If it had ben no better then myne,

It had gone nere thy bone.’

28

‘Yelde the, Cloudesle,’ sayd the justise,

‘And thy bowe and thy arrowes the fro:’

‘Gods curse on hys hart,’ sayde fair Alce,

‘That my husband councelleth so.’

29

‘Set fyre on the house,’ saide the sherife,

‘Syth it wyll no better be,