"Had we the keys,"said Clym of the Clough,"Right well then should we speed;
Then might we come out well enough When we see time and need."
They called the porter to a couns-el,And wrung his neck in two,And cast him in a deep dunge-on,And took the keys him fro.
"Now am I porter,"said Adam Bell;
"See,brother,the keys have we here;
The worst port-er to merry Carlisle They have had this hundred year:
And now will we our bow-es bend,Into the town will we go,For to deliver our dear broth-er,That lieth in care and woe."
They bent their good yew bow-es,And looked their strings were round,The market-place of merry Carlisle They beset in that stound;
And as they look-ed them beside,A pair of new gallows there they see,And the Justice with a quest of squires,That judged William hang-ed to be.
And Cloudeslie lay ready there in a cart,Fast bound both foot and hand,And a strong rope about his neck,All ready for to be hanged.
The Justice called to him a lad,Cloudeslie's clothes should he have To take the measure of that yeom-an,Thereafter to make his grave.
"I have seen as great marvel,"said Cloudeslie,"As between this and prime;
He that maketh this grave for me,Himself may lie therein."--
"Thou speakest proudly,"said the Justice;
"I shall hang thee with my hand."
Full well that heard his brethren two,There still as they did stand.
Then Cloudeslie cast his eyen aside,And saw his two brethren At a corner of the market-place,Ready the Justice to slain.
"I see good comfort,"said Cloudeslie,"Yet hope I well to fare;
If I might have my hands at will,Right little would I care."
Then spake good Adam Bell To Clym of the Clough so free,"Brother,see ye mark the Justice well;
Lo,yonder ye may him see;
And at the Sheriff shoot I will Strongly with arrow keen."
A better shot in merry Carlisle This seven year was not seen.
They loosed their arrows both at once,Of no man had they drede;
The one hit the Justice,the other the Sheriff,That both their sides gan bleed.