Saddled and bridled And booted rade he; A plume in his helmet, A sword at his knee; But toom[589] cam’ his saddle A’ bluidy to see, O hame cam’ his gude horse, But never cam’ he! FOOTNOTES: [585] laigh = low. [586] greeting = crying, lamenting. [587] Reaving = tearing. [588] bigg = build. [589] toom = empty. BOOK IV _97. Judas_ I Hit wes upon a Scere-thorsday[590] that ure loverd[591] aros; Ful milde were the wordès he spec to Judas. II ‘Judas, thou most to Jurselem, oure mete for to bugge[592]; Thritti platen[593] of selver thou bere up othi rugge[594]. III ‘Thou comest fer ithe brode stret, fer ithe brode strete, Summe of thine tunesmen[595] ther thou meist i-mete.’ IV Imette[596] wid is soster, the swikele[597] wimon: ‘Judas, thou were wrthè[598] me stende the wid ston[599], For the false prophete that tou bilevest upon.’ V ‘Be stille, leve[600] soster, thin herte the to-breke! Wiste min loverd Crist, ful wel he wolde be wreke[601].’ FOOTNOTES: [590] Scere-thorsday = Thursday before Easter. [591] ure loverd = our lord. [592] bugge = buy. [593] platen = plates, i. e. coins, pieces. [594] rugge = ridge, back. [595] tunesmen = townsmen. [596] Imette = being met. [597] swikele = treacherous. [598] wrthè = worthy. [599] me stende, &c. = men stoned thee. [600] leve = dear. [601] wreke = avenged. _98. St. Stephen and King Herod_ I Saint Stephen was a clerk In King Herod’s hall, And servèd him of bread and cloth As every king befall. II Stephen out of kitchen came With boar’s head on hand, He saw a star was fair and bright Over Bethlehem stand. III He cast adown the boar’s head And went into the hall; ‘I forsake thee, Herod, And thy workès all. IV ‘I forsake thee, King Herod, And thy workès all, There is a child in Bethlehem born Is better than we all.’-- V ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? What is thee befall? Lacketh thee either meat or drink In King Herod’s hall?’-- VI ‘Lacketh me neither meat ne drink In King Herod’s hall; There is a child in Bethlehem born Is better than we all.’-- VII ‘What aileth thee, Stephen? Art wode[602] or ’ginnest to brede[603]? Lacketh thee either gold or fee, Or any rich weed[604]?’-- VIII ‘Lacketh me neither gold ne fee Ne none rich weed; There is a child in Bethlehem born Shall helpen us at our need.’-- IX ‘That is all so sooth, Stephen, All so sooth, I-wys, As this capon crowè shall That li’th here in my dish.’ X That word was not so soon said, That word in that hall, The capon crew _Christus natus est_ Among the lordès all. XI