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