Set fire on the house, said the sheriff,
Since it will no better be,
And burn we therein William, he said,
His wife and children three.
They fired the house in many a place,
The fire flew up on high:
Alas! then cried fair Alice,
I see we here shall die.
William opened a back window,
That was in his chamber hi',
And there with sheets he did let down
His wife and children three.
Have you here my treasure, said William,
My wife and my children three:
For Christ's love do them no harm,
But wreak you all on me.
William shot so wondrous well,
Till his arrows were all ago',
And the fire so fast upon him fell
That his bowstring burnt in two.
The sparkles burnt and fell upon
Good William of Cloudesly:
Then was he a woeful man, and said,
This is a coward's death to me.
Liever had I, said William,
With my sword in the route to run,
Than here among mine enemies wode[42]
Thus cruelly to burn.
He took his sword and his buckler,
And among them all he ran:
Where the people were most in prece,[43]
He smote down many a man.
There might no man abide his strokes,
So fiercely on them he ran:
Then they threw windows, and doors on him,
And so took that good yeomàn.
There they him bound both hand and foot,
And in deep dungeon him cast:
Now Cloudesly, said the justice,
Thou shalt be hanged in haste.