The one of them hight Adam Bel,
The other Clym of the Clough,[685]10
The thyrd was William of Cloudesly,
An archer good ynough.
They were outlawed for venyson,
These yemen everych-one;
They swore them brethren upon a day,15
To Englyshe wood for to gone.
Now lith[686] and lysten, gentylmen,
That of myrthes loveth to here:
Two of them were single men,
The third had a wedded fere.[687]20
Wyllyam was the wedded man,
Muche more then was hys care:
He sayde to hys brethren upon a day,
To Carleile he would fare;[688]
For to speke with fayre Alyce his wife,25
And with hys chyldren thre.
By my trouth, sayde Adam Bel,
Not by the counsell of me:
For if ye go to Carlile, brother,
And from thys wylde wode wende,[689]30
If that the justice may you take,
Your lyfe were at an ende.
If that I come not to-morowe, brother,
By pryme[690] to you agayne,
Truste you then that I am 'taken,'[691]35
Or else that I am slayne.
He toke hys leave of hys brethren two,
And to Carlile he is gon:
There he knocked at his owne windòwe
Shortlye and anone.40
Wher be you, fayre Alyce, he sayd,
My wife and chyldren three?
Lyghtly let in thyne owne husbànde,
Wyllyam of Cloudeslee.
Alas! then sayde fayre Alyce,45
And syghed wonderous sore,
Thys place hath ben besette for you
Thys halfe a yere and more.