67 All the country then was raisd, The traytor for to take That for the loue of Cisley faire Had all this slaughter make. 68 To the woods hied William tho— ’Twas best of all his play— Where in a caue with Cisley faire He liued many a day. 69 Proclamation then was sent The country all around, The lord of Mansfield should he be That first the traytor found. 70 Till the court these tydings came, Where all men did bewaile The yong and lusty William, Which so had made them quaile. 71 Hied vp then William Cloudesley, And lustie Adam Bell, And famous Clim of the Clough, Which three then did excell. 72 To the king they hied them fast, Full quickly and anon; ‘Mercy I pray,’ quoth old William, ‘For William my sonne.’ 73 ‘No mercy, traitors,’ quoth the king, ‘Hangd shall yee be all foure; Vnder my nose this plot haue you laid To bringe to passe before.’ 74 ‘In sooth,’ bespake then Adam Bell, ‘Ill signe Your Grace hath seene Of any such comotion Since with you we haue beene. 75 ‘If then we can no mercy haue, But leese both life and goods, Of your good grace we take our leaue And hie vs to the woods.’ 76 ‘Arme, arme,’ then quoth the king, ‘My merry men euerychone, Full fast againe these rebbells now Vnto the woods are gone. 77 ‘A, wo is vs! what shall we doo, Or which way shall we worke, To hunt them forth out of the woods, So traytrouslie there that lurke?’ 78 ‘List you,’ quoth a counsellor graue, A wise man he seemd; The[n] craued the king his pardon free Vnto them to haue deemd. 79 ‘God’s forbod!’ quoth the king, ‘I neuer it will do! For they shall hang, each mother’s sonne; Faire sir, I tell you true.’ 80 Fifty thousand men were charged After them for to take; Some of them, set in sundry townes, In companies did waite. 81 To the woods gan some to goe, In hope to find them out; And them perforce they thought to take, If they might find them out. 82 To the woods still as they came Dispatched still they were; Which made full many a trembling heart, And many a man in feare. 83 Still the outlawes, Adam Bell And Clim of the Clough, Made iolly cheere with venison, Strong drinke and wine enough. 84 ‘Christ me blesse!’ then said our king, ‘Such men were neuer knowne; They are the stoutest-hearted men That manhoode euer showne. 85 ‘Come, my secretary good, And cause to be declared A generall pardone to them all, Which neuer shall be discared. 86 ‘Liuing plenty shall they haue, Of gold and eke of fee, If they will, as they did before, Come liue in court with me.’ 87 Sodenly went forth the newes, Declared by trumpets sound, Whereof these three were well aduis’d, In caue as they were in ground.