The Death of John the Baptist

Here is the story of the Death of John the Baptist, of the legend of Mogh ruith.

Death of John the Baptist

There was an evil and ruthless king in the east of the world, namely Herod, son of Antipater, and it was by him that John the Baptist was slain, and this is the reason why this wonderful young believer was put to death. dead, namely: (there was) a noble judge, who lived in the reign of Herod, and who, to everyone, gave a just judgment; and therefore he reestablished peace because he spoke the law and the law. Namely, Philippe was his name, and great were his reputation and his success. The town where he lived was called Ardargais. So he fell ill, and in a short time he died. He had a beautiful and graceful wife. Nowhere in the world was his equal in grace and perfection of body and face, beautiful eloquence and skill. And Herod had great affection for her when her husband himself was still alive, namely Judge Philip. And if the man who possessed her hadn't been so powerful, he would often have tried to force her to take her away. But now (the events were as follows :) as the king of Askalon, namely Philip, son of Antipater, that is to say the brother of Herod, had learned that Herodias, in other words the wife of Philippe, lived in the solitude of a widow, he rushed with a continuation in the city where resided Herodias, took him with him and they were for a long time in the state of sin.

Into Herod's heart slipped a strong and violent jealousy and an unbearable fury because the only woman he loved in the world, was torn from him by his own brother, and he could not turn away, so great was her love, even though her brother possessed her. So the king assembled a large retinue and went to Askalon, quite as if he were on a royal circuit - until he reached his brother's town; Philippe stood up in front of his brother, gave him a kiss, welcomed him and gave him a house to settle in. He had it installed with dignity and gave Herod food and drink until he had had enough. When afterwards the meal was over, he arose in grief and with him a great number of his soldiers, armed and prepared. He had, in fact, given them the order. In this crew he made the trip to the house in which Herodias and Philip were. And Herod trembling (with rage) had no other weapon than a great whip. When he was inside, he sat down in a tall and beautiful imposing chair that (shone) with the luster of gold and (rested) on its pillars. Philippe was there, and Herodias at his side. Herod was shaken with anger from head to toe, he raised his hand and struck a merciless blow on Philip's head with the whip he had on him. Then he jumped up from the chair, hastened to Herodias side, and kissed her. His brother's bed was prepared for him and he took his brother's wife and spent the night with her. Next morning he took her with him to his home, and then she lived with him and loved him more. When John the Baptist, son of Zacharias, heard of it, he found it shameful that the sinful woman was with Herod. For, between John the Baptist and Herod there were close relations. Namely Casanntra, daughter of Gomer, was the mother of Herod and Philip, and Elizabeth, daughter of Gomer, was the mother of John the Baptist. And he ordered him to leave this woman, and he would come often to tell her that. And she the first sinner who was publicly decried in the world. He, John, however, was the first martyr and the first pilgrims, the first monk and the first true believer of Christendom. A prophet among the prophets was this man and a pilgrim among the pilgrims, a pastor among the pastors, a pure among the pure and an apostle among the apostles. For the Lord had given a sublime testimony about him, saying: "There is not in the world a son born of a woman, as great as John the Baptist is." "

Herod then came (to Judah), and there a great banquet was arranged by him. Herodias had two daughters, viz. Sailiusa and Neptis were their names. One of the two (got along) in song and flute, and she provided excellent music, namely Neptis; the other, moreover, [got along] in skill tricks, jumps and dancing. Herod brought them to him, that they might serve him in the exercise of their art, which delighted the minds and senses of the nobles and princes of the kingdom throughout the house. The young women said that they would not practice their art if they were not given what they would choose as a reward. This the king promised them, and they pledged his word by the testimony of the nobility present so that he fulfills the obligation which they imposed on him. And Herod consented to it, as they themselves ordered. So now they performed wonderful, beautiful, and difficult skill tricks. And the nobles of the house greatly praised the skill tricks they performed. When they had finally finished their demonstrations, they went to where their mother was, Herod's wife, to ask her advice about the demands they should make to the king. “Demand the head of John the Baptist,” said the queen, “and accept no other proposition than this; and let it be brought to you here on a large platter! "

The maidens returned to Herod and demanded the head of John the Baptist. This seemed very bad to Herod. He says he would rather give them most of his kingdom and land, "rather than the head you want." And they didn't want it; but as he had pledged his royal word for them, he granted them that John be beheaded. And so John the Baptist was beheaded. And the head was presented to them on a large platter which a woman held on her head. And so it was, no one was found willing to behead him, until at last Mog Ruith, the Irishman, did it against for a reward. And it was this that brought cold, famine and disease on all Irish. Herod however was worried, because he was afraid of the people because of his crime: to have beheaded John. Thereupon the head was brought to Herodias. And the disciples of John asked for the body in order to bury it. It was returned to them. He was buried with full honours. Meanwhile, the head was buried by Herodias, without the disciples and friends that John had being informed.

Now from the east of the world two holy monks came to Jerusalem. It was another time, and a long time had passed. There they wanted to fast in honor of the Lord. On the way they met an angel who spoke to them: "There is a house in Jerusalem, and there is the head of John the Baptist, and I want to show you the place where it is, take it and take it away. away with you. The monks came to Jerusalem and they went to the place that the angel told them. They dug up the head. And when the head was still tied to the body, it hadn't looked better in color or shape than at that moment. And they put it in the bag they had to take to their native land. When the monks were on the way to the land of their fathers, another man came to them on the road, namely a good blacksmith, who had left his own native land, pushed on the road because he was 'was found in need. The monks made him carry the bag in which was John's head on his head. The monks stopped in another town that was on the way and they stayed there the night. That night, John the Baptist appeared to the blacksmith and he spoke to him: "I am John the Baptist," he said, "and my head is in the sack which is near you. Get up, "he said," and leave the monks and take off your head. And I will give you food and clothes. The blacksmith got up, left the monks and took the bag, in which the head was. He came to a town which was called Insena. And for a long time he lived in this city. And in this city he was received in high honor, and they loved him and had faith in him. Then the blacksmith made a gold hunt for the head and put in it a lock, a bolt and a lock. So however, the blacksmith died after that and left his fortune to his sister, a believing widow. Then the woman died in her turn and left the hunt, in her last wishes, to her heir. Then, however, another man, by the name of Eodraissinus, received the chase in which the head was. And because of this he performed many and magnificent miracles by the grace of the head which he had. By her, diseases and epidemics were cured in the people. Then the wonders and miracles of John the Baptist became known. When the man then became famous, he was driven out of the region. There a saint came to his place in the house in which he had lived. This man was called Marsellus. And the head of John the Baptist was hidden inside, in the earth. John appeared at night to Marsellus and revealed to him that the head was in the earth and showed him the location, and told him that he had to remove it.

When Marsellus heard this, he informed Lubrabanus, namely the bishop. He was then the ruler of the town of Emisena. They went together, accompanied by the people of the city, and removed John's head from the cavity and psalms and hymns were sung in honor of John. And all praised him, because they saw all the miracles that the head of the pure and the martyr, namely the head of John the Baptist, did daily. A prayer for Mc. Firbisich who himself wrote this book, and after him his son. Finished.