58
Alexanders letter to all countries.
show him
above all
he is but
dust and
deathly.
Alex-
ander's
letter to all
lands — an-
nouncing
that he sits
on the
throne of
Darius.
He orders
that all
things
should be
as they
were
before.
He com-
mands
security of
tenure to
all, and free
trade be-
tween
Hellas and
all Persia.
Alexander
promises a
fitting re-
ward to
them that
slew
Darius.
They de-
clare them-
selves.
* Leaf 2^.
Alexander
bids them
be taken
to fe erthe he satt agayne. When) Alexander was sett apoiD
this trone, coronnde wit his diademe, & J?e Macedoynes & J>e
persenes standyng abowte hym : be-fore )?am) atie he gert write
a lettre titt alt cuntree^, J^at was of this tenowr. 4
^ ' Alexander the son) of godd? Amon) & qwene Olympias kyng
of kynges & lorde of lordes, tilt alte Dukes, Prynce^, Erles,
Baron?^s, maisters, «& tilt alt \>Q; folke^ of Perse : ioy & grace. Sen)
it es plesynge to godd", f)at I sitt one ]?e trone of Dariws, & be 8
lorde of J^e pe?'syenes, grete cause I hafe for to be reioyist gretely
]?are-offe, ne were it for \>e gret multitude of folke f>at ere
slayne. Bot sen) it so es fat godd" base ordeynede me to be ^owr
lorde,'^ and 30W gowemour, J^are-fore we commande 50W f>at in 1 2
ilke a citee, thurghowte ]?e lordchipe of Perse, ^e ordeyne
prynce^ and gouernowrs as \>are was in Dariits tyme, to J?e
whilke we commande 50W j?at 50 be obeyande as 3e before-tymes
hafe bene, and that Jjay do ri^te tilt ilke a mafD at )?aire powere. 16
Also it es oure wilt and oure comwandement, J^at ilke a man)
welde & reioyse paysabily his landes and his possessiouns. We
commande alsoo, \>qX fra this lande of perse vn-titt Ellada, & fra
thethyrD to Macedoyne, be redy way & operi) so f>at ilke a man) 20
J^at wilt may passe bathe in and owte, wzt merchandyse or any
ojper erandes ]5at ]?ay hafe at do, and Joy & pese be vn-to 5owe.'
^ pan gert ^Qs.ander alt men) be stilt, and said one this wyse :
' Whilke of 30W so slew myn) enemy Dariw^ ; come^ forthe be-for 24
me, and I shalt giffe 50 w worthy mede, & conable wirchipe do
Jjam), I swere bi oure godde^ J^at ere Almy3ty, & bi my moste
biloved? moder Olympias, )?at I salt gyffe J?am) worthy mede.'
When) Alexander had saide thir wordes J>e persyenes wepede 28
wonderly sare. And than) ^e twa man)-morthireres Bisso and
Aryobar^antes come bi-fore AXe^ander, and sayde vn-tilt hym :
' Wirchipfult emperowr,' qttoj? J)ay, ' we ere thase ])at slew
'Doxius thyne enemy w^t oure Awenn) hende.' And when) 33
Alexayic^er saw J^am), he bade his knyghtes belyfe ga & take
J^am), & bynde * )?am, & lede fam) to Dariws grafe, & J?are
smyte of ]?aire heuedes. And than) )?ay ansuerd", & saide
vn-tilt Alexawc^er : * A, A, wirchipfult emperowr,' qwof) J?ay, 36
^ Ten lines blank space for a miniature.
^ In MS. between *6e )our lorde' and
and jour gouemour ' is written * & lorde
of pe perst/enes *, but it has been erased by
the scribe.
* Three lines space with red capital p.
1
EN