Part 4 (1/2)

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 yeoman.

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.

A pair of new gallows, said the sheriff, Now shall I for thee make; And the gates of Carlisle shall be shut: No man shall come in thereat.

Then shall not help Clym of the Clough, Nor yet shall Adam Bell, Though they came with a thousand more, Nor all the devils in h.e.l.l.

Early in the morning the justice uprose, To the gates first gan he to gon', And commanded to be shut full close Lightly every one.

Then went he to the market place, As fast as he could hie; There a pair of new gallows he set up Beside the pillory.

A little boy among them asked, What meaneth that gallows-tree?

They said to hang a good yeoman, Called William of Cloudesly.

That little boy was the town swine-herd, And kept fair Alice's swine; Oft he had seen William in the wood, And given him there to dine.

He went out at a crevice in the wall, And lightly to the wood did gon'; There met he with these wight yeomen Shortly and anon.

Alas! then said that little boy, Ye tarry here all too long; Cloudesly is taken, and dampned[44] to death, All ready for to hong.[45]

Alas! then said good Adam Bell, That ever we see this day!

He had better with us have tarried, So oft as we did him pray.

He might have dwelt in green forest, Under the shadows green, And have kept both him and us at rest, Out of all trouble and teen.[46]

Adam bent a right good bow, A great hart soon he had slain; Take that, child, he said, to thy dinner, And bring me mine arrow again.

Now go we hence, said these wight yeomen, Tarry we no longer here; We shall him borrow[47] by G.o.d his grace, Though we buy it full dear.

To Carlisle went these bold yeomen, All in the morning of May.

Here is a FYT[48] of Cloudesly, And another is for to say.