Adam Bell Of Inglewood Forest - Carlisle's Robin Hood

This lighthearted episode tells the tale of Adam Bell, Clym of The Clough and William of Cloudslie, three medieval outlaws living in Inglewood Forest. This Royal Forest once thrived between Penrith and Carlisle. 

After six months in the forest, William attempts to see his wife in Carlisle but is caught and faces the noose. 

Will Adam and Clym be able to rescue their brother? And to what ends will these men go to obtain their freedom? 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:30

Arit and welcome to Carlisle Times and Crimes, the Lyle Podcast bringing you centuries of crack and scandal from the Great Border City. This month we delve into the mists of time, where fact and fiction marry and folklore is born. Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest wasn't the only popular heroic outlaw going off grid in the Middle Ages, and Carlisle can claim its own in the form of Adam Bell and his companions, William Cloudsley and Clem of the Clough. Between Carlisle and Penrith once stood the vast royal forest of Inglewood. A royal forest meant that only the kin could hunt there, with anyone caught doing so potentially paying with their life. Although Inglewood Forest has links to the Arthurian tales and romances, historical and literary, the forest has other folklore to tell. Like with Robin Hood, the sources we have appear over a hundred years after the events. The poem Adam Bell is thought to date from the early 1500s, with fragments being found from the reign of Henry VIII. However, the earliest complete copy is from around 1557 by William Copeland. In the 19th century, the story was included in the English and Scottish Popular Ballads by Francis James Child. Known as the Child Ballads, the book contained 305 traditional ballads from the previous 600 years or so. Number 116 was entitled Adam Bell, Clem of the Clough, and William of Cloudsley. Today's tale is based on Henry Morley's version of the poem, and you can find that at allpoetry.com slash Henry Dash Morley. Strangely, Adam Bell is not quite the central hero to this story. Our main protagonist is William Cloudsley, but there is certainly an equal brotherhood between the three men. The story takes place over three acts known as fights. And I will warn you now, there will be some medieval badcore going on here as I attempt to sin a little. So pour a mead, chomp on a chicken leg, grab a lyre, and listen to the bird song of the woods. Join me as we take a deeks at Adam Bell of Inglewood Forest Carlisle's Robin Hood. Mary it was in green forest among the leaves green, where that men walk both east and west with bows and arrows keen to rise the deer out of the den such sights as often seen as by free omen of the north country by them it is as I mean The one of them hides Adam Bell, the other climb of the clough, the third William of Cloudsley a notcher good enough They were outlawed for venison these free yeomen every one they swore them brethren upon a day to England far to gone. We are introduced to the free men who have all been caught poaching game but have managed to evade capture and are outlawed. The three swear a brotherhood and journey into the deepest areas of the forest to escape justice. While Adam Bell and Clymouth the Clough were single men, carefree with no responsibilities, William Cloudsley had a wife and family, and it broke his heart to be kept away from them. No contact could be made, and William couldn't be certain of their safety and well-being. Without the main provider, his children could starve to death, and he relied on a couple of trusted acquaintances who ventured into the woods to keep him informed. William was a wedded man, much more than was his care. He said to his brethren upon a day to call he would fare, for to speak with fair Alice his wife, and with his children free by my truth said Adam Bell, not by the counsel of me, for if you go to Carlisle, brother, and from this wild wood wend if justice may you take your life were at an end that I come not to morrow, brother by prime to you wake trust not, but at I am take or else that I am slay. After around six months of hiding out in the woods, William decided he was going to sneak into Carlisle and try and see his family. Adam and Clem tried desperately to talk him out of it, knowing that William stood little chance of returning. That is, if he ever made it to his house in the first instance. Through all this time the men had bonded, and although they didn't think it wise, Adam and Clim knew that they could not stand in his way, and William began his journey to the city. If he did not return by morning, they should presume him captured or dead, he told them as he departed the depths of the forest. William's incognito mission to Carlisle was successful, and he slipped through the city gates unnoticed. Well be you fair Alice, my wife and my children free Lightly let in thine husband William of Clouds lead. Alas then said fair Alice and sighed under a song. This place hath been beset for