"Have here the best,Al-ice,my wife,"
Said William of Cloudeslie,"Because ye so boldly stood me by When I was slain full nie."
And then they went to their supp-er With such meat as they had,And thanked God of their fort-une;
They were both merry and glad.
And when that they had supp-ed well,Certain withouten lease,Cloudeslie said:"We will to our King,To get us a charter of peace;
Al-ice shall be at our sojourning,In a nunnery here beside,And my two sons shall with her go,And there they shall abide.
"Mine eldest son shall go with me,For him have I no care,And he shall bring you word again How that we do fare."
Thus be these yeomen to London gone,As fast as they may hie,Till they came to the King's pal-ace,Where they would needs be.
And when they came to the King-es court,Unto the palace gate,Of no man would they ask no leave,But boldly went in thereat.
They press-ed prestly into the hall,Of no man had they dread;
The porter came after,and did them call,And with them gan to chide.
The usher said:"Yeomen,what would ye have?
I pray you tell to me;
You might thus make officers shent,Good sirs,of whence be ye?"
"Sir,we be outlaws of the for-est,Certain without any lease,And hither we be come to our King,To get us a charter of peace."--
And when they came before the King,As it was the law of the land,They kneel-ed down without lett-ing,And each held up his hand.
They said:"Lord,we beseech thee here,That ye will grant us grace:
For we have slain your fat fallow deer In many a sundry place."--
"What be your names?"then said our King,"Anon that you tell me."
They said:"Adam Bell,Clym of the Clough,And William of Cloudeslie."--