Then spake William of Cloudesly;

By Him that for me died,

I hold him never no good archer,

That shooteth at butts so wide.

At what a butt now would you shoot, I pray thee tell to me?

At such a butt, sir, he said,

As men use in my country.

William went into a field,

And with him his two brethren :

There they set up two hazel rods
Twenty score paces between.

I hold him an archer, said Cloudesly,
That yonder wand cleaveth in two.
Here is none such, said the king,
Nor none that can so do.

I shall assay, sir, said Cloudesly,
Or that I farther go.

Cloudesly with a bearyng* arrow

Clave the wand in two.

* An arrow that flies well.

Thou art the best archer, then said the king,

For sooth that ever I see.

And yet for your love, said William,

I will do more mastery.

I have a son is seven year old,

He is to me full dear;

I will him tie to a stake;

All shall see, that be here ;

And lay an apple upon his head,
And go six score pace him fro',
And I myself with a broad arrow
Shall cleave the apple in two.

Now haste thee, then said the king,
By Him that died on a tree,

But if thou do not, as thou hast said,
Hanged shalt thou be.

An thou touch his head or gown,

In sight that men may see,

By all the saints that be in heaven,

I shall hang you all three.

That I have promised, said William,

That I will never forsake.

And there even before the king

In the earth he drove a stake:

And bound thereto his eldest son,
And bade him stand still thereat;
And turned the child's face him from,
Because he should not start.

An apple upon his head he set,
And then his bow he bent:

Six score paces they were meaten,*
And thither Cloudesly went.

There he drew out a fair broad arrow,

His bow was great and long,

He set that arrow in his bow,

That was both stiff and strong.

He prayed the people that were there, That they all still would stand,

For he that shooteth for such a wager,

Behoveth a stedfast hand.

* Measured.

Much people prayed for Cloudesly,

That his life saved might be,

And when he made him ready to shoot,
There was many weeping ee.

But Cloudesly cleft the apple in two,

His son he did not nee.

*

Over Gods forbode,† said the king,
That thou should shoot at me.

I give thee eighteen pence a day,
And my bow shalt thou bear,
And over all the north country

I make thee chief ranger.

And I thirteen pence a day, said the queen,

By God, and by my fa';

Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt,

No man shall say thee nay.

William, I make thee a gentleman

Of clothing, and of fee:

And thy two brethren, yeomen of my chamber,

For they are so seemly to see.

* Nigh.

+ God forbid.

Your son, for he is tender of age,

Of my wine-cellar he shall be ;

And when he cometh to man's estate,

Better advanced shall be he.

And, William, bring to me your wife, said the queen,

Me longeth her sore to see:

She shall be my chief gentlewoman,

To govern my nursery.

The yeomen thanked them courteously.
To some bishop will we wend,
Of all the sins, that we have done,
To be assoyld* at his hand.

So forth be gone these good yeomen,

As fast as they might he;+

And after came and dwelled with the king,

And died good men all three.

Thus ended the lives of these good yeomen;

God send them eternal bliss.

And all, that with a hand-bow shooteth,

That of heaven they never miss. Amen.