In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I | Page 2

of men made ready to
defend themselves from the enemy that approached.
Now in the time when Balaam prophesied of the Star that should
betoken the coming of Christ, all the great lords and all the other people
of Ind and in the East desired greatly to see the Star of which he spake,
and gave gifts to the keepers of the hill of Vaws, and moreover hired
them with great rewards, that, if it so were, they saw by day or by night,
far or near, any light or any star in the air other than was seen
beforetime, anon they should show and send them word. And thus was
it that for so long a time the fame of this Star was borne through all the
lands of the East; until, of the name of the hill of Vaws, arose up a

worshipful and a great kindred in Ind, which is called the progeny of
Vaws even unto this day; and there is not a more mighty kindred in all
the kingdoms of the East; for this worshipful kindred came first from
the King's blood that was named Melchior, that offered gold to our
Lord, as ye shall hereafter learn.
In the year of our Lord 1200, when the city of Acon, that in this
country is called Akers, flourished and stood in virtue, joy, and
prosperity, and was inhabited richly with worshipful princes, and lords,
and divers orders of men of religion, and all manner of men of all
nations and tongues, so that there was no city like unto it in nobility
and might; then, because of its great name and of the marvels that were
there, the greatest of birth that were of the progeny of Vaws came out
of Ind unto Acon; and when they saw there all things more wonderful
than in Ind; then, because of delight, they abode there and made a fair
and strong castle for any king or lord. And they brought with them out
of the East many rich and wonderful ornaments and jewels. And among
all other jewels, they brought a diadem of gold arrayed with precious
stones and pearls, and about its edge stood letters of Chaldaic, and a
star made like after the Star that appeared to the Three Kings of the
East when they sought God, with a sign of the cross, beside. And that
diadem was Melchior's, the king of Nubia and of Araby, that offered
gold to the Babe in the manger. And afterward the master of the Order
of Templars received this same diadem of gold and many other
precious jewels; but when that Order was destroyed the diadem and
precious ornaments were lost, and have never been found unto this day.
Wherefore there was great sorrow made in all the country for a long
time after.
But these same princes of Vaws brought with them out of Ind books
written in Hebrew and Chaldaic, concerning the life and deeds of these
three blessed Kings, which books were afterward translated into the
French tongue: and so, from these books, and from hearsay, and sight,
and also from sermons and homilies out of divers other works, the story
here written hath been brought together into one book.
And you shall understand that the old kindred of Vaws beareth always

in its banner, unto this day, a star with a sign of the cross, made after
the same manner as it appeared to the three blessed Kings.
Now it so happened that after Balaam had prophesied of this Star, the
more it was sought for the more its fame increased through the land of
Ind and Chaldee, and all the people desired to see it.
So they ordained twelve of the wisest and greatest clerks of astronomy
that were in all that country about, and gave them great hire to keep
watch upon this hill of Vaws for the Star that was prophesied of
Balaam. And the cause that there were ordained twelve men was, that if
one man died another should be put in his stead; and also that some
should keep watch at one time and some another--nevertheless the
people looked not only after the Star, but after the Man who was
betokened by the Star, the which Man should be Lord of all folk.
And they of Ind and Chaldee who came often into Jerusalem because of
merchandise and also for disport--the which, for the most part, be
learned in astronomy--said that in Ind were many stars in the firmament
that might not be seen by night in Jerusalem; but, specially on this hill
of Vaws in clear weather, were seen many and divers strange stars that
at the foot of the hill were not seen. Yet this hill of Vaws hath no