Three Kings of Cologne : an early English translation of the "Historia Trium Regum" / by John of Hildesheim ; edited from the MSS., together with the Latin text, by C. Horstmann

Capitulum xxij^m.

Deuoutelyche ȝe schul here vndirstonde þat, þouȝ god almyȝty lowed and meked hym-self & bicom man for oure saluacioun and was bore of hys blessyd modir Marye, as hit is seyde afore, ȝit he had no nede of þes

ȝiftes of þes .iij. worschipful kyngis: ffor he made aƚƚ þe world̛ of nouȝt, and aƚƚ þat is in heuene & in erþe is in his power and at hys wille. Neþerles ȝe schul vndirstonde þat þe rounde appil of gold þat kyng Alisaundre did make as hit is aforeseyde, þe which appil Melchior kyng offrid to god: whan he had offrid þat appil, hit was in a moment aƚƚ to-broke in to dust. Wherby ȝe schul vndirstonde þat, as þe stone þat was in þe hille de lapide absciso &c.;, was kitte out of þe hille withoute mannys honde or any oþir toole and brak a horrible Mawmet in to dust and powder, þe which Nabugodonosor siȝe in a visioun: Ryȝtso þe stone þat is to seye oure lord Ihesu Cryst, wiþ-oute any corrupcioun of synne was bore in to þis world̛ þorw hys mekenesse and þorwe þe vertue of hys mageste and his godhede in a moment he aƚƚ to-brak in to nouȝt & ouercom hit (!).