{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch116.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch116.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch116.htm","text":"116A: Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough and William of Cloudesly\n116A.1 MERY it was in grene forest,\nAmonge the leues grene,\nWhere that men walke both east and west,\nWyth bowes and arrowes kene,\n116A.2 To ryse the dere out of theyr denne;\nSuche sightes as hath ofte bene sene,\nAs by th[r]e yemen of the north countrey,\nBy them it is as I meane.\n116A.3 The one of them hight Adam Bel,\nThe other Clym of the Clough,\nThe thyrd was William of Cloudesly,\nAn archer good ynough.\n116A.4 They were outlawed for venyson,\nThese thre yemen euerechone;\nThey swore them brethen vpon a day,\nTo Englysshe-wood for to gone.\n116A.5 Now lith and lysten, gentylmen,\nAnd that of myrthes loueth to here:\nTwo of them were single men,\nThe third had a wedded fere.\n116A.6 Wyllyam was the wedded man,\nMuche more then was hys care:\nHe sayde to hys brethen vpon a day,\nTo carelel he would fare,\n116A.7 For to speke with fayre Alse hys wife,\nAnd with hys chyldren thre:\n\u2018By my trouth,\u2019 sayde Adam Bel,\n\u2018Not by the counsell of me.\n116A.8 \u2018For if ye go to Caerlel, brother,\nAnd from thys wylde wode wende,\nIf the justice mai you take,\nYour lyfe were at an ende.\u2019\n116A.9 \u2018If that I come not to morowe, brother,\nBy pryme to you agayne,\nTruste not els but that I am take,\nOr else that I am slayne.\u2019\n116A.10 He toke hys leaue of hys brethen two,\nAnd to Carlel he is gone;\nThere he knocked at hys owne wyndowe,\nShortlye and anone.\n116A.11 \u2018Wher be you, fayre Alyce, my wyfe,\nAnd my chyldren three?\nLyghtly let in thyne husbande,\nWyllyam of Cloudesle.\u2019\n116A.12 \u2018Alas!\u2019 then sayde fayre Alyce,\nAnd syghed wonderous sore,\n\u2018Thys place hath ben besette for you\nThys halfe yere and more.\u2019\n116A.13 \u2018Now am I here,\u2019 sayde Cloudesle,\n\u2018I woulde that I in were;\nNow feche vs meate and drynke ynoughe,\nAnd let vs make good chere.\u2019\n116A.14 She feched him meat and drynke plenty,\nLyke a true wedded wyfe,\nAnd pleased hym with that she had,\nWhome she loued as her lyfe.\n116A.15 There lay an old wyfe in that place,\nA lytle besyde the fyre,\nWhych Wyllyam had found, of cherytye,\nMore then seuen yere.\n116A.16 Up she rose, and walked full styll,\nEuel mote she spede therefoore!\nFor she had not set no fote on ground\nIn seuen yere before.\n116A.17 She went vnto the justice hall,\nAs fast as she could hye:\n\u2018Thys nyght is come vn to thys town\nWyllyam of Cloudesle.\u2019\n116A.18 Thereof the iustice was full fayne,\nAnd so was the shirife also:\n\u2018Thou shalt not trauaile hether, dame, for nought;\nThy meed thou shalt haue or thou go.\u2019\n116A.19 They gaue to her a ryght good goune,\nOf scarlat it was, as I heard say[n]e;\nShe toke the gyft, and home she wente,\nAnd couched her doune agayne.\n116A.20 They rysed the towne of mery Carlel,\nIn all the hast that they can,\nAnd came thronging to Wyllyames house,\nAs fast [as] they might gone.\n116A.21 Theyr they besette that good yeman,\nRound about on euery syde;\nWyllyam hearde great noyse of folkes,\nThat heytherward they hyed.\n116A.22 Alyce opened a shot-wyndow,\nAnd loked all about;\nShe was ware of the justice and the shrife bothe,\nWyth a full great route.