26

26

Darius writes again to Alexander.

Darius is praised and commended. Our gods also has it written in their books. How then darest thou be so bold, for to pass so many waters, and see Mountains and crags, for to [werraye] against our royal majesty. A great worship methink it were to thee, if thou might [mawgre] ours, have in possession the kingdom of Macedonia all only, without more. Therefore [the es better amend Ipe of thy mysededis], than we take such wreke upon thee, that other men take [bisne] thereby, since all the earth without our lordship, may be called [wedowe]. Torn again therefore, we counsel thee, into thine own country, or our wrath and our [wreke] fall upon thee. Nevertheless, that our worship & our great noblaye be somewhat known to thee, we send thee a mouthful of [chesebotte] seeds, in taking thereof. Look if thou may number & [tette] all their [chessebotte] seeds, & if thou may not do that then may the folk of our oste be numbered. And if thou may not do that our folk may not be numbered. Therefore turn him again into thy country and leave thy folly that thou has begun, and take no more upon thee such a presumption, for I tell thee we have men of arms without number.

When the Messengers of Darius come to Alexander, they took him the letter and the mouthful of [chessebotle] seeds. Alexander then [gerte] read the letter. And [sythen] he put his hand" in pe male, and took of the [chessebotte] seeds & put
in his mouth, & chewed it, & said, 'I see well', quoth he, 'that he has many men, but they are right soft as these seeds are.' In the meantime there come a Messenger to Alexander from Macedonia: and told him that his Mother Olympias was grief-sick. And [when] Alexander heard this, he was wonder [heuy]. Nevertheless, he wrote unto Darius a letter, that spoke on these ways.

Alexander the son of Philippe & of queen Olympias unto Darius king of Persia, we send. We do thee well to [wiete] that we have heard certain things, which [gers] us against our will: do that we now shall say. But trow thou not that we for fear or doubt of thy pride and thy vain glory turned him again now to our own country, But all only for to visit

26

Darius writes again to Alexander.

Alexander
telling him
to retire
before his
vengeance
fall upon
him.

* Leaf 9 bk.

He sends
him also a
token of
the num-
ber of his
own people.

Darius is praised & commended. Our gods also have it
written in their books. How then darest you be so bold,
for to pass so many waters, and seas, Mountains & crags,
for to war against our royal majesty. A great warship 4
me think it were to be, if you might measure ours, has
in possession the kingdom of Macedonia all only, without
more. Therefore thee has better amend thee of thy misdeeds, then
we take swift work upon thee, that other men take pains there- 8
by, then all the earth without our lordship, may be called
widow. Torn again therefore, we consign thee, into thine
own country, and our wrath and our wreak fall upon
thee. Nevertheless, that our worships & our great nobles 13
be somewhat known to thee, we send thee a molefull of
cheeseball seeds, in tokening thereof. Look if thou may
number & tell all their cheeseball seeds, & if thou do that
then may the folk of our host be numbered. And if thou 16
may not do that our folk may not be numbered. Therefore
turn home again into thy country and leave thy folly
that thou hast begun, and take no more upon thyself a
presumption, for I tell thee we have men of arms without 20
number.

When the Messengers of Darius come tell Alexander, they
took him the letter and the molefull of cheeseball seeds.
Alexander the great read the letter. And then he put 24
his hand in the mole, and took of the cheeseball seeds & put
in his mouth, & chewed it, & said, I see well ', quoth he, 'that
he hath many men, but they are just soft as these seeds are'.
In the meantime there came a Messenger tell Alexander from 28
Macedonia and told him that his Mother Olympia was great
sick. And [when] Alexander heard this, he was wonder heavy.
Nevertheless, he wrote unto Darius a letter, that spoke
on this way. 32

'Alexander the son of Philippe & of queen Olympia unto
Darius king of Persia, we send. We do thee well to write
that we have heard certain things, which greets us against
our will so that we now set sail. But know thou not that we 36
for fear or doubt of thy pride and thy vain glory turn home
again now till our own country, But all only for to visit.
Four lines space with miniature W. Three lines space.

They bring
Alexander
the letter.
But he
finds
another
meaning
for the
tokens.
He hears of
the heavy
sickness of
his mother.

down by
the news
he writes a
letter to
Darius.
He tells
him that
for other
reasons he
is forced
unwilling-
ly to re-
turn, but
bids him
not put it