ow, brother,
By prime to you again,
Trust not else but that I am take,
Or else that I am slain."--
He took his leave of his brethren two,
And to Carlisle he is gone.
There he knocked at his own wind-ow
Shortly and anon.

"Where be you, fair Alice, my wife?
And my children three?
Lightly let in thine husb-and,
William of Cloudeslie."--
"Alas," then saide fair Al-ice,
And sigh-ed wondrous sore,
"This place hath been beset for you,
This half-e year and more."

"Now am I here," said Cloudeslie,
"I would that I in were;--
Now fetch us meat and drink enough,
And let us make good cheer."
She fetched him meat and drink plent-y,
Like a true wedded wife,
And pleas-ed him with that she had,
Whom she loved as her life.

There lay an old wife in that place,
A little beside the fire,
Which William had found of charity
Mor-e than seven year;
Up she rose, and walked full still,
Evil mote she speed therefore:
For she had not set no foot on ground
In seven year before.

She went unto the justice hall,
As fast as she could hie:
"This night is come unto this town
William of Cloudeslie."
Thereof the Justice was full fain,
And so was the Sheriff also;
"Thou shalt not travel hither, dame, for nought,
Thy meed thou shalt have, ere thou go."

They gave to her a right good gown,
Of scarlet it was, as I heard sain;
She took the gift and home she went,
And couched her down again.
They raised the town of merry Carlisle,
In all the haste that they can,
And came throng-ing to William's house,
As fast as they might gan.

There they beset that good yeo-man,
Round about on every side;
William heard great noise of folks,
That hitherward hied.
Alice opened a shot wind-ow,
And look-ed all about
She was ware of the Justice and the Sheriff both,
With a full great rout.

"Alas, treason!" cried Alice,
"Ever woe may thou be!--
Go into my chamber, my husband," she said,
"Sweet William of Cloudeslie."
He took his sword and his buckl-er,
His bow and his children three,
And went into his strongest chamber,
Where he thought surest to be.

Fair Al-ice followed him as a lover true,
With a poleaxe in her hand: