en the time of grace was come, that God would have mercy on all
mankind, in which time the Father of Heaven sent down his Son to take
flesh and blood and to be born a man for salvation of all the world: in
that time Octavianus, that was Emperor of Rome, sent out a commandment
that all the people within his empire should be counted and taxed; and
every man went forth from his dwelling-place into his native country.
Then came Joseph up from Nazareth unto Bethlehem the city of David,
because he was of the household and race of King David, and with him
came Mary that was his wife, and also great with child.

And you shall understand that Bethlehem was never of much reputation,
neither a place of great quantity. It hath a good site and good ground,
for there be many caves and dens under the earth thereabout; and it is
distant from Jerusalem but two little miles; and it is but a castle, but
is called a city because King David was born there. And in that town was
sometime a house which belonged to Isai, the father of David, where
David was born and anointed into the kingdom of Israel by Samuel the
prophet. And in this same dwelling was the Son of Heaven born of Mary.

And this same house was at the end of a street that was in that time
called the Covered Street, because, to keep out the great heat and
burning of the sun, this street was canopied above with black cloths
and other things,--for such is the use in that country always. And here
was wont to be great bargaining, or a fair once a week of old clothes;
and specially of trees or timber, by the little house which stood before
a den under the earth, made and shaped like a little cellar, where Isai
and others that dwelt there after him put certain necessaries that
belonged to the household, against the heat of the sun. It is also the
manner in all that country that there be certain houses, the which be
called there _alchan_, that we call hostelries, and in these houses be
mules, horses, asses, and camels always ready, that, if so that any
merchant or any man that travelled by the way, be it far or near, need
any beast for himself, or for his merchandise, then he goeth to such a
house and there he may hire a horse, or what beast that he will, for a
certain price. And when he hath such a beast then he goeth from that
city to another, where to abide and rest him for a time. Then he
dischargeth his beast of his burden, and so sendeth him to a house
called there also _alchan_; a