you this half a year and more. William reached his house in Carlisle. A prearranged secret knock alerted Alice his wife to her husband's return, and she leaped up in joy, recognizing the knock straight away. It had been a long six months without her husband, and she threw her arms around him in the sweetest embrace. The children were also ecstatic at their father's return, and they rushed towards him, each clutching a fatherly limb. A most heartwarming reunion indeed. After all, in their eyes, William's only crime was trying to feed and provide for his family. Now I am here, said Cloudsley. I would that I in were now fetch us meat and drink enough and let us make good cheer. William stood there as everyone gathered round to hug him, and a celebratory feast was called for. Alice provided a plentiful supply of meat and drink, and good cheer was had by everyone. Everyone except one old body lurking in the corner. There lay in an old wife in that place a little beside the fire, which William had founder charity for more than seven years up she rose and walked full still evil moat she speed therefore, for she had not set foot on ground in seven years before. In the corner lay an old woman, who William had taken in and fed for more than seven years. Day after day, week after week, month after month she had laid there, never leaving the house, not even leaving her makeshift bed. Any happiness she displayed at her benefactor walking through the door was soon trampled on and betrayed. As the family joyously reconnected, and William enthralled his family with tales of his life in the forest, the old woman slipped out of the house for the first time in years and scurried to the sheriff of Carlisle to inform him of the fugitive's return and current location. A scarlet dress was her reward. They gave to her a right good gown of scarlet it was as I heard saying she took the gift and home she went and couched her down again. They raised the town of Mary Carlisle in all the haste that they can and came fronning to William's house as fast as they might can. Before they knew it, the family's house was surrounded by soldiers. The murmur grew into a roar as the soldiers' boots clicked the ground and voices grew louder. Alice looked out of a little window and surveyed the scene before her. A great crowd, with both the justice and the sheriff at the head. Alas, treason cried Alice. Go into my chamber, my husband, she said, Sweet William of Clousley. He took his sword and his buckler, his bow and his children free, and went into his strongest chamber, where he thought surest to be. William knew he couldn't meekly surrender, and so, inspired by his wife's fight in nature, prepared to take his last stand. He'd rather die in combat than be hanged as a criminal. Fair Alice followed him as a lover true, with a pole axe in her hand. He shall be dead, then here cometh in this door while I may stand. William shot arrow after arrow after arrow from his lombow while Alice, armed with a pole axe like all good wives, threw various missiles from the window alongside the kids. One of William's arrows struck the justice on the chest, and it split into three upon impact. The justice had taken protective measures and was unharmed. God's curse on his heart, said William. This day thy coats did on. If it had been no better than mine, it had gone near thy bone. The justice offered William a chance to disarm and surrender, but Alice refused. God's curse on his heart, she repeated. But the authorities were determined to serve some hard justice to William and anyone else who stood in their way. Set the fire on the house, said the sheriff. And burn we therein William, he said, his wife and his children free. The order was given to burn the house to force all of the occupants out. The fire soon took hold, the flames quickly rising up the modest medieval property. I see we shall here die, cried Fair Alice. Here, have my treasure, said William, my wife and my children free. For Christ's love, do them no harm, but wreak you all on me. William and Alice were forced to lower the children out the window to safety via several bed sheets knotted together. William implored Alice to go down next, but she refused, wanting to stay and die by her husband's side. As brave as this would be, William eventually made his wife realize that her life was too important. Who would look after the children if both parents dead? Alice relented and shimmied down the knotted sheets. William shot so wondrous well till his arrows were all gone, and the fire so fast upon him fell that his bowstring burnt in two The sparkles burnt and fell upon good William of Cloudsley. But then he was a woeful man and said this is a coward's death to me. The flames engulfed the house, and William was forced to jump when a lick of fire burnt the string of his bow. On landing on the ground, he sprang up and began cleaving his way through soldiers with his sword. In the melee, some soldiers used William's own front door and windows to trap and capture him. Clousley was shackled