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Page 110:-
PART SECOND.
AND when they came to mery Carleyl, all yn the mornyng
tyde,
They found the gates shut them unto about on every syde.
Alas! then sayd good Adam Bell, that ever we were made
men!
These gates be shut so wound'rous well, we not come
hereyn.
Then bespake him Clym of the Clough, Wyth a wyle we wyll us
in bryng;
Let us saye we be messengers streyght come now from our
Kyng.
Adam sayd, I have a letter written, now let us wysely
worke;
We wyll saye we have the Kynge's seales; I hold the porter
no clerke.
Then Adam Bell beat on the gate with strokes great and
strong;
The porter heard such noyse thereat, and to the gate he
throng.
Who is there now, sayde the porter, that maketh all thys
dynne?
We be two messengers, sayde Clym of the Clough, be come
ryght from the Kyng.
We have a letter, sayde Adam Bell, to the justyce we must it
bryng;
Let us yn, our message to do, that we were agayne to the
Kyng.
Here cometh none, sayd the porter, be hym that dyed on a
tre;
Tyll a false thefe be hanged up called Wyllyam of
Cloudesle.
Then spake the good yeman Clym of the Clough, and swore by
Mary fre,
And if theat we stand long wythout lyke a thefe honge thou
shalt be;
Lo! here we have the Kynge's seale: what! Lurden, art thou
wode?
The porter went it had been so, and lyghtly dyd off hys
hode.
Welcome be my lordes seal, he sayde, for that ye shall come
in.
He opened the gate full shortlye, an evyl openyng for
hym!
Now we are in, sayd Adam Bell, therefore we are full
fayne;
But Christ he knows that harowed hell, how we shall com out
agayne.
Had we the keys, sayd Clym of the Clough, ryght wel then
shoulde we spede;
Then myght we come out wel enough when we se time and
nede.
They called the porter to counsell, and wrang hys necke yn
two,
And cast hym yn a depe dongeon, and toke hys keys hym
fro.
Now I am porter, sayd Adam Bell, se brother the keys are
here!
The worst porter to mery Carleyl the have had thys hundred
yeare!
And now we will our bows bend, ynto the towne wyll we go,
For to delyver our dere brother that lyeth yn care and
wo;
Then they bent theyr good ewe bowes, and looked theyr
stryngs were round,
The market yn mery Carleyl they beset that stound.
And as they loked them besyde, a payre of new gallowes the
see,
And the justyce with a quest of squyers had judged them to
die;
And Cloudsle hymselfe lay in a carte, fast bound both foot
and hand,
And a strong rope about hys necke, all ready for to
hange.
The justyce called him to a lad, Cloudesle's clothes should
he have
To take the measure of that yeman, thereafter to make his
grave.
I have seen as great a miracle, sayd Cloudesle, as betweene
thys and pryme,
He that maketh thys grave for me, hymself may lye
thereyn.
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