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good Customs, and having sent word thereof to Justinian the Emperor, he expressed his approbation, by the many Acts of Grace which he conferred upon the said Alexander, who plaid another unlucky prank with the Inhabitants of Helene, in his Voyage into Italy. The people of the Country about Thermopyles, had alwayes had the keeping of that Pass, and at the time of Alexanders Expedition into those parts, being apprehensive least the Barbarians should make an Inroad into Peloponessus, the Peasants kept Guard by Turns, in the place of the Mountains where they were most likely to pass. Alexander being arrived, pretended he did not think it safe to trust so considerable a Pass, to the Defence of the Countrey people, and as if his Design had been nothing but the preservation of Peloponessus, he left there 10000 Men, which were paid not out of the Coffers of the Emperor, but at the charge of the Neighbouring Towns, in the Province of Hellade, by which means he annexed to the Emperors Revenue, what ever had been formerly given to the said Towns, for the Building or repairing publick Structures, or the Expense of their shews, under pretence of imploying it for the payment of those Souldiers, which were of so great importance for the preservation of that Country, so that from that time, neither in the Province of Hellade, nor in Athens it self, could any Buildings be erected or repaired, any shows exhibited, or any other thing promoted for the benefit of those Towns, at the Charge of the pub-