hand and foot and was taken to spend the night in the dungeon. It would be his final night on earth. Orders were immediately given by the sheriff to construct a gallows ready for his execution the next morning. The city gates were also ordered to be locked. Nobody would obstruct the king's justice from being carried out. Not Clem of the Clough, nor Adam Bell, a thousand more like him, or all the devils in hell. The morning sun rose over Carlisle Market Place, where the finishing touches were being applied to the new gallows erected beside the town pillory. A map of Carlisle from the 1560s places the pillory in the marketplace right at the end of St. Cuthbert's Lane. A little boy stood them among and asked what meant that gallows tree. They said to Hannah Good yeoman called William of Cloudsley The little boy was the town swine hurt and kept Fair Alice's swine. Full oft he had seen William in the wood and given him there to dine. Many in the city were appalled by the means of capture, endangering the lives of a young family. Word soon spread from house to house, street to street, lane to lane, and the townsfolk began congregating to see what the crack was. A young swine herd who knew the Clausley family heard the sheriff's plans and sneaked out of a small crevice in the city walls to try and find Adam and Clint to inform them of William's predicament. The boy was found by the pair as he searched the woods, and Adam ruled William's capture, regretting that his friend had declined to take his advice not to go. But they decided to ride to the rescue. This ends the first fight. The second fight begins as Adam Bell and Clem of the Clough arrive at Carlisle Gates, suitably impressed at the security precautions taken in dealing with their fellow desperado. And spake him Clim of the Clough. With a while we will spring. Let us say we be messengers straight coming from our kin. Adam said I have a letter written well now. We will say we have the kin seal. I hold the porter to be no clerk. Adam hammered his fist on the gates, startling the guard. When questioned, Adam produced his decoy letter and informed the guard that they had an official letter from the king. Here cometh no man in, said the porter, by him that died on a tree, till that false thief be hang called William of Cloudsley. The guard initially refused, stating that no one be allowed in until William Cloudsley had been hanged and declared dead. Climb of the Clough then spoke to assure the guard that anyone delaying the delivery of this important letter would do so on pain of death and join the common thieves on the gallows with a noose round the neck. We have the kin seal, Climp reiterated, insulting the guard for being thick as wood for not recognising it. Adam's prediction of the porter being no clerk proved true. The illiterate guard quickly scanned the letter's contents and seeing the kin seal let the men through. Now we are in, said Adam Bell. Thereof we are full fame. But Christ he knoweth that Harrow tell how we shall come out again. Adam and Clem knew that they would need to pass back through this gate to escape, and the guard would surely raise the alarm at some point. Now, one version of the story says that the duo tied up and gagged the guard before taking his bundle of keys too. However, this version is a bit darker. They called the porter to a council and ran his neck into and cast him in a deep dungeon and took the keys him through. A handy nearby dungeon would suggest that Adam and Clem entered the city through the Scotch Gate, which once had a prison above it. On the other hand, there's long been a jail building near the old English gate. Either way. The outlaws joked and laughed at how they held the keys to the city in their very hands. Now I am porter, said Adam Bell. See, brothers, the keys we have here. The worst porter, to merry Carlisle they have had this hundred year. The men prepared their bows and headed to the market place where they found a crowd gathered. The justice surrounded by a quest of sires, and William tied up on a flat wagon in preparation for his imminent execution, the strong rope already round his neck. A lad was summoned from the crowd to measure Clousley for his grave, and to promise the dead man's clothes for doing so, much to Cloudsley's cursing. Thou speakest proudly, said the justice, I shall hand thee with my hand. William cast his eyes around the crowd and spotted his Inglewood brethren, filling him with comfort and hope. Then spake good Adam Bell to Cliff of the club so free Brother see ye mark the justice well lower under ye may him see And at the sheriff shoot I will strongly without O'King. A better shot in Merry Carlisle the seven years not seen. As the proceedings began, the two men loosed their arrows at the same time, with both men hitting their targets true. One arrow flew straight into the sheriff's forehead, the other piercing the justice. The justice fell to the ground dead, and his sires stood back and then scarpered. In the chaos and confusion that reigned, sympathetic townsfolk