\n116A.23 \u2018Alas! treason,\u2019 cryed Alyce,\n\u2018Euer wo may thou be!\nGo into my chambre, my husband,\u2019 she sayd,\n\u2018Swete Wyllyam of Cloudesle.\u2019\n116A.24 He toke hys sweard and hys bucler,\nHys bow and hy[s] chyldren thre,\nAnd wente into hys strongest chamber,\nWhere he thought surest to be.\n116A.25 Fayre Alice folowed him as a louer true,\nWith a pollaxe in her hande:\n\u2018He shalbe deade that here cometh in\nThys dore, whyle I may stand.\u2019\n116A.26 Cloudesle bent a wel good bowe,\nThat was of trusty tre,\nHe smot the justise on the brest,\nThat hys arrowe brest in thre.\n116A.27 \u2018God\u2019s curse on his hartt,\u2019 saide William,\n\u2018Thys day thy cote dyd on;\nIf it had ben no better then myne,\nIt had gone nere thy bone.\u2019\n116A.28 \u2018Yelde the, Cloudesle,\u2019 sayd the justise,\n\u2018And thy bowe and thy arrowes the fro:\u2019\n\u2018Gods curse on hys hart,\u2019 sayde fair Al[i]ce,\n\u2018That my husband councelleth so.\u2019\n116A.29 \u2018Set fyre on the house,\u2019 saide the sherife,\n\u2018Syth it wyll no better be,\nAnd brenne we therin William,\u2019 he saide,\n\u2018Hys wyfe and chyldren thre.\u2019\n116A.30 They fyred the house in many a place,\nThe fyre flew vpon hye;\n\u2018Alas!\u2019 than cryed fayr Alice,\n\u2018I se we shall here dy.\u2019\n116A.31 William openyd hys backe wyndow,\nThat was in hys chambre on hye,\nAnd wyth shetes let hys wyfe downe,\nAnd hys chyldren thre.\n116A.32 \u2018Haue here my treasure,\u2019 sayde William,\n\u2018My wyfe and my chyldren thre;\nFor Christes loue do them no harme,\nBut wreke you all on me.\u2019\n116A.33 Wyllyam shot so wonderous well,\nTyll hys arrowes were all go,\nAnd the fyre so fast vpon hym fell,\nThat hys bo[w]stryng brent in two.\n116A.34 The spercles brent and fell hym on,\nGood Wyllyam of Cloudesle;\nBut than was he a wofull man, and sayde,\nThys is a cowardes death to me.\n116A.35 \u2018Leuer I had,\u2019 sayde Wyllyam,\n\u2018With my sworde in the route to renne,\nThen here among myne ennemyes wode\nThus cruelly to bren.\u2019\n116A.36 He toke hys sweard and hys buckler,\nAnd among them all he ran;\nWhere the people were most in prece,\nHe smot downe many a man.\n116A.37 There myght no man stand hys stroke,\nSo fersly on them he ran;\nThen they threw wyndowes and dores on him,\nAnd so toke that good yeman.\n116A.38 There they hym bounde both hand and fote,\nAnd in depe dongeon hym cast;\n\u2018Now, Cloudesle,\u2019 sayde the hye justice,\n\u2018Thou shalt be hanged in hast.\u2019\n116A.39 \u2018One vow shal I make,\u2019 sayde the sherife,\n\u2018A payre of new galowes shall I for the make,\nAnd al the gates of Caerlel shalbe shutte,\nThere shall no man come in therat.\n116A.40 \u2018Then shall not helpe Clim of the Cloughe,\nNor yet Adam Bell,\nThough they came with a thousand mo,\nNor all the deuels in hell.\u2019\n116A.41 Early in the mornyng the justice vprose,\nTo the gates fast gan he gon,\nAnd commaunded to be shut full cloce\nLightile euerychone.\n116A.42 Then went he to the market-place,\nAs fast as he coulde hye;\nA payre of new gallous there dyd he vp set,\nBesyde the pyllory.\n116A.43 A lytle boy stod them amonge,\nAnd asked what meaned that gallow-tre;\nThey sayde, To hange a good yeaman,\nCalled Wyllyam of Cloudesle.