that offered gold to the Babe in the manger. And afterward the master of
the Order of Templars received this same diadem of gold and many other
precious jewels; but when that Order was destroyed the diadem and
precious ornaments were lost, and have never been found unto this day.
Wherefore there was great sorrow made in all the country for a long time
after.

But these same princes of Vaws brought with them out of Ind books
written in Hebrew and Chaldaic, concerning the life and deeds of these
three blessed Kings, which books were afterward translated into the
French tongue: and so, from these books, and from hearsay, and sight,
and also from sermons and homilies out of divers other works, the story
here written hath been brought together into one book.

And you shall understand that the old kindred of Vaws beareth always in
its banner, unto this day, a star with a sign of the cross, made after
the same manner as it appeared to the three blessed Kings.

Now it so happened that after Balaam had prophesied of this Star, the
more it was sought for the more its fame increased through the land of
Ind and Chaldee, and all the people desired to see it.

So they ordained twelve of the wisest and greatest clerks of astronomy
that were in all that country about, and gave them great hire to keep
watch upon this hill of Vaws for the Star that was prophesied of Balaam.
And the cause that there were ordained twelve men was, that if one man
died another should be put in his stead; and also that some should keep
watch at one time and some another--nevertheless the people looked not
only after the Star, but after the Man who was betokened by the Star,
the which Man should be Lord of all folk.