Seÿt Steuene Was A Clerk

Carol For St. Stephen's Day
See: Hymns to St Stephen

Words and Music: English Traditional
From the Sloane MS. 2593 in the British Museum.

Compare: Saint Stephen Was A Clerk (Sylvester, with notes)
Seynt Stevene was a clerk (Wright, 1856)

William Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)

This carol requires the installation of the "Junicode" font for best display.
See notes in F A Q

1. Seÿt steuene was a clerk ï kÿg herowds halle,
and seruyd hï of bred and cloþ, as euõ kÿg be falle.

2. Steuÿ out of kechon cä w^t boris hed ö honde,
He saw a sterr' was fayr and bryzt ouõ bedlë stöde;

3. He kyst a doü þe bors and went into þe halle,
I for sak þ^e kÿg herowds and þi werks alle;

4. I forsak þ^e kÿg herowds and þⁱ werks alle;
þõ is a chyd in bedlë born is betõ þan we alle.

5. Q^ut eyleyt þ^e steuen, q^ut is þ^e be falle?
Lakkyt þ^e eyþõ mete or drynk in kyng herowds halle?

6. Lakit me neyþõ mete ne drynk ï kÿg herowds halle,
þõ is a chyld in bedlë born is betõ þä we alle.

7. Q^ut eylyt þ^e steuÿ, art y^u wod or y^u gÿnyst to brede?
Lakkyt þ^e eyþõ gold or fe, or ony ryche wede?

8. Lakyt me neyþõ gold or fe, ne nö riche wede,
þõ is a chyd in bedlë born xal helpÿ vs at oõ nede.

9. þ^t is al so soþ, steuÿ, al so soþ, j wys,
Al þis capon crowe xal þ^t lyth her in mÿ dych.

10. þ^t word was not so sone seyd, þ^t word ï þ^t halle,
þ^e capon crew xps nats est a mong þ^e lords alle.

11. Rysyt vp mÿ turmëtowrs be to and al be on,
and led^t steuÿ out of þis town, and ston^t hÿ w^t ston.

12. Tokÿ he steuene and stonyd hÿ in þe way,
and þõ for is his euÿ on crysts owÿ day.

Sandys' Note:

This carol [is] from Sloane MS. 2593. (temp. Hen. VI); this ... carol [is] also printed in Ritson's Ancient Songs.

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