\n116A.44 That lytle boye was the towne swyne-heard,\nAnd kept fayre Alyce swyne;\nFull oft he had sene Cloudesle in the wodde,\nAnd geuen hym there to dyne.\n116A.45 He went out of a creues in the wall,\nAnd lightly to the woode dyd gone;\nThere met he with these wyght yonge men,\nShortly and anone.\n116A.46 \u2018Alas!\u2019 then sayde that lytle boye,\n\u2018Ye tary here all to longe;\nCloudesle is taken and dampned to death,\nAll readye for to honge.\u2019\n116A.47 \u2018Alas!\u2019 then sayde good Adam Bell,\n\u2018That euer we see thys daye!\nHe myght her with vs haue dwelled,\nSo ofte as we dyd him praye.\n116A.48 \u2018He myght haue taryed in grene foreste,\nUnder the shadowes sheene,\nAnd haue kepte both hym and vs in reaste,\nOut of trouble and teene.\u2019\n116A.49 Adam bent a ryght good bow,\nA great hart sone had he slayne;\n\u2018Take that, chylde,\u2019 he sayde, \u2019To thy dynner,\nAnd bryng me myne arrowe agayne.\u2019\n116A.50 \u2018Now go we hence,\u2019 sayed these wight yong men,\n\u2018Tary we no longer here;\nWe shall hym borowe, by Gods grace,\nThough we bye it full dere.\u2019\n116A.51 To Caerlel went these good yemen,\nIn a mery mornyng of Maye:\nHer is a fyt of Cloudesli,\nAnd another is for to saye.\n116A.52 And when they came to mery Caerlell,\nIn a fayre mornyng-tyde,\nThey founde the gates shut them vntyll,\nRound about on euery syde.\n116A.53 \u2018Alas!\u2019 than sayd good Adam Bell,\n\u2018That euer we were made men!\nThese gates be shyt so wonderly well,\nThat we may not come here in.\u2019\n116A.54 Than spake Clymme of the Cloughe:\nWith a wyle we wyll vs in brynge;\nLet vs say we be messengers,\nStreyght comen from oure kynge.\n116A.55 Adam sayd, I haue a lettre wryten wele,\nNow let vs wysely werke;\nWe wyll say we haue the kynges seale,\nI holde the porter no clerke.\n116A.56 Than Adam Bell bete on the gate,\nWith str\u2019okes greate and stronge;\nThe porter herde suche a noyse therate,\nAnd to the gate faste he thronge.\n116A.57 \u2018Who is there nowe,\u2019 sayd the porter,\n\u2018That maketh all this knockynge?\n\u2018We be two messengers,\u2019 sayd Clymme of the Clo[ughe],\n\u2018Be comen streyght frome oure kynge.\u2019\n116A.58 \u2018We haue a lettre,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell,\n\u2018To the justyce we must it brynge;\nLet vs in, oure message to do,\nThat we were agayne to our kynge.\u2019\n116A.59 \u2018Here cometh no man in,\u2019 sayd the porter,\n\u2018By hym that dyed on a tre,\nTyll a false thefe be hanged,\nCalled Wyllyam of Clowdysle.\u2019\n116A.60 Than spake that good [yeman Clym of the Cloughe,\nAnd swore by Mary fre,\nIf that we stande long wythout,\nLyke a thefe hanged shalt thou be.]\n116A.61 [Lo here] we haue got the kynges seale;\n[What! l]ordane, arte thou wode?\n[The p]orter had wende it had been so,\n[And l]yghtly dyd of his hode.\n116A.62 \u2018[Welco]me be my lordes seale,\u2019 sayd he,\n\u2018[For] that shall ye come in:\u2019\n[He] opened the gate ryght shortly,\n[An] euyll openynge for hym!\n116A.63 \u2018[N]owe we are in,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell,\n\u2018[T]herof we are full fayne;\n[But] Cryst knoweth that herowed hell,\n[H]ow we shall come oute agayne.\u2019\n116A.64 \u2018[Had] we the keys,\u2019 sayd Clym of the Clowgh,\n\u2018Ryght well than sholde we spede;\n[Than] myght we come out well ynough,\n[Whan] we se tyme and nede.