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Now fetch us meat and drink enough,
And let us make good cheer.
She fetch’d him meat and drink plenty,
Like a true wedded wife;
And pleased him with what she had,
Whom she lov'd as her life.
There lay an old wife in that place,
A little before the fire,
Which William found in charity,
Much more than seven years,
Then she arose and forth she goes,
Ill might her speed therefore,
For she had set no foot on ground,
For full seven years before.
She went unto the Justice’s hall,
As fast as she could hie:
This night, said she, is come to town,
William of Cloudeslie.
Thereat the justice was full fain,
And the sherriff also!
Thou shalt not travel hither for nought,
Unregarded ere thou go.
They gave to her a right good gown,
Of fine scarlet in grain:
So took the gift, and home she went,
And crouch’d her down again
They raise the town of merry Carlisle,
In all the haste they can,
And thronging fast unto the house
