Page:Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudeslie (2).pdf/18

 Sir, we be outlaws of the forest,

Certain withouten lease;

And hither come we to the King,

To get a charter of peace.

And when they came before the King,

As was the law o’ the land,

They kneeled down without lettyng.

And each held up his hand.

They said, lord, we beseech thee here

That ye will grant us grace;

For we have slain your fallow deer

In many a sundry place.

What be your names? then said the King,

Anone that tell you me;

They said, Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough,

And William of Cloudeslie.

Be ye those theves, then said the king,

That bene told of to me

Here to God I make an avowe,

Ye shall be hanged all three.

Ye shall be dead without mereymercy [sic]

As I’m King of this land;

He eommandedcommanded [sic] his officers everychone

Fast on them to lay hand.

There they took these good yeomen,

And arested them all three;

So may I thrive, said Adam Bell,

This game liketh not me.

But, good lord, we beseeehbeseech [sic] you now

That ye would grant us grace;

That as freely we did to you come,

As freely we may pass!