\u2019\n116A.65 [They] called the porter to a councell,\n[And] wronge hys necke in two,\n[And] kest hym in a depe dongeon,\n[And] toke the keys hym fro.\n116A.66 \u2018[N]ow am I porter,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell;\n\u2018[Se], broder, the keys haue we here;\n[The] worste porter to mery Carlell,\n[That ye] had this hondreth yere.\n116A.67 ow] wyll we oure bow s bende,\n[Into the t]owne wyll we go,\n[For to delyuer our dere] broder,\n[Where he lyeth in care and wo.\u2019\n116A.68 Then they bent theyr good yew bowes,\nAnd loked theyr stringes were round;]\nThe market-place of mery Carlyll,\nThey beset in that stounde.\n116A.69 And as they loked them besyde,\nA payre of newe galowes there they se,\nAnd the iustyce, with a quest of swerers,\nThat had iuged Clowdysle there hanged to be.\n116A.70 And Clowdysle hymselfe lay redy in a carte,\nFast bounde bothe fote and hande,\nAnd a strong rope aboute his necke,\nAll redy for to be hangde.\n116A.71 The iustyce called to hym a ladde;\nClowdysles clothes sholde he haue,\nTo take the mesure of that good yoman,\nAnd therafter to make his graue.\n116A.72 \u2018I haue sene as greate a merueyll,\u2019 sayd Clowd[esle],\n\u2018As bytwene this and pryme,\nHe that maketh thys graue for me,\nHymselfe may lye therin.\u2019\n116A.73 \u2018Thou spekest proudely,\u2019 sayd the iustyce;\n\u2018I shall hange the with my hande:\u2019\nFull well that herde his bretheren two,\nThere styll as they dyd stande.\n116A.74 Than Clowdysle cast hys eyen asyde,\nAnd sawe hys bretheren stande,\nAt a corner of the market-place,\nWith theyr good bowes bent in theyr hand,\nRedy the iustyce for to chase.\n116A.75 \u2018I se good comforte,\u2019 sayd Clowdysle,\n\u2018Yet hope I well to fare;\nIf I myght haue my handes at wyll,\n[Ryght l]ytell wolde I care.\u2019\n116A.76 [Than b]espake good Adam Bell,\n[To Clym]me of the Clowgh so fre;\n[Broder], se ye marke the iustyce well;\n[Lo yon]der ye may him se.\n116A.77 [And at] the sheryf shote I wyll,\n[Stron]gly with an arowe kene;\n[A better] shotte in mery Carlyll,\n[Thys se]uen yere was not sene.\n116A.78 [They lo]used theyr arowes bothe at ones,\n[Of no] man had they drede;\n[The one] hyt the iustyce, the other the sheryf,\n[That b]othe theyr sydes gan blede.\n116A.79 [All men] voyded, that them stode nye,\n[Whan] the iustyce fell to the grounde,\n[And the] sheryf fell nyghe hym by;\n[Eyther] had his deth s wounde.\n116A.80 [All the c]ytezeyns fast gan fle,\n[They du]rste no lenger abyde;\n[There ly]ghtly they loused Clowdysle,\n[Where he] with ropes lay tyde.\n116A.81 [Wyllyam] sterte to an offycer of the towne,\n[Hys axe] out his hande he wronge;\n[On eche] syde he smote them downe,\n[Hym tho]ught he had taryed to longe.\n116A.82 [Wyllyam] sayd to his bretheren two,\n[Thys daye] let vs togyder lyue and deye;\n[If euer you] haue nede as I haue nowe,\n[The same] shall ye fynde by me.\n116A.83 [They] shyt so well in that tyde,\nFor theyr strynges were of sylke full sure,\nThat they kepte the stretes on euery syde;\nThat batayll dyd longe endure.\n116A.84 They fought togyder as bretheren true,\nLyke hardy men and bolde;\nMany a man to the grounde they threwe,\nAnd made many an hert colde.\n116A.85 But whan theyr arowes were all gone,\nMen presyd on them full fast;\nThey drewe theyr swerd s than anone,\nAnd theyr bow s from them caste.