46 He was so with anger mooued He sware a well great oth, ‘Deere should he pay, if I him knew, Forsooth and by my troth!’ 47 Gone he is to finde her out, Not knowing where she is; Still wandring in the weary wood, His true-loue he doth misse. 48 William purchast hath the game, Which he doth meane to hold: ‘Come rescew her, and if you can, And dare to be so bold!’ 49 At length when he had wandred long About the forrest wide, A candle-light a furlong off Full quickly he espied. 50 Then to the house he hied him fast, Where quickly he gan here The voice of his owne deere true-loue, A making bonny cheere. 51 Then gan he say to Cisley tho, O Cisley, come a way! I haue beene wandring thee to finde Since shutting in of day. 52 ‘Who calls faire Cisse?’ quoth William then; ‘What carle dares bee so bold Once to aduenture to her to speake Whom I haue now in hold?’ 53 ‘List thee, faire sir,’ quoth Cislei’s loue, ‘Let quickly her from you part; For all your lordly words, I sweare I’le haue her, or make you smart.’ 54 Yong William to his bright browne sword Gan quickly then to take: ‘Because thou so dost challenge me, I’le make thy kingdome quake. 55 ‘Betake thee to thy weapon strong; Faire time I giue to thee; And for my loue as well as thine A combat fight will I.’ 56 ‘Neuer let sonne,’ quoth Cislei’s loue, ‘Shine more vpon my head, If I doe flie, by heauen aboue, Wert thou a giant bred.’ 57 To bilbo-blade gat William tho, And buckler stiffe and strong; A stout battaile then they fought, Well nie two houres long. 58 Where many a grieuous wound was giue To each on either part; Till both the champions then were droue Almost quite out of heart. 59 Pitteous mone faire Cisley made, That all the forrest rong; The grieuous shrikes made such a noise, She had so shrill a tongue. 60 At last came in the keepers three, With bowes and arrowes keene, Where they let flie among these two, An hundred as I weene. 61 William, stout and strong in heart, When he had them espied, Set on corrage for his part; Among the thickst he hied. 62 The chiefe ranger of the woods At first did William smite; Where, at on blow, he smot his head Fro off his shoulders quite. 63 And being in so furious teene, About him then he laid; He slew immediatly the wight Was sutor to the maide. 64 Great moane was then made; The like was neuer heard; Which made the people all around To crie, they were so feard. 65 ‘Arme! arme!’ the country cried, ‘For God’s loue quickly hie!’ Neuer was such a slaughter seene In all the north country. 66 Will[iam] still, though wounded sore, Continued in his fight Till he had slaine them all foure, That very winter-night.