our King,
"That men have told of to me?
Here to God I make avowe
Ye shall be hanged all three!

"Ye shall be dead without merc-y,
As I am King of this land."
He commanded his officers every one
Fast on them to lay hand.
There they took these good yeomen;
And arrested them all three.
"So may I thrive," said Adam Bell,
"This game liketh not me.

"But, good lord, we beseech you now,
That ye will grant us grace,
Insomuch as we be to you comen;
Or else that we may fro you pace
With such weapons as we have here,
Till we be out of your place;
And if we live this hundred year,
Of you we will ask no grace."--

"Ye speak proudly," said the King;
"Ye shall be hanged all three."
"That were great pity," then said the Queen,
"If any grace might be.
My lord, when I came first into this land,
To be your wedded wife,
Ye said the first boon that I would ask,
Ye would grant it me belife.

"And I asked never none till now:
Therefore, good lord, grant it me."
"Now ask it, madam," said the King,
"And granted shall it be."--
"Then, good my lord, I you beseech,
These yeomen grant ye me."--
"Madam, ye might have asked a boon,
That should have been worth them all three:

"Ye might have ask-ed towers and towns,
Parks and for-ests plent-y."--
"None so pleasant to my pay," she said,
"Nor none so lief to me."--
"Madam, sith it is your desire,
Your asking granted shall be;
But I had liever have given you
Good market town-es three."

The Queen she was a glad wom-an,
And said: "Lord, gramerc-y,
I dare well undertake for them
That true men shall they be.
But, good lord, speak some merry word,
That comfort they may see."--
"I grant you grace," then said our King;
"Wash, fellows, and to meat go ye."

They had not sitten but a while,
Certain, without leas-ing,
There came two messengers out of the north,
With letters to our King.
And when they came before the King,
They kneeled down upon their knee,
And said: "Lord, your officers greet you well
Of Carlisle in the north countree."--

"How fareth my Justice?" said the King,
"And my Sheriff also?"--
"Sir, they be slain, without leas-ing,
And many an officer mo."--