In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I | Page 8

on high in the manger and in poor cloths, and the Star that
gave so great light in all the place, that it seemed as though they stood
in a furnace of fire, then these Kings were so sore afraid that, of all the
rich jewels and ornaments they brought with them, they chose nothing,

when their treasury was opened, but what came first to their hands, for
Melchior took a round apple of gold, as much as a man might hold in
his hand, and thirty gilt pennies, and these he offered to our Lord.
Balthazar took out of his treasury incense; and Jaspar took out myrrh,
as it came first, and that he offered, with weeping and tears.
And the Kings were so aghast and so devout and fervent in their
oblations, that to all the words that Mary said they gave but little
consideration, save only that to every King as he offered his gifts she
bowed down her head meekly, and said, "Deo gracias:" that is to say,
"I thank God."
When these three Kings had thus performed their way and will, and
done all things that they came for, then, as mankind asketh and would,
they and all their men and beasts began to eat, and drink, and sleep, and
betook them to rest and sport all that day in Bethlehem. For, as is said
before, they had neither eaten nor drunk during thirteen days. And then
they meekly told to all men in that city how wonderfully the Star had
brought them thither from the furthest part of the world.
Now, as the Evangelist saith: A command came to these Kings in their
sleep that they should not return again to Herod, and so, by another
way, they went home to their kingdoms. But the Star that went before
them, appeared no more. And so these three Kings, that suddenly met
together at the Mount of Calvary, rode home together with great joy
and honor, and rested by the way as men should do.
And they rode through the provinces that Holofernes of old time had
traversed with all his hosts, and the people supposed that Holofernes
had come again, for as they journeyed into any town they were meekly
and worshipfully received, and evermore they told what they had seen,
done, and heard, so that their name and praise were never after forgot.
But the way that before had taken only thirteen days, through leading
of the Star, they found now to take two years, which was ordained, that
all men should know what difference is between God's working and
man's.
Now, when Herod and the scribes heard that the Kings were gone home

again, and came not to him as he had bade them, then, of much envy
and malice, he pursued them a great way; and always he found the
people bless them, and praise them, and tell of their nobility. Wherefore
Herod burnt and destroyed all the land that was under his power where
the Kings had ridden, and especially Tharsis and Cilicia, for he charged
them that they had suffered the three Kings privily to pass across the
sea in their ships. And Herod's envy was great when he heard how
marvellously the Kings had come out of their lands in thirteen days
through leading of the Star, and how, afterward, they went home again,
without the Star, through guides and interpreters,--yet no man could tell,
for wonder, how night and day they passed by; and for this reason the
paynims, who had no knowledge of Holy Writ, nor of the birth of
Christ, called these three Kings Magos; that is to say, Wise Men of the
East.
Now, when the Kings were come with great travail to the Hill of Vaws,
they made there, as is aforesaid, a fair chapel in worship of the Child
they had sought. Also they made a covenant to meet together at the
same place once in the year; and there they ordained their burial. Then
all the princes and lords and worshipful knights of their kingdoms,
hearing of the return of these three Kings, anon rode forth to them with
great, solemnity and met them at the place aforesaid, and with
meekness and humility received them. And when they heard how
wonderfully God had wrought for their Kings, they held them in more
reverence, love, and dread forever after.
So, when the Kings had done what they would, they took leave of each
other, and each one, with his people, rode home to his own land with
great joy.
And when they were come into their own realms, they preached to all
the people what they had seen and done on their journey; and they
made in their temples a star after the likeness