In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I | Page 7

passed out of Jerusalem,
then the Star appeared to them again as it did erst, and went before
them till they came to Bethlehem. And fast by that place were the
shepherds to whom the angel appeared with great light, showing them
the birth of Christ. And the three Kings spake with them, and when the
shepherds saw the Star they run together and told how the angel had
appeared to them, and furthermore all that the angel had spoken to them.
And the Kings were wondrous glad, and with good cheer heard and
took consideration of the shepherds' words; and so from witness, and
from the words of the shepherds and from the voice of the angel that
was heard out of the Star, they had no doubt of the thing. Then anon,
when they knew that they were come to Bethlehem, they got down
from their horses and changed all their array, and clothed themselves in
the best and richest that they had, as kings should be clothed--and
always the Star went forth before them.
Now the nearer the Kings came to the place where Christ was born the
brighter shined the Star, and they entered Bethlehem the sixth hour of
the day. And then they rode through the covered street till they came
before that little house. And there the Star stood still, and then
descended and shone with so great a light that the little house and the
cave within were full of radiance, till anon the Star again went upward
into the air, and stood still always above the same place, yet the light
ever remained in the house where Christ and Mary were. So as it is said
in the Gospel: "They went into the house and found the Child, and fell
down and worshipped Him, and offered to Him gifts of gold, myrrh,
and incense."
Of this example came afterward a usage, that in all the countries of the
East no man should go into the presence of the Sultan, but he brought
gold or silver or somewhat else in his hands; and, also, ere he spoke to
the Sultan he should kiss the ground, and this is a custom which is used
in all the countries of the East to this day. But the Franciscan friars,
when they approached the Sultan, offered to him only pears or apples,
for they might not touch gold nor silver; and these offerings were
received by the Sultan with all reverence and meekness.

Now on the day that the three Kings sought Christ and worshipped Him,
He was a little child of thirteen days old, and He was somewhat fat, and
lay wrapped in poor clothes in the hay of the manger up to His arms.
And Mary, His Mother, as it is written in divers books, was, in person,
fleshy and somewhat brown. In the presence of the three Kings she was
covered with a poor white mantle, which she held close before her with
her left hand. Her head was concealed altogether, save her face, with a
linen cloth; and she sat upon the manger and with her right hand held
up the young Child's head. And the Kings worshipped Him and kissed
His hand devoutly and laid their gifts beside His head.
But what was done with these gifts, ye shall learn hereafter.
Now Melchior, that offered gold to the Holy Child, was the least in
stature and person of the three Kings. Balthazar, that offered incense,
was of a medium stature; and Jaspar, that offered myrrh, was most in
person; whereof is no doubt, for the prophet saith: "Before Him shall
fall down Ethiops, and His enemies shall lick the earth. They shall
come to Thee that betrayed Thee, and they shall worship the steps of
Thy feet." And having regard to the stature of men of that time these
Kings were right little of person, insomuch that all manner of people
marvelled at them. And this showed well that they were come from far
out of the East, for the nearer toward the uprising of the sun that men
be born, the less they be of stature and be feebler and more tender.
And you shall understand that these three Kings brought out of their
lands many gifts and rich ornaments which King Alexander left in Ind,
in Chaldee, and in Persia; and all the ornaments which Queen Saba
found in Solomon's temple, and divers vessels that were of the king's
house and the Temple of God in Jerusalem, which, in the time of its
destruction, were borne into their countries by the Persians and
Chaldeans, and many other jewels, both gold and silver, and precious
stones, brought they with them to offer to Christ. But when they found
our Lord laid