Quirinius

You reign in Syria, under Herod,
As a Prefect of Galilee issues
A Census. Mary is about to embark
On the sixty mile Journey to Bethlehem.
Joseph wishes to go, so his Son
Is born in Bethlehem
As he is of the lineage of David.
Mary tells the good doctor Luke
Only she conflated the two events
As the census was near the
Time of her embarkment 
On her most precious journey.