King Herod and the Cock

I've posted before about some of the fascinating legends about the childhood of Christ which from the early days of Christianity have existed side-by-side with the Biblical narratives - and here's an Epiphany-themed one. This is a carol about the visit of the Magi to Herod, which features a miracle story also found in medieval legend: a roasted bird on the dinner-table comes back to life to crow, proving the truth of the wise men's story.

Resurrecting cooked animals is an unexpected but not uncommon power among medieval holy people; compare St Werburgh of Chester and her goose, and, well, Thor...

'King Herod and the Cock' was collected by Cecil Sharp from a lady called Mrs Ellen Plumb, at Armscote in Worcestershire, on 13 April 1911.  Isn't it extraordinary to think of this ancient carol still being sung on the eve of the First World War?  In the video below, it's sung by Belshazzar's Feast (beginning at 1:20):



1. There was a star in David's land,
So bright it did appear
Into King Herod's chamber,
And brightly it shined there.

2. The Wise Men soon espied it,
And told the king on high
A princely babe was born that night,
No king could e'er destroy.

3. 'If this be true,' King Herod said,
'As thou hast told to me,
This roasted cock that lies in the dish
Shall crow full fences three.'

4. O the cock soon thrustened and feathered well,
By the work of God's own hand,
And he did crow full fences three
In the dish where he did stand.