<County: Essex>
<Code: L6290>
<MS reference: Oxford, Bodleian Library, Add. C. 280>
<Text: Long Charter of Christ>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 124ra>jhesu kyng of heuene & helle
man & woman j 3ow telle
What loue j haue do for ye
loke what yu hauyst do for me
from ioye yey me vt pelte
wyth tresoun & wyth-vtyn gelte
Pore & naked yey dr~fyn me away
as a best yt gayt in stray
Fro my ryche y ca@ a-doun
To sekyn ye fro tou@ to tou@
Myn heritage yt is so fre
jn yi meschef to 3euyn it ye
Wan [yt] j yis 3yfte 3eue schuld
j dede ryth os ye laue wold
Til a meydyn~ j hordayn me
For yer schuld no chaleynge be
Ful worthely 3e kepte both ye & me
Till yt j my tym wold se
xl wockys & xl dawys
For to full-fyllyn ye rythe lawys
ye maydyn was trwe myld & fre
Sche resceuyd both ye & me
yore yi~ manhot & my grace
yus cam yis sesyn fyrst in~ place
or yan yis sesyn was fully do
Full grete enuye had yan my foo
Belsebuk & satanas
yay had grete wondyr what yt it was
harde yay thrette@ me in~ her thoght
yt yis sesyn schul der by boght
He sent his seruantes wyth enuye
wyth sorow & wo me for to destrye
Wel 3e fundyn hym geyned noght
an hoyer thyng was in~ my thoght
wel mor sykyr ye to make
agayns yi~ fo full of wrake
heuene & herth in~ present
To make a charter of feoffament
jn swyche a maner be . how it to be
yt j most 3euyn my lyf for ye
<fol. 124rb>For yu art dede & j am lyf
j most deyn to 3euyn lyf
harde gatys he hauyt gou@
jn hungur & thryst & many wou@
xxx wynter & mo yan two
or yan yis charter wer fully do
Cowde ye fyndyn@ no parchemyn
yt wold lastyn wyth-vtyn fyn~
But as gret loue bad me do
myn houene skyne j toke yer-to
vp on a thursday . a . soper~ j . made
frend & fo to makyn all glade
Wyth metys & drynkys sowle fode
with holy word my flesch . & my blode
all yis j dyde for mankynd
my loue dedys to haue@ in mynd
To scheue 3ow all my loue dede
my . self . will j yis charter rede
3e man & woman . yt goyt be ye way
abidis & loke vp with 3owr ey
Redyn . vpon .yis parchemyn~
3yf any . sorow likith to myn~
with-stondyt & hereyt yis charter rede
how j am for-wondid & all for-blede
y wetyd 3e yt beth & schul be tydyn
yt j ihesu crist wyth blody sydyn
yt was born~ in~ bedlem
& offerid vp in~ to ierusalem
ye kyngys son@ he ye a-boue
with my faderys wil & loue
j made a sesyn wan j was born@
To ye mankynd yt was forlorn@
with my charter her in~ present
j made to ye a confyrment
yt j graunte & j 3eue
To ye mankynd wyth me to+leue
jn my regne of heuene blys
To hauyn~ & holdyn@ with-vtyn mys
jn a condicon@ yt yu be kynd
my loue dedys yt yu haue in~ mynde
<fol. 124va>For to hauyn & . for . to holdy@
wyth all pertinance for to woldy@
myn heritage yt is so . fre
for . homage . ne . for feute
But . no . more wil j askyn of ye
But a iiij leued gras yt yu grante me
yt on it is sothfastly schryfte
yt other it is senne haue sorow
ye iij it is yt i nyl no mor do so
ye iiij it is dred god & loue hym euer mo
when yes iiij leues to gedir~ ben schete
a trwloue yan man clepyt hyt
yer-for pay yi~ rent be nawht be-hyndyn~
for prow ye 3er yu myth grace fyndyn@
yan mayst yu wel se@ in~ my wonde
yt yar may trwloue be@ j-funde
yoth yu fall & gretly mys-take
my loue dedys sall j neuer forsake
3yf yu ye amend & mercy craue
yin heritage sall yu haue
yes selys yt yis charter wer~ selyd witht
yai werym~ wroght vp on a styf
of gold ne of siluer wer yai~ nath
But of stel & heryn yai~ wroght
wyth sper~ of stel j was stongyn~
yrow myn hert lyuer & longyn@
heryn~ neyles yer leden me
Thorgh fot & handys yer till a tre
ye selyng wex was der~ a-bowth
yrow my hert rot it sowth
yt was tempered all wyth wermylion~
