St. Stephen was a serving-man
In King Herod's  hall
He served the king with meat and wine
That doth to kings befall

Stephen from the kitchen came
With a boar’s head in his hand
He saw a star shine fair and bright
And over Bethlehem stand

Then he cast down the boar’s head
And went into the hall
He said, “I forsake you, Herod
And your works all"

“I forsake you, Herod,
And your works all.
A child is born in Bethlehem
Who's better than us all”

“Now, what does ail you, Stephen?
What did you befall?
Do you lack either meat or drink
In King Herod’s hall?”

“Oh, I lack neither meat nor drink
In King Herod’s hall
A child is born in Bethlehem
Who's better than us all”

“If what you say is true, Stephen
If what you say is so
This cock that lies here in my dish
Will stand upright and crow”

Those words, they were no sooner said
To Stephen in that hall
Than the cock crew “Christ is born today”
Among the lords all

“Rise up, my tormentors
By one and two,” he said
And lead this Stephen out of town
And stone him 'til he's dead”

And so they did take Stephen
And stoned him in the way
And therefore after Christmas
It is St Stephen's day.