34

Alexander a letter to the Athenians,

for Scrassageras. For all men know well that Alexander is a wonder wise man & a warrior, & a man that governs him by reason; and therefore ye may well [wete], he would not put Scrassageras out of his lordship upon less than forfeit unto him.' When the Atheneans had hear thy words, they commended greatly the counsel of Demosthenes, and then they ordained a crown of gold the weight of 1 pound, and sent Messangers therewith, and with tribute unto Alexander, but philosophers sent they none. And when their Messengers come to Alexander, they gave him the crown, and the tribute, that the Atheneans sent him, and told him that they had [highte] him a great number of cattle. And when Alexander had heard them, he understood well the counsel of Aeschylus that counselled the Atheneans to withstand him, and also the counsel of Demosthenes that counselled them the contrary, and then he wrote a letter to them whereof the Tenor was this.

Alexander the son of Phillippe and queen Olympias, for the name of king will we not take upon us, before we have our enemies under our subjection: unto the Atheneans greeting. It is not our intent to com in your city with our oste, But only to come & dispute with your philosophers, and to ask them certain questions, Our purpose was also to have declared for our true lieges & our good Friends. But your deeds proves the contrary, as it [done] us to understand. Our gods we take to witness, that which of thow so rises against us, we shall take such [wreke] upon him that other men shall take ensample thereby. But [ze als schrews, and euyll] ever more [trowes] ill, and thinks ill. [Wate] thee not well that the Thebeans that raise against us, had their [mede] as they deserved. And [ze haffand] in us a wrong [consayte], blames us, For we put Scrassageras out of his Office the which [?] forfeit greatly against our majesty. We sent unto thou [thy?] letter for ten philosophers, but [ze], not knowing our great power & our might, despised our [maundement] and would not fulfill it. Nevertheless if all [ze] have offended against

Alexander a letter to the Athenians,

for Scrassageras. For all men know well that Alexander is a wonder wise man & a warrior, & a man that governs him by reason; and therefore ye may well [wete], he would not put Scrassageras out of his lordship upon less than forfeit unto him.' When the Atheneans had hear thy words, they commended greataly the sounsel of Demosthenes, and then they ordained a crown of gold the weight of 1 pound, and sent Messangers therewith, and with tribute unto Alexander, but philosophers sent they none. And when their Messengers come to Alexander, they gave him the crown, and the tribute, that the Atheneans sent him, and told him that they had [highte] him a great number of cattle. And when Alexander had heard them, he understood well the counsel of Aeschylus that counselled the Atheneans to withstand him, and also the counsel of Demosthenes that counselled them the contrary, and then he wrote a letter to them whereof the Tenor was this.

Alexander the son of Phillippe and queen Olympias, for the name of king will we not take upon us, before we have our enemies under our subjection: unto the Atheneans greeting. It is not our intent to com in your city with our oste, But only to come & dispute with your philosophers, and to ask them certain questions, Our purpose was also to have declared for our true lieges & our good Friends. But your deeds proves the contrary, as it [done] us to understand. Our gods we take to witness, that which of thow so rises against us, we shall take such [wreke] upon him that other men shall take ensample thereby. But [ze als schrews, and euyll] ever more [trowes] ill, and thinks ill. [Wate] thee not well that the Thebeans that raise against us, had their [mede] as they deserved. And [ze haffand] in us a wrong [consayte], blames us, For we put Scrassageras out of his Office the which [?] forfeit greatly against our majesty. We sent unto thou [thy?] letter for ten philosophers, but [ze], not knowing our great power & our might, despised our [maundement] and would not fulfill it. Nevertheless if all [ze] have offended against