"If this be true," King Herod said,
"As thou tellest unto me,
This roasted cock that lies in the dish
Shall crow full fences [6] three."
The cock soon freshly feather'd was,
By the work of God's own hand,
And then three fences crowed he,
In the dish where he did stand.
"Rise up, rise up, you merry men all,
See that you ready be;
All children under two years old
Now slain they all shall be."
[5] ] crow?
[6] ] rounds?
Seynt Stevene was a clerk in kyng Herowdes halle,
And servyd him of bred and cloth, as ever kyng [befalle].
Stevyn out of kechon cam, wyth boris hed on honde;
He saw a sterr was fayr and bryght over Bedlem stonde.
5 He [kyst] adoun the bores hed, and went into the halle:
"I forsake 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."
"Quhat [eylyt] the, Stevene? quhat is the befalle?
10 Lakkyt the eyther mete or drynk in kyng Herowdes halle?"