The birth of Christ was on this wise, when his mother Mary was married unto Ioseph, before they came to dwell together, she was found with child by the holy ghost. Then her husband Ioseph being a perfect man, and loth to defame her, was minded to put her away secretly. While he thus thought, behold, the angel of the lord appeared unto him in sleep saying: Ioseph the son of David, fear not to take unto thee, Mary thy wife. For that which is conceived in her, is of the holy ghost. She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Iesus. For he shall save his people from their sins. All this was done to fulfil that which was spoken of the lord, by the prophet saying: Behold a maid shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shalt call his name Emanuel, which is as much to say, by interpretation, as God with us. Ioseph as soon as he awoke out of sleep, did as the angel of the lord bade him, and took his wife unto him, and knew her not, till she had brought forth her first son, and called his name Iesus. The Second Chapter. When Iesus was born in Bethlehem a town of Iury, in the time of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Ierusalem saying: Where is he that is born king of the jewes? We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Herod the king, after he had heard this, was troubled, and all Ierusalem with him, and he sent for all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and demanded of them where Christ should be born. They said unto him: in Bethlehem a town of Iury. For thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem in the land of Iury, shalt not be the least as pertaining to the princes of Iuda. For out of thee shall come a captain, which shall govern my people Israhel. Then Herod privily called the wise men, and diligently enquired of them, the time of the star that appeared. And sent them to Bethlehem saying: when ye be come thither search diligently for the child. And when ye have found him bring me word, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were marvellously glad. And entered into the house, and found the child with Mary his mother, and kneeled down and worshipped him, and opened their treasures, and offered unto him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after they were warned in their sleep, that they should not go again to Herod, they returned into their own country another way.