The king called his best archers
To the butts with him to go:
I will see these fellows shoot, he said,
In the north have wrought this woe.
The king's bowmen buske[70] them blyve,[71]
And the queen's archers also;
So did these three wighty yeomen;
With them they thought to go.
There twice or thrice they shot about
For to assay their hand;
There was no shot these yeomen shot,
That any prick might stand.
Then spake William of Cloudesly;
By Him that for me died,
I hold him never no good archer,
That shooteth at butts so wide.
At what a butt now would you shoot,
I pray thee tell to me?
At such a butt, sir, he said,
As men use in my country.
William went into a field,
And with him his two brethren:
There they set up two hazel rods
Twenty score paces between.
I hold him an archer, said Cloudesly,
That yonder wand cleaveth in two.
Here is none such, said the king,
Nor none that can so do.
I shall assay, sir, said Cloudesly,
Or that I farther go.
Cloudesly with a bearyng[72] arrow
Clave the wand in two.
Thou art the best archer, then said the king,
For sooth that ever I see.
And yet for your love, said William,
I will do more mastery.
I have a son is seven year old,
He is to me full dear;
I will him tie to a stake;
All shall see, that be here;