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_.