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
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