loosened William's restraints, and he was reunited with his blood brothers. William said to his brethren too, together let us live indeed. If ever you have need as I have now the same shall ye find of me. They shut so well in that tide for their strings were full of silk shore that they kept the streets on every side That battle did long endure. They fought together as brethren true, like hardy men and bold. Many a man to the ground they threw, and many a heart made cold. Adam and Clim exhausted their arrow supply and threw away their bows, fighting off the soldiers with swords and bucklers, a small medieval style of shield gripped in the fist rather than strapped to a forearm. As the midday sun burnt down on Carlisle, the wounded and dead piled up in the streets, the bells ran backwards, and the women mourned their men. The mayor of Carlisle appeared armed with a pole axe and backed up by an intimidating pack of heavies. The mayor had one person in his sight. The execution of William Cloudsley would take place today, come hell or high water, as far as the mayor was concerned. He swung the axe at William, who tried to parry the strike with his buckler shield, but the blow burst it in half. It mattered not. The mayor of Carlisle was slain in his own streets by an outlaw. Some of his gang attempted to barricade the gates, but they too were cut through. As they escaped through the gates, Adam threw the keys back at the surviving soldiers and resigned his position of keyholder, suggesting they employ a better guard next time. And the trio fled out of the gates and galloped off back to Inglewood Forest. Thus be these good yummen gone to the wood as light as Leafon Lind, they laugh and be merry in their mood. Their enemies were far behind. We then move into the third fight of the narrative. As they sat in Englewood under the Tristan tree, they thought they heard a woman weep, but her they might not see. The three men arrived back at the forest where, under the Tristan tree, they could hear Alice and the children deep in grief, believing William to have been executed. It took the men a few moments to pinpoint their location, but William soon discovered them, and another happy reunion commenced. The merry men set out to hunt some deer for a celebratory feast that evening. And when they had supported without lease, Cloudsley said we will to our kin to get us a charter of peace. After the feast, the men decided they had no option but to travel to the kin and beg for mercy. News would soon reach the king of the chaos at Carlisle, and so Adam, Clem, William, and William's eldest son set off to London. William's son would return with news of how the men fared in their royal audience, or more likely, bring home news of their executions. Alice and the two youngest children were sent to a nearby nunnery for protection, and I like to think that this nunnery is related to the old nunnery near Armouthwaite and Aynstable. But there's no way of knowing. Once the men arrived at the king's palace, they stormed past the guards and courtiers as if they weren't even there. The freemen told the usher as they passed that they were outlaws of the forest here to see the kin, as they strode straight up to the monarch and fell at his feet. They begged for mercy for hunting the kin's deer. What be your names? Then said our kin, an none that you tell me This said Adam Bell Climb of the Clough and William of Cloudsley Be you those thieves then said our kin that men have told of to me Here to God I make a vow ye shall be hand all free. The men's reputations had obviously preceded them, and I'm sure they were quietly impressed that their names had passed the kin's ears and lips. However, the enraged kin ordered death to the felons without mercy, and ordered his soldiers to seize and arrest them. This was for stealing deer. Imagine what the kin would have done if he knew about the murderous carnage in Carlisle. The men reiterated that they had travelled to ask for pardon, and if forgiven, they would not cause the kin trouble again, even if they lived for a hundred years. The kin was adamant they would han, but suddenly his queen interjected. My lord when I first came into this land to be your wedded wife, you said the first boon that I would ask ye would grant it me. Reminding the kin that she had yet to receive a wedding present from him, she requested that the men be given their freedom as her matrimonial gift. The kin was confused. She could have picked any present, any jewel, any castle, forest or town that she wanted. But the queen insisted that those things would not bring her any happiness. The kin thought about it and agreed, and sent the men away to bathe, eat and rest. Well, no sooner had the men been given clemency than two messengers from the north arrived. Lord, your officers greet you well of Carlisle in the North Country How third by justice, said the kin, and my sheriff also, they be slain without leasing and many an officer more. The kin demanded to know who was responsible for the death of the city