Classic Poem

Now then, for love of Crist and of His joye,
Bring yet England out of troble and noye;
Take hert and wit and set a governaunce,
Set many wittes withouten variaunce
To one accord and unanimité
Put to good wille for to kepe the see,
First for worship and profìte alsò,
And to rebuke of eche evil-willed fo:
Thus shall richèsse and worship to us long;
Then to the noble shall we do no wrong,
To bere that coin in figure and in dede,
To our coràge and our enmies to drede. . . .
Kepe then the see about in speciàll,
Which of England is the rounde wall,
As though England were likened to a cité
And the wall environ were the see.
Kepe then the see, that is the wall of England,
And then is England kept by Goddes sand,
That, as for any thing that is withoute,
England were at ease withouten doute;
And thus shuld every land, one with another,
Entrecomòn as brother with his brother,
And live togedre werreless in unité
Without rancòur in verry charité,
In rest and peace, to Cristes grete plesàunce,
Withoute strife, debate and variaunce;
Which peace men shuld enserch with bisinesse
And knit it sadly, holding in holynesse.