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Darius again defeated; treachery and trouble.

citee, and won it on war. And in the chief place thereof he set his throne. And all their other cities that wer about it, he [warned?] them of war, & put them under his subjection. In this [ilke] city of Bactrian, he found treasure without number, and also is mother, and his wife.

And in the meantime, while Alexander lay at Bactrian: there come a prince of Darius oste unto Alexander, & said unto him, 'Worshipful emperor,' quoth he, 'I have a long time been a knight of Darius, and done him great service; and [zitt] to this day I had never [na] rewarded him. And therefore it if like unto thou majesty; take me ten thousand of your men of arms; and I [hete zow,] for to bring to your hand king Darius, & the most part of his oste.' And when Alexander had heard this, he said unto him. 'Friend,' quoth he, 'I thank thee muh of thy fair promise. Nevertheless, I let thee [wite] my men will not believe that thou will fight against thine own people.' In the meantime a Prince of Darius oste sent unto him a letter, of which this was the tenor.

'To Darius, great king of kings, his lords which he has ordained chieftains under him Sends meek service. Oftimes before this have we written to your majesty, and now again we write unto thou, & [latez zow wite] that the macedonians & king Alexander, as would lions are entered our lands, and all our strengths, as a wild [raueschande] beast he has destroyed: & our knights slain. And oppressed we are with so great tribulations, that we [may] not longer suffer his [mawgree], ne his malice bear. Wherefore, meekly we beseek your benign majesty, that thee will draw to your mind our meek service, and such succor vouchsafe to send us, that we put off and withstand the violence & the malice of our foresaid enemies.' When Darius had read this letter, anon he [gert] writ a letter to king Alexander, saying on this ways.

'Darius, king of Persia and king of kings, unto my servant Alexander, I say. Now [late pare es commen till our eres thyngez: that thou went to even thy little head till our high magnificence. But [Sen] it is impossible till a [heuy asse], with

Darius again defeated; treachery and trouble.

citee, and won it on war. And in the chief place thereof he set his throne. And all their other cities that wer about it, he [warned?] them of war, & put them under his subjection. In this [ilke] city of Bactrian, he found treasure without number, and also is mother, and his wife.

And in the meantime, while Alexander lay at Bactrian: there come a prince of Darius oste unto Alexander, & said unto him, 'Worshipful emperor,' quoth he, 'I have a long time been a knight of Darius, and done him great service; and [zitt] to this day I had never [na] rewarded him. And therefore it if like unto thou majesty; take me ten thousand of your men of arms; and I [hete zow,] for to bring to your hand king Darius, & the most part of his oste.' And when Alexander had heard this, he said unto him. 'Friend,' quoth he, 'I thank thee muh of thy fair promise. Nevertheless, I let thee [wite] my men will not believe that thou will fight against thine own people.' In the meantime a Prince of Darius oste sent unto him a letter, of which this was the tenor.

'To Darius, great king of kings, his lords which he has ordained chieftains under him Sends meek service. Oftimes before this have we written to your majesty, and now again we write unto thou, & [latez zow wite] that the macedonians & king Alexander, as would lions are entered our lands, and all our strengths, as a wild [raueschande] beast he has destroyed: & our knights slain. And oppressed we are with so great tribulations, that we [may] not longer suffer his [mawgree], ne his malice bear. Wherefore, meekly we beseek your benign majesty, that thee will draw to your mind our meek service, and such succor vouchsafe to send us, that we put off and withstand the violence & the malice of our foresaid enemies.' When Darius had read this letter, anon he [gert] writ a letter to king Alexander, saying on this ways.

'Darius, king of Persia and king of kings, unto my servant Alexander, I say. Now [late pare es commen till our eres thyngez: that thou went to even thy little head till our high magnificence. But [Sen] it is impossible till a [heuy asse], with