A pair of new gallows there they see, And the justice with a quest of swearers, That had judged Cloudeslè there hanged to be. And Cloudeslè himself lay ready in a cart, Fast bound both foot and hand, And a strong rope about his neck, All ready for to be hanged. The justice called to him a lad, Cloudeslès clothes should he have, To take the measure of that good yeoman, And thereafter to make his grave. "I have seen as great a marvel," said Cloudeslè, "As between this and prime, He that maketh this grave for me, Himself may lie therein." "Thou speakest proudly," said the justice, "I shall thee hang with my hand:" Full well that heard his brethren-two, There still as they did stand. Then Cloudeslè cast his eyen aside, And saw his two brethren stand, At a corner of the market place, With their good bows bent in their hand. (_quest,_ jury.) "I see good comfort," said Cloudeslè, "Yet hope I well to fare; If I might have my hands at will, Right little would I care." Then spake good Adam Bel, To Clym of the Clough so free, "Brother, see ye mark the justice well, Lo yonder ye may him see. "And at the sheriff shoot I will, Strongly with an arrow keen; A better shot in merry Carlisle This seven year was not seen." They loosed their arrows both at once, Of no man had they dread; The one hit the justice, the other the sheriff, That both their sides gan bleed. All men voided, that them stood nigh, When the justice fell down to the ground, And the sheriff fell nigh him by, Either had had his deaths wound. All the citizens fast gan fly, They durst no longer abide; Then lightly they loosed Cloudeslè, When he with ropes lay tied. William stert to an officer of the town, His axe out of his hand he wrong, On each side he smote them down, Him thought he tarried all too long. William said to his brethren two, "This day let us together live and die; If ever you have need as I have now, The same shall you find by me." They shot so well in that tide, For their strings were of silk full sure, That they kept the streets on every side: That battle did long endure. They fought together as brethren true, Like hardy men and bold; Many a man to the ground they threw, And many a heart made cold. But when their arrows were all gone, Men pressed on them full fast; They drew their swords then anon, And their bows from them cast. They went lightly on their way, With swords and bucklers round; By that it was the middle of the day, They had made many a wound. (_stert,_ rushed. _wrong_, wrung. _sure_, trusty.) There was many an out-horn in Carlisle blowen, And the bells backward did they ring; Many a woman said alas, And many their hands did wring.