me," she said, "that ye be here!
My heart is out of woe."--
"Dame," he said, "be merry and glad,
And thank my brethren two."

"Hereof to speak," said Adam Bell,
"Iwis it is no boot;
The meat that we must sup withal
It runneth yet fast on foot."
Then went they down into the launde,
These noble archers all three;
Each of them slew a hart of grease,
The best that they could see.

"Have here the best, Al-ice, my wife,"
Said William of Cloudeslie,
"Because ye so boldly stood me by
When I was slain full nie."
And then they went to their supp-er
With such meat as they had,
And thanked God of their fort-une;
They were both merry and glad.

And when that they had supp-ed well,
Certain withouten lease,
Cloudeslie said: "We will to our King,
To get us a charter of peace;
Al-ice shall be at our sojourning,
In a nunnery here beside,
And my two sons shall with her go,
And there they shall abide.

"Mine eldest son shall go with me,
For him have I no care,
And he shall bring you word again
How that we do fare."
Thus be these yeomen to London gone,
As fast as they may hie,
Till they came to the King's pal-ace,
Where they would needs be.

And when they came to the King-es court,
Unto the palace gate,
Of no man would they ask no leave,
But boldly went in thereat.
They press-ed prestly into the hall,
Of no man had they dread;
The porter came after, and did them call,
And with them gan to chide.

The usher said: "Yeomen, what would ye have?
I pray you tell to me;
You might thus make officers shent,
Good sirs, of whence be ye?"
"Sir, we be outlaws of the for-est,
Certain without any lease,
And hither we be come to our King,
To get us a charter of peace."--

And when they came before the King,
As it was the law of the land,
They kneel-ed down without lett-ing,
And each held up his hand.
They said: "Lord, we beseech thee here,
That ye will grant us grace:
For we have slain your fat fallow deer
In many a sundry place."--

"What be your names?" then said our King,
"Anon that you tell me."
They said: "Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough,
And William of Cloudeslie."--
"Be ye those thieves," then said