\n116A.86 They wente lyghtly on theyr waye,\nWith swerdes and buckelers rounde;\nBy that it was the myddes of the daye,\nThey had made many a wounde.\n116A.87 There was many a noute-horne in Carlyll blowen,\nAnd the belles backwarde dyd they rynge;\nMany a woman sayd alas,\nAnd many theyr handes dyd wrynge.\n116A.88 The mayre of Carlyll forth come was,\nAnd with hym a full grete route;\nThese thre yomen dredde hym full sore,\nFor theyr lyu s stode in doubte.\n116A.89 The mayre came armed, a full greate pace,\nWith a polaxe in his hande;\nMany a stronge man with hym was,\nThere in that stoure to stande.\n116A.90 The mayre smote at Clowdysle with his byll,\nHis buckeler he brast in two;\nFull many a yoman with grete yll,\n\u2018[Al]as, treason!\u2019 they cryed for wo.\n\u2018[Ke]pe we the gates fast,\u2019 they bad,\n\u2018[T]hat these traytours theroute not go.\u2019\n116A.91 But all for nought was that they wrought,\nFor so fast they downe were layde\nTyll they all thre, that so manfully fought,\nWere goten without at a brayde.\n116A.92 \u2018Haue here your keys,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell,\n\u2018Myne offyce I here forsake;\nYf ye do by my councell,\nA new porter ye make.\u2019\n116A.93 He threwe the keys there at theyr hedes,\nAnd bad them evyll to thryue,\nAnd all that letteth ony good yoman\nTo come and comforte his wyue.\n116A.94 Thus be these good yomen gone to the wode,\nAs lyght as lefe on lynde;\nThey laughe and be mery in theyr mode,\nTheyr enemyes were farre behynde.\n116A.95 Whan they came to Inglyswode,\nUnder theyr trysty-tre,\nThere they founde bow s full gode,\nAnd arow s greate plent .\n116A.96 \u2018So helpe me God,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell,\nAnd Clymme of the Clowgh so fre,\n\u2018I wolde we were nowe in mery Carlell,\n[Be]fore that fayre meyn .\u2019\n116A.97 They set them downe and made good chere,\nAnd eate an[d dr]anke full well:\nHere is a fytte [of] these wyght yongemen,\nAnd another I shall you tell.\n116A.98 As they sat in Inglyswode,\nUnder theyr trysty-tre,\nThem thought they herde a woman [wepe],\nBut her they myght not se.\n116A.99 Sore syghed there fayre Alyce, and sayd,\nAlas that euer I se this daye!\nFor now is my dere husbonde slayne,\nAlas and welawaye!\n116A.100 Myght I haue spoken wyth hys dere breth[eren],\nWith eyther of them twayne,\n[To shew to them what him befell]\nMy herte were out of payne.\n116A.101 Clowdysle walked a lytell besyde,\nAnd loked vnder the grene wodde lynde;\nHe was ware of his wyfe and his chyldre[n thre],\nFull wo in herte and mynde.\n116A.102 \u2018Welcome, wyfe,\u2019 than sayd Wyllyam,\n\u2018Unto this trysty-tre;\nI had wende yesterdaye, by swete Sai[nt John],\nThou sholde me neuer haue se.\u2019\n116A.103 \u2018Now wele is me,\u2019 she sayd, \u2019That [ye be here],\nMy herte is out of wo:\u2019\n\u2018Dame,\u2019 he sayd, \u2019Be mery and glad,\nAnd thanke my bretheren two.\u2019\n116A.104 \u2018Here of to speke,\u2019 sayd Ad[am] Bell,\n\u2018I-wys it [is no bote];\nThe me[at that we must supp withall,\nIt runneth yet fast on fote.\u2019\n116A.105 Then went they down into a launde,\nThese noble archares all thre,\nEche of the]m slewe a harte of grece,\n[The best t[hey coude there se.\n116A.106 \u2018[Haue here the] best, Alyce my wyfe,\u2019\n[Sayde Wyllya]m of Clowdysle,\n\u2018[By cause ye so] boldely stode me by,\n[Whan I w]as slayne full nye.