e 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 to