It is also thought that the cocks crow all night at Christmas, and Bourne says, anent this belief, that it was about the time of cock crowing when our Saviour was born, and the heavenly host had then descended to sing the first Christmas carol to the poor shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem. Shakespeare mentions this popular tradition in Hamlet, act i. sc. i.:-- Some say, that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long: And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad; The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. But there is yet another legend of cock-crowing which is found in a carol for St. Stephen's Day, temp. Henry VI.:-- Saint Stephen was a clerk In King Herod his hall, And served him of bread and cloth, As ever King befall. Stephen out of kitchen came With boar his head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright Over Bethlem stand. He cast adown the boar his head, And went into the hall. "I forsake thee, King Herod, And thy works all. "I forsake thee, King Herod, And thy works all, There is a Child in Bethlem born, Is better than we all." "What aileth thee, Stephen, What is thee befall? Lacketh thee either meat or drink, In King Herod his hall?" "Lacketh me neither meat nor drink, In King Herod his hall; There is a Child in Bethlem born, Is better than we all." "What aileth thee, Stephen, Art thou wode,[47] or ginnest to brede[48] Lacketh thee either gold or fee, Or any rich weed?"[49] "Lacketh me neither gold nor fee, Nor none rich weed, There is a child in Bethlem born Shall help us at our need." "That is all so sooth, Stephen, All so sooth, I wis, As this capon crow shall, That lyeth here in my dish." That word was not so soon said, That word in that hall, The Capon crew, _Christus natus est_! Among the lords, all. Riseth up my tormentors, By two, and all by one, And leadeth Stephen out of this town And stoneth him with stone. Tooken they Stephen And stoned him in the way, And therefore is his even, On Christ his own day. [Footnote 47: Mad.] [Footnote 48: Beginnest to upbraid.] [Footnote 49: Dress.]