Then Adam Bell beat on the gate,
With strok-es great and strong;
The porter heard such noise thereat,
And to the gate he throng.
"Who is there now," said the porter,
"That maketh all this knocking?"
"We be two messengers," said Clym of the Clough,
"Be comen straight from our King."

"We have a letter," said Adam Bell,
"To the Justice we must it bring;
Let us in our message to do,
That we were again to our King."
"Here cometh no man in," said the porter,
"By him that died on a tree,
Till that a false thief be hanged,
Called William of Cloudeslie!"

Then spake the good yeoman Clym of the Clough,
And swore by Mary free,
"If that we stand-e long without,
Like a thief hanged shalt thou be.
Lo here we have the King-es seal;
What, lourdain, art thou wood?"
The porter weened it had been so,
And lightly did off his hood.

"Welcome be my lord's seal," said he,
"For that shall ye come in."
He opened the gate right shortelie,