(which you may take for the inhabitants thereof),
Fresh is thy ryver with his lusty strandis,
Blith be thy chirches, wele sowning be thy bellis."
"Well sounding is my belly, master, any way," put in a high, thin voice; "and it calls on a gentleman of Warwickshire to redeem his promise."
"He shall, he shall, lad—in the fullness of time: 'but before dining ring at the bell,' says the proverb. Grope, lad, feel along the gate-posts if this yard, this courtlage, this base-court, hath any such thing as bell or knocker.
And when they came to mery Carleile
All in the mornyng tyde-a,
They found the gates shut them until
About on every syde-a.
Then Adam Bell bete on the gates
With strokes great and stronge-a
Step warely, lad. Plague of this forest! Have we brought timber to Sherwood?
With strokes great and stronge-a
The porter marveiled who was thereat,
And to the gates he thronge-a.
They called the porter to counsell,
And wrange his necke in two-a,
And caste him in a depe dungeon,
And took hys keys hym fro-a.
Within! You rascal, there, with the lantern!... Eh? but these be two gentlemen, it appears? I cry your mercy, Sirs."