yat was myn hert blod yt ran [a]don~
v sely wer set yer vp-on@
of fadyr & son@ god & man~
ye v is to be-leue most
yt he cam of yt holy gost
jn pleyn power for to makyn@
a corone of myn hed j takyn@
Of thornis i~ tokynyng yt j kyng
& frely may 3eue ye my thynges
yis wytnessit ye ieuys all
<fol. 124vb>vp-on her knys yay can don~ fall
Ful loude ye criden~ in~ her scornyng~
heil be yu lorde & ieuis kyng~
Be-twen two men . yis dede was selyd
Boye wer sek yt on was heylyd
Be-twen two ieuys he ye pyth
jn tokenyng yt j am man of myth
norw & west on he ye helle
yt j may demyn boye goode & ylle
a prost j was & sor swynkyn@
yis benerache most nedys be dronkyn@
a loue drynk j asked of ye
heysell & galle yu 3eue yt me
yis wytnessyt mathi & jon@
luk & mark & many on@
Namelech my modyr suete
for sche left neuer terys to lete
Or yis charter wrytyn~ was
ful oftyn sche seyd allas allas
so bar yt was of wordys goode
wan yt j schuld deyn vp-on ye rode
yt j ne hade werof to takyn
My testament for to makyn~
But of my leue modyr der~
Sche stod be me wyth sory cher~
Wan yt j my cosyn her~ be-tok
Sche cast vp-on me many rewful look
jn knouelachyng y mad a cry
pater lamabazatany
Be-hold man wyth hert & eye
For yi <gap> how j schall deye
yis charter is don@
Man yu hast ouer-comyn yin~ foyn~
To helle j went yis charter to scheuy~
be-for yi~ fon@ satan ye schreue
yt he was cast & broght to grund
wyth neylys bore & sperys wond
a+scryth of a couenaunt mad yer was
Be-twexyn me & satanas
able myn to hauyn a-way
yt he me be-reft wyth fals pray
<fol. 125ra>a-3an y come & made a fest
a monges all men most & lest
A party .yo men gunyn knoue me
yt j was man of grete powste
ye fest last xl dawys
To don@ men knawyn my ryth lawys
ye fyrst it is of ioye & blys
yt hesterne day clepyd is .
hou endenture y lefte with ye
yt ouer al yu schuldys syker be
jn prestys hand my flesche & eke my blode
yt for ye deyde vp-on yt rod
on bycaye i tok ye also
ye rode yt i was vp-on y-do
To beryn~ wyth ye wer yt yu go
yanne darst yu darst yu nere dreydyn yi fo
For to my fadir j most go
all is wyl j aue do .
On haly rostday j vndyr~ stond
y went vp on my fadyrs reth hond
To deme ye qwyk & eke ye deyd
al myn to schyldyn fro ye qued
a wit-sonday werement
a don j sent wyth goode talent
Wit & wysdame to all mankynde
all men to schelden@ fro ye fende
a cote armowr j . bar wt me
for yt j tok of yin lyuere
ye cloth was ryche god & fyn~
ye chomp it was oft whyt camelyn~
wel fair~ mayden to me it wroght
vt of her~ bour~ he me it broght
jt was pouderyde wt v rose rede
yt wer~ ye wondys yt j for man sufferyd ded
wen j come hest a-3ayn to ye
yer-by mayst yu wel knoue me
all yo yt be of rente be-hyndyn
& my loue dedys haue noght in mynde
<fol. 125rb>Ful sor mon yay ben adrad
wen yis charter schall be red
all yey schull til helle peyne
wyth me to blis schull gon@ all myne
yerfor pay yi~ rent be nath be-hynde
yrow ye 3er yu myth grace fynde
Pay yi dettys & kep ye fro gylte
& come & chalange wen yt yu wylte
yt blesse yt lese vr form frend
Cryst it vs grante with-vtyn ende
yt is to seyn ye blysse of heuyn
amen for is <ill>names<?></ill> seuyn
<lat>explicit carta domini nostri ihesu cristi@</lat>
Alle 3e mowyn be blyth & glade
yis is ye day yt god made
tille we mowyn be blyth & glade
jn blysse for to bydyn
For god restyd as clerkys rede
y-set be-twen 3owr~ sydyn~
ye hauyn etyn a flesch yt may noght fade
no from 3owr~ gostis glydyn~
yis is ye day yt god made
yis flesch in man til hydyn~
jhesuc on don~ a deyde
crewly he was rent vp on~ a rod tre
Fyrst he made hys mande
hys body in~ bred blyssyd yu be
we hauyn~ take yt in~ good tyde
