says in t' Jeewish law.

T' next thing at Peter knew wor 'at sodgers wer' ill-treatin' Jesus — spittin' at 'im an' brayin' 'im. Then the' put a blinndfowld on 'im an' kept clahtin' 'im.

'Wi 'eear tell tha reckons ter bi a prophet', the' jeered. 'Well prophesy 'oo's bahn ter claht thi next!'

Then one o' t' servant lasses nooaticed Peter, an't' way 'e wor lookin' at Jesus.
'Ey up!' says t' lass. "Ere's a chap 'oo looks as if 'e feels reight sorry fer 'im. Ah bet tha's one o' t' mates o' this Jesus o' Nazareth.'

'Ah dooan't knaw what tha's on abaht', says Peter. 'Ah knaw nowt abaht 'im!'

'E got up an' walked ower ter t' gate-way, an' as 'e did so 'e nooaticed 'at t' cocks 'ad started crawin'.

T' lass browt one or two o' t' lads ower ter t' gate-way an' said:
'Sither! 'E's one on 'em!'

'Ah've nowt ter do wi' t' prisoner!', shahts Peter. 'Ah sweear Ah 'aven't.'

'Come off it', said one o' t' lads. 'Tha's from t' north, from Galilee — wi can tell bi t' way tha talks.'

Well then Peter started cussin' an' sweearin' like a reight fisherman. 'What the hengments 'as that got ter do wi' it?' 'e yelled. 'Ah tell yer Ah dooan't damn well knaw 'im!'

Well, these lads went away — but Peter nooaticed 'at t' cocks wer' crawin' ageean. 'E thowt o' what Jesus 'ad said abaht 'ah 'e'd deny 'im — an' 'e brok dahn an' started rooarin' like a babby.