They called the porter to counsel, And wrung his neck in two, And cast him in a deep dungeon, And took his keys him fro'. Now am I porter, said Adam Bell, See, brother, the keys are here, The worst porter to merry Carlisle That they had this hundred year. And now will we our bows bend, Into the town will we go, For to deliver our dear brother, That lyeth in care and woe. Then they bent their good yew bows, And looked their strings were round, The market place in merry Carlisle They beset that stound.[52] And, as they looked them beside, A pair of new gallows they see, And the justice with a quest of squires, Had judged William hanged to be. And Cloudesly lay ready there in a cart, Fast bound both foot and hand; And a strong rope about his neck, All ready for to hang. The justice called to him a lad, Cloudesly's clothes he should have, To take the measure of that yeoman, Thereafter to make his grave. I have seen as great marvel, said Cloudesly, As between this and pryme,[53] He that maketh a grave for me Himself may lie therein. Thou speakest proudly, said the justice, I will thee hang with my hand. Full well heard this his brethren two, There still as they did stand. Then Cloudesly cast his eyes aside, And saw his brethren twain At a corner of the market place, Ready the justice for to slain. I see comfort, said Cloudesly, Yet hope I well to fare, If I might have my hands at will Right little would I care. Then spake good Adam Bell To Clym of the Clough so free, Brother, see you mark the justice well; Lo! yonder you may him see: And at the sheriff shoot I will Strongly with 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 to the ground, And the sheriff nigh him by; Either had his death's wound. All the citizens fast began to fly, They durst no longer abide: There lightly they loosed Cloudesly, Where he with ropes lay tied. William start to an officer of the town, His axe from his hand he wrung, On each side he smote them down, He thought he tarried too long. William said to his brethren two, This day let us 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, Their strings were of silk full sure, That they kept the streets on every side; That battle did long endure.