Tzetzes wrote of problems over mules

Summary:
Tzetzes had asked Alexios, nephew of the protovestiarios, for a mule, but was sent an unruly beast which he compared to a crude axe, with which he had chopped all his firewood and now returned with qualified thanks; he had arrived late for a dinner. Later he wrote again to Alexios, with the freedom the latter had conceded to him. He asked boldly for a placid mule, as he had to go to the ordination of one of his students as a deacon, and the streets were very muddy after rain. He also asked Alexios for incense. Over security: the incense was to be sent sealed, while Alexios should only hand over the mule if Ioannes' messenger showed a sample of his handwriting, so as to avoid losing the mule. Chrysobelones had pretended he needed a mule from the hegoumenos Kalliotes to visit his lawyer, but instead stole it and sold it 
Dates:
1141 (Uncertain) 
Alexios (nephew of protovestiarios), pupil of Tzetzes (Alexios 107)
  • He sent Ioannes 459 a mule he had requested, but Ioannes called it an unruly beast to be compared to a crude axe, with which he had chopped all his firewood and now returned with qualified thanks; he had arrived late for a dinner (:) Tzetzes, Letters 42.14-43.6
  • He was asked by Ioannes 459 for another, more placid mule, to attend a ceremony when streets were marshy, and for incense; the incense should be sealed, the mule should only be given to a messenger showing a sample of Ioannes? handwriting (:) Tzetzes, Letters 44.12-45.12
student of Tzetzes being ordained as a deacon (Anonymus 754)
  • He was being ordained deacon, and had invited his old teacher Ioannes 459 to be present at the ceremony; it had been raining, the streets were marshy, so Tzetzes asked Alexios 107 for a mule (:) Tzetzes, Letters 44.18-45.1
Chrysobelones, who purloined a mule (Anonymus 755)
  • He had asked Anonymus 756 for a mule, allegedly for a visit to his lawyer, but in fact to steal and sell it; Ioannes 459 advised Alexios 107 only to lend a mule to a messenger with a sample of Ioannes' handwriting (:) Tzetzes, Letters 45.8-11
Kalliotes, hegoumenos, whose mule was stolen (Anonymus 756)
  • He was asked by Anonymus 755 for a mule, allegedly for a visit to his lawyer, but in fact to steal and sell it; Ioannes 459 advised Alexios 107 only to lend a mule to a messenger with a sample of Ioannes? handwriting (:) Tzetzes, Letters 45.8-11
Ioannes Tzetzes, man of letters (Ioannes 459)
  • He had asked Alexios 107 for a mule, but was sent an unruly beast which he compared to a crude axe, with which he had chopped all his firewood and now returned with qualified thanks; he had arrived late for a dinner (:) Tzetzes, Letters 42.14-43.6
  • He wrote to Alexios 107, with the freedom the latter had conceded to him; he asked boldly for a placid mule, as he had to go to Anonymus 754's ordination ceremony, and the streets were very muddy after rain (:) Tzetzes, Letters 44.12-45.1
  • He also asked Alexios 107 for incense, to be sent sealed; Alexios should only hand over the mule if the messenger showed a sample of Ioannes' handwriting, so as to avoid losing it, as Anonymus 756 had lost a mule to Anonymus 755 (:) Tzetzes, Letters 45.1-12