Classic Poem

It is the best, erely and late,
Uche mon kepe his owne state.

In what order or what degree
Holy Cherche hath bound thee to
Kepe it welle, I counsel thee,
Desire thou never to go therfro,
I say algate.

A hye worship it is to thee
To kepe thy state and thy good name,
Lewd or lered, where-ere it be,
Elles God and mon thay woll thee blame,
I say algate.

Fore four obisions now shull ye here
That God hates ille in his sight,
A harde prest, a proud frere,
An old mon lechoure, a coward knight,
I say algate.

A prest shuld shew uche mon mekeness,
And leve in love and charity:
Throgh his grace and his goodness
Set all other in unity,
I say algate.

A frere shuld love all holiness,
Prayers, penans and poverty:
Religious men, Christ hem ches
To foresake pride and vainglory,
I say algate.

An old mon shuld kepe him chast,
And leve the sinne of lechory;
All wedded men shuld be stedfast,
And foresake the sin of avowtry,
I say algate.

A knight shuld feght ayains falsness,
And shew his monhod and his might,
And maintene trouth and rightwisness,
And Holy Cherche and widowes right,
I say algate.

Here be all the foure estates
In Holy Cherche God hath ordent:
He bedes you kepe hem well algate,
Whosoever hem shomes he will be shent,