All men voided,that them stood nigh,When the Justice fell to the ground,And the Sheriff fell nigh him by,Either had his death's wound.
All the citizens fast gan flee,They durst no longer abide;
Then lightly they loos-ed Cloudeslie,Where he with ropes lay tied.
William stert to an officer of the town,His axe out of his hand he wrong,On each-e side he smote them down,Him thought he tarried too long.
William said to his brethren two:
"Together let us live and dee;
If e'er you have need,as I have now,The same shall ye find by me."
They shot so well in that tide,For their strings were of silk full sure,That they kept the streets on every side,That battle did long endure.
They fought together as brethren true,Like hardy men and bold;
Many a man to the ground they threw,And many an heart made cold.
But when their arrows were all gone,Men pressed to them full fast;
They drew their sword-es then anon,And their bow-es from them cast.
They went lightly on their way,With swords and bucklers round;
By that it was the middes of the day,They had made many a wound.
There was many a neat-horn in Carlisle blown,And the bells back-ward did ring;
Many a woman said "Alas!"
And many their hands did wring.
The Mayor of Carlisle forth come was,And with him a full great rout;
These three yeomen dread him full sore,For their lives stood in doubt.
The Mayor came armed a full great pace,With a poleaxe in his hand;
Many a strong man with him was,There in that stour to stand.
The Mayor smote Cloudeslie with his bill,His buckler he burst in two;
Full many a yeoman with great ill,"Alas!treason!"they cried for woe.
"Keep we the gat-es fast,"they bade,"That these traitors thereout not go!"
But all for nought was that they wrought,For so fast they down were laid,Till they all three that so manfully fought,Were gotten without at a braid.
"Have here your keys,"said Adam Bell,"Mine office I here forsake;
If you do by my coun-sel,A new port-er do ye make."