‘Adam Bell, and Clym of the Clough,
And William of Cloudeslee.’
“‘Alas for ruth,’ said then our king,
‘My heart is wondrous sore;
I had rather than a thousand pound
I had known of this before!
“‘For I have granted them my grace,
And that forthinketh (repenteth) me;
But had I known all this before,
They had been hanged all three.’