e death of this worshipful King Constantine and Queen Helen
aforesaid, there began a new persecution of heresy against the Christian
faith, and of death against them that would maintain the law of Christ.
The Greeks forsook the Church and chose a Patriarch for themselves, whom
they yet obey until this day.

Now in this persecution the bodies and the relics of the three holy
Kings were put at no reverence, but utterly set at naught. For the
Saracens and Turks at this time won with strong battle the lands of
Greece and Armenia, and destroyed a great part of these lands.

Then came an Emperor of Rome who was called Mauricius, and through the
help of them of Milan he recovered all these lands again, and, as is
said among men in that country, through counsel of this Emperor the
bodies of the three Kings were carried unto Milan, and they were there
laid with all solemnity and worship in a fair church which is called
after St. Eustorgio, because he had asked the bodies from the Emperor,
and being granted them had sent them unto Milan.

Then afterward by process of time, it happed that the city of Milan
began to rebel against the Emperor, who was called Frederick I., and
this Emperor sent to the Archbishop of Cologne, who was called Rainald,
for help. Then this Archbishop, through help of divers lords of the land
of Milan, took the city of Milan and destroyed a great part thereof. And
the chief men of the city took the bodies of the three Kings and hid
them privily in the earth.

Now among all others there was in Milan a lord named Asso, and the
Emperor hated him more than all the rest of its people. So it happed
that in the destruction of the city the Archbishop won Asso's palace
through strong hand, and lived therein a great while, for Asso was taken
and put into prison.

Then, anon, Asso sent privily by his keepers to the Archbishop of
Cologne and prayed him that he would come and speak with him, and it was
granted that Asso should go to the Archbishop. And when he was come to
him, he prayed him that, if he would get him grace of the Emperor and
his love and the restoration of his lordship, he would give him the
bodies of the three Kings.

When the Archbishop heard this, he went to the Emperor and prayed for
Lord Asso, and got him grace and love. And when this was done, Asso
brought, secretly, the three bodies of the Kings to the Archbishop of
Cologne.

Then the Archbishop sent the bodies forth, by private means, a g