A SACRED RELIC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1601, 30 June 1887, Page 3

A SACRED RELIC.

A correspondent sends to Notes and Queries what he believes to be a correct translation of the sentence pronounced by Pontius Pilate on Christ. He says that this curious document was discovered in A.D., 1280, in the city of A quill, in the Kingdom of Naples, in the course of a search made for the discovery of Roman antiquities, and it remained there until it was found by the Commissaries of Art in the French army of Italy. Up to the time of the campaign in Southern Italy it was preserved in the sacristry of the Carthusians, near Naples, where it was kept in a box of ebony. Since then the relic has been kept in the Ohapelo Caserta. The Carthusians obtained, by petition, leave that the plate might be kept by them as acknowledgment of the sacrifice which they had made for the Erench army. The French translation was made literally by members of the Commission of Art. Denon had a facsimile of the plate engraved, which, on the sale of his cabinet, was bought by Lord Howard for 2890 francs: “ Sentence pronovneed by Pontius Pilate, Intendent of Lower Galilee, that Jesvs of Nazareth shall suffer death by the cross. In the seventeenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, and on the 25th March in the most holy City of Jerusalem, during the Pontificate of Annas and Caiphas. Pontius Pilate, Intendant of the province of Lower Galilee, sitting in judgment in the presidential chair of the Praetor, sentences JeSvs of Nazareth to death on a cross, between tw( robbers, as the numerous testimonials of the people prove that; (1) Jesvs is a misleader. (2) He has excited the people to sedition. (3) He is an enemy to the law. (4) He calls himself the Son of God. (5) He calls himself falsely the King of Israel. He went to the Temple followed by a multitude carrying palms in their hands. It likewise orders the first Centurion, Qutrilius Oorneilius, to bring him to the place of execution, and forbids all persons, rich or poor, to prevent the execution of Jesvs,

“ The witnesses who Have signed the execution against Jesvs aret (1) Daniel Robani, a Pharisee, (2) John Zorobabel. (3) Raphael Robani, (4) Capet. Finally the orders that the said Jesvs be taken out of Jerusalem through the gate of Tournea.”