\u2019\n116A.107 [Than they] wente to theyr souper,\n[Wyth suc]he mete as they had,\n[And than]ked God of theyr fortune;\n[They we]re bothe mery and glad.\n116A.108 [And whan] they had souped well,\n[Certayne] withouten leace,\n[Clowdysle] sayde, We wyll to oure kynge,\n[To get v]s a chartre of peace.\n116A.109 [Alyce shal] be a soiournynge,\n[In a nunry] here besyde;\n[My tow sonn]es shall with her go,\n[And ther the]y shall abyde.\n116A.110 [Myne eldest so]ne shall go with me,\n[For hym haue I] no care,\n[And he shall breng] you worde agayne\n[How that we do fare.\n116A.111 Thus be these wig]ht men to London gone,\n[As fast as they ma]ye hye,\n[Tyll they came to the kynges] palays,\nThere they woulde ned s be.\n116A.112 And whan they came to the kyng s courte,\nUnto the pallace gate,\nOf no man wold they aske leue,\nBut boldly went in therat.\n116A.113 They preced prestly into the hall,\nOf no man had they dreade;\nThe porter came after and dyd them call,\nAnd with them began to [chyde.]\n116A.114 The vssher sayd, Yemen, what wolde ye haue?\nI praye you tell me;\nYe myght thus make offycers shent:\nGood syrs, of whens be ye?\n116A.115 \u2018Syr, we be outlawes of the forest,\nCertayne withouten leace,\nAnd hyther we be come to our kynge,\nTo get vs a charter of peace.\u2019\n116A.116 And whan they came before our kynge,\nAs it was the lawe of the lande,\nThey kneled downe without lettynge,\nAnd eche helde vp his hande.\n116A.117 They sayd, Lorde, we beseche you here,\nThat ye wyll graunte vs grace,\nFor we haue slayne your fatte falowe dere,\nIn many a sondry place.\n116A.118 \u2018What is your names?\u2019 than sayd our kynge,\n\u2018Anone that you tell me:\u2019\nThey sayd, Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough,\nAnd Wylliam of Clowdesle.\n116A.119 \u2018Be ye those theues,\u2019 than sayd our kynge,\n\u2018That men haue told of to me?\nHere to God I make a vowe,\nYe shall be hanged all thre.\n116A.120 \u2018Ye shall be dead without mercy,\nAs I am kynge of this lande:\u2019\nHe commanded his officers euerichone\nFast on them to lay hand.\n116A.121 There they toke these good yemen,\nAnd arested them all thre:\n\u2018So may I thryue,\u2019 sayd Adam Bell,\n\u2018Thys game lyketh not me.\n116A.122 \u2018But, good lorde, we beseche you nowe,\nThat ye wyll graunte vs grace,\nIn so moche as we be to you commen;\nOr elles that we may fro you passe,\n116A.123 \u2018With suche weapons as we haue here,\nTyll we be out of your place;\nAnd yf we lyue this hondred yere,\nWe wyll aske you no grace.\u2019\n116A.124 \u2018Ye speke proudly,\u2019 sayd the kynge,\n\u2018Ye shall be hanged all thre:\u2019\n\u2018That were great pity,\u2019 sayd the quene,\n\u2018If any grace myght be.\n116A.125 \u2018My lorde, whan I came fyrst in to this lande,\nTo be your wedded wyfe,\nThe fyrst bone that I wolde aske,\nYe wolde graunte me belyfe.\n116A.126 \u2018And I asked you neuer none tyll nowe,\nTherfore, good lorde, graunte it me:\u2019\n\u2018Nowe aske it, madame,\u2019 sayd the kynge,\n\u2018And graunted shall it be.\u2019\n116A.127 \u2018Than, good lorde, I you beseche,\nThe yemen graunte you me:\u2019\n\u2018Madame, ye myght haue asked a bone\nThat sholde haue ben worthe them thre.