5 Now lith and lysten, gentylmen, And that of myrthes loueth to here: Two of them were single men, The third had a wedded fere. 6 Wyllyam was the wedded man, Muche more then was hys care: He sayde to hys brethen vpon a day, To Carelel he would fare, 7 For to speke with fayre Alse hys wife, And with hys chyldren thre: ‘By my trouth,’ sayde Adam Bel, ‘Not by the counsell of me. 8 ‘For if ye go to Caerlel, brother, And from thys wylde wode wende, If the justice mai you take, Your lyfe were at an ende.’ 9 ‘If that I come not to morowe, brother, By pryme to you agayne, Truste not els but that I am take, Or else that I am slayne.’ 10 He toke hys leaue of hys brethen two, And to Carlel he is gone; There he knocked at hys owne wyndowe, Shortlye and anone. 11 ‘Wher be you, fayre Alyce, my wyfe, And my chyldren three? Lyghtly let in thyne husbande, Wyllyam of Cloudesle.’ 12 ‘Alas!’ then sayde fayre Alyce, And syghed wonderous sore, ‘Thys place hath ben besette for you Thys halfe yere and more.’ 13 ‘Now am I here,’ sayde Cloudesle, ‘I woulde that I in were; Now feche vs meate and drynke ynoughe, And let vs make good chere.’ 14 She feched him meat and drynke plenty, Lyke a true wedded wyfe, And pleased hym with that she had, Whome she loued as her lyfe. 15 There lay an old wyfe in that place, A lytle besyde the fyre, Whych Wyllyam had found, of cherytye, More then seuen yere. 16 Up she rose, and walked full styll, Euel mote she spede therefoore! For she had not set no fote on ground In seuen yere before. 17 She went vnto the justice hall, As fast as she could hye: ‘Thys nyght is come vn to thys town Wyllyam of Cloudesle.’ 18 Thereof the iustice was full fayne, And so was the shirife also: ‘Thou shalt not trauaile hether, da_m_e, for nought; Thy meed thou shalt haue or thou go.’ 19 They gaue to her a ryght good goune, Of scarlat it was, as I heard say[n]e; She toke the gyft, and home she wente, And couched her doune agayne. 20 They rysed the towne of mery Carlel, In all the hast that they can, And came thronging to Wyllyames house, As fast [as] they might gone. 21 Theyr they besette that good yeman, Round about on euery syde; Wyllyam hearde great noyse of folkes, That heytherward they hyed. 22 Alyce opened a shot-wyndow, And loked all about; She was ware of the justice and the shrife bothe, Wyth a full great route. 23 ‘Alas! treason,’ cryed Alyce, ‘Euer wo may thou be! Go into my chambre, my husband,’ she sayd, ‘Swete Wyllyam of Cloudesle.’ 24 He toke hys sweard and hys bucler, Hys bow and hy[s] chyldren thre, And wente into hys strongest chamber, Where he thought surest to be.