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_. CHAPTER IX Of the food of _John Baptist_, Locusts and Wild-honey. Concerning the food of _John Baptist_ in the wilderness, Locusts and Wild-honey, lest popular opiniatrity should arise, we will deliver the chief opinions. The first conceiveth the Locusts here mentioned to be that fruit which the Greeks name κεράτιον mentioned by _Luke_ in the diet of the Prodigal son, the Latins _Siliqua_, and some _Panis Sancti Johannis_; included in a broad Cod, and indeed a taste almost as pleasant as Honey. But this opinion doth not so truly impugn that of the Locusts: and might rather call into controversie the meaning of Wild-honey. [Sidenote: _Opinions concerning_ ἀκρίδες, _or the Locusts of S._ John _Baptist_.] The second affirmeth that they were the tops or tender crops of trees: for so _Locusta_ also signifieth: which conceit is plausible in Latin, but will not hold in Greek, wherein the word is ἀκρίδες, except for ἀκρίς, we read ἀκρόδυα, or ἀκρέμονες, which signifie the extremities of trees, of which belief have divers been: more confidently _Isidore Peleusiota_, who in his Epistles plainly affirmeth they think unlearnedly who are of another belief. And this so wrought upon _Baronius_, that he concludeth in neutrality; _Hæc cum scribat Isidorus definiendum nobis non est et totum relinquimus lectoris arbitrio; nam constat Græcam dictionem_ ἀκρίδες, _et Locustam, insecti genus, et arborum summitates significare. Sed fallitur_, saith Montacutius, _nam constat contrarium_, Ἀκρίδα _apud nullum authorem classicum_ Ἀκρόδρυα _significare_. But above all _Paracelsus_ with most animosity promoteth this opinion, and in his book _de melle_, spareth not his Friend Erasmus. _Hoc à nonnullis ita explicatur ut dicant Locastus aut cicadas Johanni pro cibo fuisse; sed hi stultitiam dissimulare non possunt, veluti Jeronimus, Erasmus, et alii Prophetæ Neoterici in Latinitate immortui._ [Sidenote: _The more probable what._]