Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern/Carol for St. Stephen's Day

CAROL FOR ST. STEPHEN'S DAY.

Seȳt steuene was a clerk ī kȳg herowdꝯ halle,
& seruyd hī of bred & cloþ, as euꝛ kȳg be falle.

Steuȳ out of kechon cā w^t boris hed ō honde,
He saw a sterr' was fayr & bryzt ouꝛ bedlē stōde;

He kyst a doū þe borꝯ hed & went into þe halle,
I for sak þ^e kȳg herowdꝯ & þⁱ werkꝯ alle;

I forsake þ^e kȳg herowdꝯ & þⁱ werkꝯ alle;
Þꝛ is a chyd in bedlē born is betꝛ þan we alle.

Q^ut eylyt þ^e steuen, q^ut is þ^e be falle?
Lakkyt þ^e eyþꝛ mete or drynk in kyng herowdꝯ halle?

Lakit me neyþꝛ mete ne drynk ī kȳg herowdꝯ halle,
Þꝛ is a chyld in bedlē born is betꝛ þā we alle.

Q^ut eylyt þ^e steuȳ, art y^u wod or y^u gȳnyst to brede?
Lakkyt þ^e eyþꝛ gold or fe, or ony ryche wede?

Lakyt me neyþꝛ gold nor fe, ne nō ryche wede,
Þ^r is a chyld in bedlē born xal helpȳ vs at oꝛ nede.

Þ^t is al so soþ, steuȳ, al so soþ, j wys,
As þis capon crowe xal þ^t lyth her in mȳ dych.

Þ^t word was not so sone seyd, þ^t word ī þ^t halle,
Þ^e capon crew xp̄s natꝰ est a mong þ^e lordꝯ alle.

Rysyt vp mȳ turmētowrꝯ be to & al be on,
& led^t steuȳ out of þis town, & ston^t hȳ w^t ston.

Tokȳ he steuene & stonyd hȳ in þe way,
& þꝛ for is his euȳ on crystꝯ owȳ day.