"--
"Whereat, then?" said our King,
"I pray thee tell to me."--
"At such a butt, sir," he said,
"As men use in my countree."--
William went into the field,
And his two brothers with him,
There they set up two hazel rods,
Twenty score paces between.
"I hold him an archer," said Cloudeslie,
"That yonder wand cleaveth in two."--
"Here is none such," said the King,
"For no man that can so do."
"I shall assay, sir," said Cloudeslie,
"Ere that I farther go."
Cloudeslie with a bearing arrow
Clave the wand in two.
"Thou art the best archer," said the King,
"Forsooth that ever I see."--
"And yet for your love," said William,
"I will do more mastrie.
"I have a son is seven year old;
He is to me full dear;
I will tie him to a stake,
All shall see him that be here,
And lay an apple upon his head,
And go six score paces 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,
Hang-ed 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 you hang all three.
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