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⟨When⟩ William cast his eyes aside,
Into the market-place,
And saw his two brethren prepar’d,
The justice for to chace.
⟨I⟩ see comfort,said Cloudeslie;
Yet hope I well to fare,
(illegible text) I might have my hands set free,
Right little might I care.
⟨When⟩ at last spoke good Adam Bell,
To Clim o’ th’ Clough so free,
Brother, see you mark Justice well,
Yonder you may him see.
Now at the sheriff shoot I will,
Strong with an arrow keen:
(illegible text) better shot of merry Carlisle,
These seven years was not seen.
They loos’d their arrows both at once,
Of no man they had dread;
One hit the Justice t’ other the sheriff,
That both their sides ’gan to bleed,
⟨All⟩ men voided that stood nigh,
When justice fell to the ground,
And the sheriff dropp’d nigh him by;
Either has his death's wound.
⟨All⟩ the citizens ’gan to fly,
They durst no longer abide;
⟨Where⟩ sightly they loos’d Cloudeslie
Where he with ropes lay ty’d.
William stepp’d to an officer o’ th’ town,
The axe from his hand wrung,
