Seynt Stevene Was a Clerk

SEYNT Stevene was a clerk
in kyng Herowdes halle,

And servyd him of bred and cloth,
as every kyng befalle.
Stevyn out of kechoun cam
with boris hed on honde,
He saw a sterre was fayr and bryõt
over Bedlem stonde.
He kyst adoun the bores hed,
and went into the halle,
” I forsak the, kyng Herowdes,
and thi werkes alle.
I forsak the, kyng Herowdes,
and thi werkes alle,
Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born,
is beter than we alle.”
” Quat eylyt the, Stevene ?
quat is the befalle ?
Lakkyt the eyther mete or drynk
in kyng Herodwes halle?”
“Lakit me neyther mete ne drynk
in kyng Herowdes halle ;
Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born,
is beter than we alle.”
Quat eylyt the, Stevyn ? art thou wod ?
or thou gynnyst to brede ?
Lakkyt the eyther gold or fe,
or ony ryche wede ?”
” Lakyt me neyther gold ne fe,
ne non ryche wede ;
Ther is a chyld in Bedlem born,
xal helpyn us at our nede.”
” That is also soth, Stevyn,
also soth i-wys,
As this capoun crowe xal
that lyth here in myn dych.”
That word was not so sone seyd,
that word in that halle,
The capoun crew Christus natus est
among tho lordes alle.
” Rysyt up, myn turmentowres,
be to and al be on,
And ledit Stevyn out of this town,
and stonit hym with ston.”
Tokyn he Stevene,
and stonyd hym in the way
And therfore is his evyn
on Crystes owyn day.