Mery it was in grene forest, Amonge the leues grene, Wher that men walke east and west, With bowes and arrowes kene, To ryse the dere out of theyr denne,-- 5 Such sightes hath ofte bene sene,--[L6] As by thre yemen of the north countrey,[L7] By them it is I meane.[L8] The one of them hight Adam Bel, The other Clym of the Clough,[L10] 10 The thyrd was William of Cloudesly,[L11] An archer good ynough. They were outlawed for venyson, These yemen everechone; They swore them brethren upon a day, 15 To Englysshe-wood for to gone. Now lith and lysten, gentylmen, That of myrthes loveth to here:[L18] Two of them were single men, The third had a wedded fere. 20 Wyllyam was the wedded man, Muche more then was hys care: He sayde to hys brethren upon a day, To Carelel he would fare, For to speke with fayre Alse hys wife, 25 And with hys chyldren thre. "By my trouth," sayde Adam Bel, "Not by the counsell of me. "For if ye go to Caerlel, brother, And from thys wylde wode wende, 30 If the justice mai you take, Your lyfe were at an ende." "If that I come not tomorowe, brother, By pryme to you agayne, Truste not els but that I am take, 35 Or else that I am slayne." He toke hys leave of his brethren two, And to Carlel he is gon; There he knocked at hys owne windowe, Shortlye and anone. 40 "Where be you, fayre Alyce, my wyfe,[L41] And my chyldren three? Lyghtly let in thyne owne husbande, Wyllyam of Cloudeslè." "Alas!" then sayde fayre Alyce, 45 And syghed wonderous sore, "Thys place hath ben besette for you, Thys half yere and more." "Now am I here," sayde Cloudeslè, "I woulde that I in were:--[L50] 50 Now feche us meate and drynke ynoughe, And let us make good chere." She fetched him meat and drynke plenty, Lyke a true wedded wyfe, And pleased hym wyth that she had, 55 Whome she loved as her lyfe. There lay an old wyfe in that place, A lytle besyde the fyre, Whych Wyllyam had found, of cherytye, More then seven yere. 60 Up she rose and walked full styll, Evel mote she spede therefoore,[L62] For she had not set no fote on ground In seven yere before. She went unto the justice hall, 65 As fast as she could hye; "Thys nyght is come unto this town Wyllyam of Cloudeslè."