CHAPTER VIII

Of the three Kings of _Collein_.

[Sidenote: _Three magi or wise men_ (Mat. 2.) _What manner of Kings they were._]

A common conceit there is of the three Kings of _Collein_, conceived to be the wise men that travelled unto our Saviour by the direction of the Star, Wherein (omitting the large Discourses of _Baronius_, _Pineda_ and _Montacutius_,) that they might be Kings, beside the Ancient Tradition and Authority of many Fathers, the Scripture also implieth. The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising. The Kings of _Tharsis_ and the Isles, the Kings of _Arabia_ and _Saba_ shall offer gifts, which places most Christians and many _Rabbins_ interpret of the _Messiah_. Not that they are to be conceived potent monarchs, or mighty Kings; but Toparks, Kings of Cities or narrow Territories; such as were the Kings of _Sodom_ and _Gomorrah_, the Kings of _Jericho_ and _Ai_, the one and thirty which _Joshuah_ subdued, and such as some conceive the Friends of _Job_ to have been.

But although we grant they were Kings, yet can we not be assured they were three. For the Scripture maketh no mention of any number; and the numbers of their presents, Gold, Myrrhe and Frankincense, concludeth not the number of their persons; for these were the commodities of their Country, and such as probably the Queen of _Sheba_ in one person had brought before unto _Solomon_. So did not the sons of _Jacob_ divide the present unto _Joseph_, but are conceived to carry one for them all, according to the expression of their Father--Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present. And therefore their number being uncertain, what credit is to be given unto their names, _Gasper_,_ Melchior_, _Balthazar_, what to the charm thereof against the falling sickness [SN: Gaspar fert myrrham, _etc._], or what unto their habits, complexions, and corporal accidents, we must rely on their uncertain story, and received pourtraits of _Collein_.

Lastly, Although we grant them Kings, and three in number, yet could we not conceive that they were Kings of _Collein_. For though _Collein_ were the chief City of the _Ubii_, then called _Ubiopolis_, and afterwards _Agrippina_, yet will no History inform us there were three Kings thereof. Beside, these being rulers in their Countries, and returning home, would have probably converted their subjects: but according unto _Munster_, their conversion was not wrought until seventy years after by _Maternus_ a disciple of _Peter_. And lastly, it is said that the wise men came from the East; but _Collein_ is seated West-ward from _Jerusalem_; for _Collein_ hath of longitude thirty four degrees, but _Jerusalem_ seventy two.

[Sidenote: _And why of_ Collein.]

The ground of all was this. These wise men or Kings, were probably of _Arabia_, and descended from _Abraham_ by _Keturah_, who apprehending the mystery of this Star, either by the Spirit of God, the prophesie of _Balaam_, the prophesie which _Suetonius_ mentions, received and constantly believed through all the East, that out of Jury one should come that should rule the whole world: or the divulged expectation of the _Jews_ from the expiring prediction of _Daniel_: were by the same conducted unto _Judea_, returned unto their Country, and were after baptized by _Thomas_. From whence about three hundred years after, by _Helena_ the Empress their bodies were translated to _Constantinople_. From thence by _Eustatius_ unto Millane, and at last by _Renatus_ the Bishop unto _Collein_: where they are believed at present to remain, their monuments shewn unto strangers, and having lost their _Arabian_ titles, are crowned Kings of _Collein_.