jhesuc brak bred & schar~ no schewe
ye red wyn~ in pece ran~
My flesch my blode j 3ow 3eue
To hys disciplys yan~
Etyt & drynkyt 3e schul leuyn~
3owr sowl is sauyd fro satan~
ye yerk deuyl a don~ is dryuyn~
yrow ye craft yis mete can
yus yis fest vr wel wan~
jn masse ys blode be reson~
jn hosyl is no dyuysyon~
jn blyssyd bred in pardon~
we hauyn taken verrey god & man~
<fol. 125va>y ryth good gost may be ful glade
To se what seynt mathu wyl seyn~
ye bred of lyf fro heuene be spad
yn-tyll a maydyn he toke ye wey
yn a cake ye kyng ys clad
chastly closyd wyth kynges keye
Ete blyssyd bred of godys bord
Yan schall yu leuyn & neuer more dye
lappyd in~ lofys beye
Ete blyssyd bred of godys bord
& be trust & true in godys word
yan schall yu be froyt of heuene hord
wyth yi prynce to pleye
God made man & lord of lyf
Man drew hym self to lyuyn~ in dred
yrow ye wordys of hys wyf
& quente ys of ye quelly qued
an angel-ys dent adam gan dryf
ye blyssful blisse yt hym for-bed
Till godys son~ y-starfe wyth stryf
Fyrst he made hys body in forme of bred
y-rent he was ful red
wyth spyth he was spattelyd & spurnyd
& yn red blode hys body was borlyd
hys deth hur deth hauyt turnyd
from ye dale of dred
as j answerd & seyd yus
& spake in godys name
yt my deth schall sclen deth y-wys
deth of helle schame
my deth sall drauyn man to blys
from ye deth of blame
deth yu sclowe man a-mys
ye deth schall lygyn ful lame
mary ye swete dame
Of yi child spekyt ye profecye
he schall be mossel of mercye
to cheken helle hungrye
yt gnowe gostys is wyth grame


<Tranche 2>

<fol. 126rb>ye bred hauyt now no per~
yt is contynance of kneden~ florwr
godys body is in bowr
wyth herbys & spycys of pamowr~
jn cryst is closyd yer~
yt holy leche ye sek hawyt fete
& leyd plastyrs to many sor
feferows drynkys hym forbete
& gotows metys myne & mor
3yf sekmen tak yt yt he forbet
ys stat restoryt of no sor
ye same sese no god hauyt set
hys senne . grow & gostlych gor
God restyd naw yor
fra@ hym passyt ye gostlyche fode
he may wonyn no fennys hode
For senne sentete to neuel flode
ouer holeys heye & hor
Man fle folye & ful fondyng~
agayn glotonye fra@ yis gost
Take louesse & loue lykyng~
& put vt pryd & wrayis bost
For godys loue 3eue of yi ying
for charite & mercy most
Man be chast os chyld so yhyng~
fro slowye yu kneuele in chergys gost
Be-seke yt holy gost
yt blyssyt is wt crystys feste
schall louyn bucsom~ in yi breste
yan schall yi saul syt ihesu neste
yer merthe is makyd most
a+leche foluyt a lordys wyll
Ful litill he leuyyt hys lyf to ye hend
all hys truste he teynt hym till
& 3eue hym robys ryche & hende
to louyn hur leche we haue gret skyll
soulys salue he wyll hus sende
vp-on yt leche no loue may spill
he 3euyt hus lyf wt-vtyn ende
<fol. 126va>man haue yis in~ mynd
Of yi salue yi~ leche hat sent
he askyt but yi~ gestys garnement
3yf hym yt wt good entent
& yen is he yi ful frende
yis prechyt ˆ [ye] postel jon
an holy man & wyssyt ye
mak ye frend man of all yi fon~
& vp-on ye pore .yu haue petye
Trewe turtele of heuene trone
he cheste ys chomber yn charyte
jn charite lyuyst yu nawh a-lon~
yu lyuyst in~ god & he in~ ye
yu mayst no bryther~ be
wan yis saule is set from sennys dym
God is in~ ye & yu in hym
wen yis body is beryd vndyrbrym~
yi gost yi god sall se
Fugur j fynd bryd beste
To honowr cryst is myn houtowr
Of ihesuc is yis gentyl geste
Of speciall loue wol paranowr~
Fugur~ is fallyn to yis feste
yis song hauyt reth a swete sauowr~
To saluyn all hur synnys sorw
Cryst was clenchyd vp on a cruche
hys brest it bar~ a blody nowche
Of a fair~ <gap> wyl j towche
of maryes fleschly flowr~
Fugur j fynd in ye hold laue
as holy wyl soyely say
