Then bespake him Clym of the Clough,
‘With a wyle we wyl us in bryng;
Let us say we be messengers,
Streyght comen from our King.’
LV
Adam said, ‘I have a letter written,
Now let us wysely werke,
We wyl saye we have the Kyngè’s seale;
I holde the porter no clerke.’
LVI
Then Adam Bell bete on the gates
With strokès great and stronge:
The porter herde such a noyse therat,
And to the gates he thronge[672].
LVII
‘Who is there now,’ sayd the porter,
‘That maketh all thys knockinge?’—
‘We be two messengers,’ quoth Clym of the Clough,
‘Be come ryght from our Kynge.’—
LVIII
‘We have a letter,’ sayd Adam Bell,
‘To the Justice we must it brynge;
Let us in our message to do,
That we were agayne to the Kynge.’—