Ioannes Basilakes had sent Tzetzes a gift of knives. The recipient replied with thanks, but explained that he had little use for such military equipment (except perhaps to arm his friends as a bodyguard). He had therefore kept one to sharpen his pens, and sent on the rest to Kamateros the sebastos. He had sent them with a servant, since he was not on speaking terms with the man as the result of a certain event