\n116A.128 \u2018Ye myght haue asked towres and towne[s],\nParkes and forestes plentie:\u2019\n\u2018None so pleasaunt to mi pay,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Nor none so lefe to me.\u2019\n116A.129 \u2018Madame, sith it is your desyre,\nYour asking graunted shalbe;\nBut I had leuer haue geuen you\nGood market-town s thre.\u2019\n116A.130 The quene was a glad woman,\nAnd sayd, Lord, gramarcy;\nI dare vndertake for them\nThat true men shall they be.\n116A.131 But, good lord, speke som mery word,\nThat comfort they may se:\n\u2018I graunt you grace,\u2019 then said our king,\n\u2018Wasshe, folos, and to meate go ye.\u2019\n116A.132 They had not setten but a whyle,\nCertayne without lesynge,\nThere came messengers out of the north,\nWith letters to our kyng.\n116A.133 And whan the came before the kynge,\nThe kneled downe vpon theyr kne,\nAnd sayd, Lord, your offycers grete you wel,\nOf Caerlel in the north cuntre.\n116A.134 \u2018How fare[th] my justice,\u2019 sayd the kyng,\n\u2018And my sherife also?\u2019\n\u2018Syr, they be slayne, without leasynge,\nAnd many an officer mo.\u2019\n116A.135 \u2018Who hath them slayne?\u2019 sayd the kyng,\n\u2018Anone thou tell me:\u2019\n\u2018Adam Bel, and Clime of the Clough,\nAnd wyllyam of Cloudesle.\u2019\n116A.136 \u2018Alas for rewth!\u2019 then sayd our kynge,\n\u2018My hart is wonderous sore;\nI had leuer [th]an a thousand pounde\nI had knowne of thys before.\n116A.137 \u2018For I haue y-graunted them grace,\nAnd that forthynketh me;\nBut had I knowne all thys before,\nThey had ben hanged all thre.\u2019\n116A.138 The kyng opened the letter anone,\nHym selfe he red it tho,\nAnd founde how these thre outlawes had slaine\nThre hundred men and mo.\n116A.139 Fyrst the justice and the sheryfe,\nAnd the mayre of Caerlel towne;\nOf all the constables and catchipolles\nAlyue were left not one.\n116A.140 The baylyes and the bedyls both,\nAnd the sergeauntes of the law,\nAnd forty fosters of the fe\nThese outlawes had y-slaw;\n116A.141 And broken his parks, and slaine his dere;\nOuer all they chose the best;\nSo perelous outlawes as they were\nWalked not by easte nor west.\n116A.142 When the kynge this letter had red,\nIn hys harte he syghed sore;\n\u2018Take vp the table,\u2019 anone he bad,\n\u2018For I may eate no more.\u2019\n116A.143 The kyng called hys best archars,\nTo the buttes with hym to go;\n\u2018I wyll se these felowes shote,\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018That in the north haue wrought this wo.\u2019\n116A.144 The kynges bowmen buske them blyue,\nAnd the quenes archers also,\nSo dyd these thre wyght yemen,\nWyth them they thought to go.\n116A.145 There twyse or thryse they shote about,\nFor to assay theyr hande;\nThere was no shote these thre yemen shot\nThat any prycke might them stand.\n116A.146 Then spake Wyllyam of Cloudesle;\nBy God that for me dyed,\nI hold hym neuer no good archar\nThat shuteth at buttes so wyde.\n116A.147 \u2018Wherat?\u2019 then sayd our kyng,\n\u2018I pray thee tell me:\u2019\n\u2018At suche a but, syr,\u2019 he sayd,\n\u2018As men vse in my countree.\u2019\n116A.148 Wyllyam wente into a fyeld,\nAnd his to brothren with him;\nThere they set vp to hasell roddes,\nTwenty score paces betwene.\n116A.149 \u2018I hold him an archar,\u2019 said Cloudesle,\n\u2018That yonder wande cleueth in two:\u2019\n\u2018Here is none suche,\u2019 sayd the kyng,\n\u2018Nor none that can so do.