wyth-vtyn spud a . lomb wa . slaen
& deth to her mete . a+paskene day
Fayr in reste . & . all . be . laue
at yat feste of good . aray
no bon@ was . brokenne . ne sondyr draue
yis was ye laue of ye holde lay
Plesant to godys pay
ye dorys & ye postylez of ye temple stod
<fol. 126vb>an-vntyd yey weryn wyth lombys blod
ye fugur of yt lomb was good
yt boryn was of a may
wyth-vtyn spud yt lomb was begunnyn
yer hym greuyn neuere sennys gray
hys flesch was rostyd a3ans ye sone
To fedyn spyrytys wyth plesant pay
ye rythful blod of croys be ronnyn~
no bon@ was broken wan cryst gan dey
hur temple postelys hur strenye hat wone
To stondyn styfly in~ good fey
ye fend is fled away
of mannys soule he is dissonyd
ye false lodder~ is de-louyd<?>
ye lombe of loue vs hauyt an-onyd
wyth is blod he gan vs to beye
Cryst is clepyd a vnner~
To saue man soule don~ wer~ he sent
red blod hys body gan ber~
jt was to man a ryche present
hys whyte fleche he lot it schere
vt yan ran a red vnnemente
To makenne vs stef we schul not ster~
fro mythful god omnipotent
hys flesch was rwly rent
an vnnement yer ran vt red
yt now is blod in~ whyte bred
yrow sothfast sacrament
of ye hold laue takyt kepe
ye sowtyn a soft of surgerye
3yf yt yu to hym murnyng make
To wyrchyn myschyf of meselrye
yey tokyn two sparwys yt on~ hym bled
yt on bryd was slayne ful sclye
wyth ye sparuys blode he was a-vnted
ye queke fley in~ to ye skye
Man in maladye
wyth sparus blod he was a-vnte
ye fel ye fyl fra@ euery ioynt
j-likenyd to ye same poynt
ye sone of maydyn marye
<fol. 127ra>jn <helle pyn?> we lay for-loryn~
hur forme fadyr~ senne
Tyll yt two byrdys in on was boryn~
manhot wyth-vtyn~ & god with-ynney@
wen crystys flesch on crose was toryn~
ye twenne bryddys weryn set a-twynne
ye soule fleye ye fadyr~ be-foryn
ye body was broght in~ beryng lynne
cryst preued to man-kenne
ye holy blod for ay
ye soule ca@ a3ayn j say
& bare blody body an holi day
in to heuyn far wt-inne
Godys gost is yis fol in flyght
yt saly soule to setten~ from senne
yis halle of som to rekyn~ a ryth
Godys gost restyd yer-ynne
ye prest leyt bryd in bryddys syth
From car to kepynne alle ma@-kenne
ye prest of bryd mak body bryth
white wyth-vtyn & red wyth-inne
yis body in bred wyth wynyne
wyth prestys wys yis bred hauyt spokyn
wen body & bred to-gedyr is lokyn~
wen blody body in bred is brokyn~
hur grace her name is kyde
yis forme foule frykest in flyght
She bryngys til her byrdys bed
der~ metys y-draue fro <ill><c. 2 words, rubbed></ill>
To flesch & blod it turnyt all
ye blod botyd ye bryd fro@ seke
wyll more wondyr~ god hauyt hed
yt is ouene body is bred lyke
Godys body is hed
jn a cake y-bakenne fresche
Godys body is blod & flesche
hys gost may turnyn herd to nesche
<fol. 127rb>& blessyd be yt bryd
yis bryd yt ihesuc lythte be jon~
wan cryst was flumyd im flom~
ye bryd of bred he makyd bon@
Flesch & blod he 3eut vs som~
Fra@ wedire & wrafye<?> yis bryd wyll gon~
he drawt from 3owr saulys dom~
But leuyt in~ loue euerychon~
yn how he chest hys chombyr~ rom~
Tyll clay closyd in~ clom
Crodyd yis bryd all in~ 3owr bryste
in mannys sowl he chest hys neste
To yis word haue yu no treste
yis lyf lastys but a mom~
trw turtile in trinite
ne make yi gost hur gostly make
jn ful feyth to fulwyn ye hur sory sennys to [for-sakyn~]
Swet bryd in~ brydys alle
you comyst in~ contynance of a cake
owr saly angyl yi body wold se
yt syt in howr bred i~ bake
wer we slepe or wake
jn yi brest yu brodys bryd
& lokkyn hym in~ yi lowys lyde
yt holy hert he wyll hem hyde
yt we trwly han j-take
ye bred of lyf fra@ heuene he delte
& mad hys body in bred to ben~
Flesch y-hatte & bred j-felte