_Herod._ Now I regne lyk a kynge areyd ful ryche, Rollyd in ryngges and robys of array; Dukys with dentys I dryve into the dyche, My dedys be ful dowty demyd be day. I xalle marryn tho men that belevyn amysse, And there in sette there sacramentes are I say; Theris no lorde in this werde that lokygh me lykei-wysse ffor to lame herytykk of the lesse lay. I am jolyere than the jay, Stronge thevys to steke, That wele oure lawys breke, On the wrecchis I wylle be wreke, And hont hem undyr hay. In kyrtyl of cammaka kynge am I cladde, Cruel and curryd in myn crowne knowe; I sytt here ondyr Sesar in my sette sadde, Sorwyn to sottys suche sede wytt I sowe. Boys now blaberyn bostynge of a baron bad, In Bedlem is born be bestys, suche bost is blowe; I xal prune that paddok and prevyn hym as a pad, Scheldys and sperys shalle I there sowe; My knyghtes xalle rydyn on a rowe, Knave and chylderyn ffor to qwelle, Be Mahound, dyng ne duke of helle, Sowre deth his lyff xalle selle, Suche threttes wolde me overthrowe. Styward bolde, Walke thou on mowlde, And wysely beholde Alle abowte; Iff any thynge Shuld greve the kynge, Brynge me tydydge, If there be ony dowte. _Senescallus._ Lord, kynge in crowne, I go fro towne, By bankys browne I wylle abyde; And with erys lyste, Est and west, If any geste On grownde gynnyth glyde. _Tunc ibit senescallus et obviabit tribus regibus et dicit eis_ Kynges iij., Undyr this tre, In this countré Why wylle ȝe abyde? Herowde is kynge Of this wonynge, Onto his dwellynge Now xul ȝe glyde. _Primus Rex._ Nowe lede us alle To the kynges halle, How it befalle, We pray to the. Wyttys to wete He may us pete, In flesshe be glete, Godys frute fre. _Senescallus._ ffolwith in stownde Upon this grownde, To the castel rownde, I xal ȝow teche Were kynge wonyt wyde, Up in this tyde, In pompe and pryde, His myght gynnyth reche. Sere kyng in trone, Here comyth anone By strete and stone Kynges thre. They bere present,— What thei have ment, Ne whedyr they arn bent, I cannot se. _Herodes rex._ I xal hem crave What they have; Iff they rave, Or waxyn wood, I xal hem reve Here wyttys deve, Here hedys cleve, And schedyn here blood. _Primus rex._ Heyl be thou kynge in kage ful hye, Heyl, we nyghe thin halle ryght nye! Knowyst thou ought that chylde slye He is born here abowth? He is born of a mayd ȝynge, He xal be kynge over every kynge, We go to seke that lovely thynge,— To hym ffayn wolde I lowth.