\u2019\n116A.150 \u2018I shall assaye, syr,\u2019 sayd Cloudesle,\n\u2018Or that I farther go:\u2019\nCloudesle, with a bearyng arow,\nClaue the wand in to.\n116A.151 \u2018Thou art the best archer,\u2019 then said the king,\n\u2018Forsothe that euer I se:\u2019\n\u2018And yet for your loue,\u2019 sayd Wylliam,\n\u2018I wyll do more maystry.\n116A.152 \u2018I haue a sonne is seuen yere olde;\nHe is to me full deare;\nI wyll hym tye to a stake,\nAll shall se that be here;\n116A.153 \u2018And lay an apple vpon hys head,\nAnd go syxe score paces hym fro,\nAnd I my selfe, with a brode arow,\nShall cleue the apple in two.\u2019\n116A.154 \u2018Now hast the,\u2019 then sayd the kyng;\n\u2018By him that dyed on a tre,\nBut yf thou do not as thou hest sayde,\nHanged shalt thou be.\n116A.155 \u2018And thou touche his head or gowne,\nIn syght that men may se,\nBy all the sayntes that be in heaven,\nI shall hange you all thre.\u2019\n116A.156 \u2018That I haue promised,\u2019 said William,\n\u2018I wyl it neuer forsake;\u2019\nAnd there euen before the kynge,\nIn the earth he droue a stake;\n116A.157 And bound therto his eldest sonne,\nAnd bade hym stande styll therat,\nAnd turned the childes face fro him,\nBecause he shuld not sterte.\n116A.158 An apple vpon his head he set,\nAnd then his bowe he bent;\nSyxe score paces they were outmet,\nAnd thether Cloudesle went.\n116A.159 There he drew out a fayr brode arrowe;\nHys bowe was great and longe;\nHe set that arrowe in his bowe,\nThat was both styffe and stronge.\n116A.160 He prayed the people that was there\nThat they would styll stande;\n\u2018For he that shooteth for such a wager,\nBehoueth a stedfast hand.\u2019\n116A.161 Muche people prayed for Cloudesle,\nThat hys lyfe saued myght be,\nAnd whan he made hym redy to shote,\nThere was many a wepynge eye.\n116A.162 Thus Clowdesle clefte the apple in two,\nThat many a man it se;\n\u2018Ouer goddes forbode,\u2019 sayd the kynge,\n\u2018That thou sholdest shote at me!\n116A.163 \u2018I gyue the .xviii. pens a daye,\nAnd my bowe shalte thou bere,\nAnd ouer all the north countree\nI make the chefe rydere.\u2019\n116A.164 \u2018And I gyue the .xii. pens a day,\u2019 sayd the que[ne],\n\u2018By God and by my faye;\nCome fetche thy payment whan thou wylt,\nNo man shall say the naye.\n116A.165 \u2018Wyllyam, I make the gentylman\nOf clothynge and of fee,\nAnd thy two brethren yemen of my chambr[e],\nFor they are so semely to se.\n116A.166 \u2018Your sone, for he is tendre of age,\nOf my wine-seller shall he be,\nAnd whan he commeth to mann s state,\nBetter auaunced shall he be.\n116A.167 \u2018And, Wylliam, brynge me your wyfe,\u2019 sayd th[e quene];\nMe longeth sore here to se;\nShe shall be my chefe gentylwoman,\nAnd gouerne my nursery.\u2019\n116A.168 The yemen thanked them full courteysly,\nAnd sayd, To Rome streyght wyll we wende,\n[Of all the synnes that we haue done\nTo be assoyled of his hand.\n116A.169 So forth]e be gone these good yemen,\n[As fast a]s they myght hye,\n[And aft]er came and dwelled with the kynge,\n[And dye]d good men all thre.\n116A.170 [Thus e]ndeth the lyues of these good yemen,\n[God sen]de them eternall blysse,\n[And all] that with hande-bowe shoteth,\n[That of] heuen they may neuer mysse!","title":"The Child Ballads: 116. Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough and...","type":"page"}