Lightly let in thine own husband, William of Cloudeslè." "Alas!" then said fair Alice, And sighed wondrous sore, "This place hath been beset for you, This half year and more." "Now am I here," said Cloudeslè, "I would that I in were:-- Now fetch us meat and drink enough, And let us make good cheer." She fetched him meat and drink plenty, Like a true wedded wife, And pleased him with that she had, Whom she loved as her life. There lay an old wife in that place, A little beside the fire, Which William had found, of charity, More than seven year. Up she rose and walked full still, Evil mote she sped therefore, For she had not set no foot on ground In seven year before. She went unto the justice hall, As fast as she could hie; "This night is come unto this town William of Cloudeslè." Thereof the justice was full fain, And so was the sheriff also; "Thou shalt not travel hither, dame, for nought, Thy meed thou shalt have or thou go." They gave to her a right good gown, Of scarlet it was, as I heard sayen; She took the gift and home she went, And couched her down again. They raised the town of merry Carlisle, In all the haste that they can, And came thronging to Williams house, As fast as they might gone. (_found--i.e._ found for, provided for. _still_, quietly) There they beset that good yeoman, Round about on every side, William heard great noise of folks, That hitherward they hied. Alice opened a shot-window, And looked all about, She was ware of the justice and sheriff both, With a full great rout. "Alas! treason," cried Alice. "Ever woe may thou be! Go into my chamber, my husband," she said, "Sweet William of Cloudeslè." He took his sword and his buckler, His bow and his children three, And went into his strongest chamber, Where he thought surest to be. Fair Alice followed him as a lover true, With a pollaxe in her hand; "He shall be dead that here cometh in This door, while I may stand." Cloudeslè bent a well good bow, That was of trusty tree, He smote the justice on the breast, That his arrow burst in three. (_shot-window_, projecting window.) "Gods curse on his heart," said William, "This day thy coat did on; If it had been no better than mine, It had gone near thy bone." "Yield thee, Cloudeslè," said the justice, "And thy bow and thy arrows thee fro:" "Gods curse on his heart," said fair Alice, "That my husband counselleth so." "Set fire on the house," said the sheriff, "Sith it will no better be, And we burn 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 his back window,