hierarchy. What heinous monster had done this The messenger gave three names Adam Bell, Clem of the Clough, and William Cloudsley. The kin was furious that he had pardoned the Gan before finding out all the facts. There would have been no mercy no matter what his queen asked of him if he knew all this, and all three would have handed for their multiple crimes. The kin he opened the letter and on himself he read it though and found how these three outlaws had slain three hundred men and more first the justice and then the sheriff and the mayor of Carlisle Town of all the constables and catchables alive were left but one the bailiffs and the beetles both and the sergeants of the law and forty fosters of the fee these outlaws have they slaughter The Kin felt sick to the pit of his stomach and ordered the food in front of him to be taken away. He couldn't eat at a time like this. He pondered for a moment. The kin's best archers were summoned to accompany him to the archery butts. It was decided that a game of archery would test the accused men. After all, could these three men have killed the entire authority in Carlisle? The Queen's bowmen joined the kin's archers, and the arrows started flying to their stationary targets. William wasn't exactly impressed with any of the royal bowmen and proposed the three of them test their archery skills the way they did it in Carlisle. Two hazel rods were set up in a field, and from twenty score paces away, William promised the king he would split the rod in two, which the monarch thought quite impossible. With one arrow, William achieved what the king thought no man could do. The king was mightily impressed. Sensing an opportunity to impress the king further, William proposed a further trick shot. I have a son is seven years old, he is too meful dear. I will tie him to a stake and shall see him that be here and lay an apple upon his head and go six paces him fro and I myself with a broad arrow shall cleave the apple in two. This bravado irked the kin, and raising the stakes further, the kin told William he would be executed if he missed the shot. If the straight arrow harmed the boy, all three men would be hanged. Now the apple on the head artery trick appears in several folk tales of Germanic origin, most likely as a storytelling device to hyperbolize the drama and skills of the hero. William drove the stake into the ground, tied his son to it, and turned the boy's face away. If the lad saw the arrow coming, any flinch could be fatal. After six score paces, William drew his bow. He prayed that the crowd would stay still and calm, but many were already weeping. The Scarsley cleft the apple in two as many a man might see. Now God forbid, then said the kin, that ever thou shoot at me. Again the expert marksman held firm and sliced the apple in two with his arrow. The kin feared ever being on the receiving end of William's marksmanship and appointed him chief rider. After a visit to the bishop to absolve them of their sins, the band of northerners were accepted into the king's court, where they lived out their days. William as a gentleman, and Adam and Clem as yeomen, receiving eighteen P a day from the king and seventeen P a day from the Queen. William's wife Alice and the children were sent for from the nunnery, with Alice made the Queen's gentlewoman to govern her nursery. The send it the lies of these good men God send them eternal bliss and all that with a hand bow shooteth that of heaven they may never miss. In fourteen thirty-two, a parliament role for Wilshire showed several outlaw names including Robin Hood, Little John, Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William Cloudsley, proving that the names of our protagonists had spread long before the earliest known publishing date. Shakespeare was most likely aware of the tale too, with reference being made of Adam Bell in Act 1, Scene 1 of Much Ado About Nothing. And he that hits me, let him be clapped on the shoulder and called Adam. Like with Robin Hood, it's believed that King John is the monarch of the story. However, at no time is the monarch ever named, allowing the storyteller, should they wish, to pick any monarch of their choice. Historian Joseph Hunter attempted to pinpoint Bell as historical fact and pointed out an annuity of £4.10 granted to Adam Bell of Clipston, Sherwood Forest, by King Henry IV in 1406. This was revoked after Adam Bell aligned with the Scots. Perhaps this treasonous act brought about the end of the legend of Adam Bell, banished to the debatable lands, and gave birth to a new English hero, Robin Hood. Before I leave you today, as always, you can support this podcast by rating, following and sharing. And you can follow Carlisle Times and Crimes on Facebook for more crack and scandal from the Great Border City. If you'd like to donate towards running costs, you could do so at Kofi dot com slash Carlisle Times Crimes. That's KONFI dot com slash Carlisle Times Crimes. Thanks for listening. Hope you've enjoyed this episode. Take care, and I'll see you again soon.