The 6th of January, or twelfth day after Christmas, is a festival of the Church, called _the Epiphany_ (from a Greek word signifying "appearance"), or Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles; and it arises from the adoration of the Wise Men, or _Magi_, commonly known as "the Three Kings," _Gaspar_, _Melchior_, and _Balthazar_, who were led by the miraculous star to Bethlehem, and there offered to the infant Christ gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The following carol is in the Harl. MSS. British Museum, and is of the time of Henry VII.:-- Now is Christmas i-come, Father and Son together in One, Holy Ghost as ye be One, In fere-a; God send us a good new year-a. I would now sing, for and I might, Of a Child is fair to sight; His mother bare him this enders[89] night, So still-a; And as it was his will-a. There came three kings from Galilee To Bethlehem, that fair citie, To see Him that should ever be By right-a, Lord, and King, and Knight-a. As they came forth with their offering, They met with Herod, that moody king, He asked them of their coming This tide-a; And thus to them he said-a: "Of whence be ye, you kings three?" "Of the East, as you may see, To seek Him that should ever be By right-a, Lord, and King, and Knight-a." "When you to this Child have been, Come you home this way again, Tell me the sights that ye have seen, I pray-a; Go not another way-a." They took their leave, both old and young, Of Herod, that moody king; They went forth with their offering, By light-a Of the Star that shone so bright-a. Till they came into the place Where Jesus and his mother was, There they offered with great solace, In fere-a, Gold, incense, and myrrh-a. When they had their offering made, As the Holy Ghost them bade, Then were they both merry and glad, And light-a; It was a good fair sight-a. Anon, as on their way they went, The Father of Heaven an Angel sent, To those three kings that made present, That day-a, Who thus to them did say-a: "My Lord hath warned you every one, By Herod King ye go not home, For, an' you do, he will you slone[90] And strye-a,[91] And hurt you wonderly-a." So forth they went another way, Through the might of God, His lay,[92] As the Angel to them did say, Full right-a, It was a fair good sight-a. When they were come to their countree, Merry and glad they were all three, Of the sight that they had see By night-a; By the Star's shining light-a. Kneel we now all here adown To that Lord of great renown, And pray we in good devotion For grace-a, In Heaven to have a place-a.