[174], there.
[201], Cyerlel.
[THE SECOND FIT.]
And when they came to mery Caerlell,
In a fayre mornyng tyde,
They founde the gates shut them untyll,
Round about on every syde.
"Alas!" than sayd good Adam Bell,5
"That ever we were made men!
These gates be shut so [wonderly] wel,
That we may not come here in."
Then spake him Clym of the Clough,
"Wyth a wyle we wyl us in bryng;10
Let us saye we be messengers,
Streyght [comen from] our king."
Adam said, "I have a letter written wel,
Now let us wysely werke;
We wyl saye we have the kinges [seale],15
I holde the portter no clerke."
Then Adam Bell bete on the gate,
With strokes great and strong;
The porter herde suche noyse therat,
And to the gate [faste] he throng.20
"Who is there nowe," sayde the porter,
"That maketh all thys knocking?
"We be tow messengers," sayde Clim of the Clough,
"Be [comen streyght] from our kyng."
"We haue a letter," sayd Adam Bel,25
"To the justice [we] must it bryng;
Let us in, our messag to do,
That we were agayne to our kyng."