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Above all things (dear son) beware that you do not break your trust and the oaths that you have made. For it belongs to violators and whores, and also to people that do not keep, nor care for their trust and oath. Wherefore keep your trust that you have promised, for and if you do otherwise, it will come to an evil end at last.

And if you break your trust, you shall be regarded by every man as a child or a brute beast so beware thereof.

And if you wish to know what was the destruction of Nubia and the Assyrians, I certify that their king made oaths deceitfully, to deceive the men and citizens next by. And broke his alliances and promises that he had made, because they were profitable to his realm. And also to his subjects he made many false oaths to destroy their next neighbours. The righteous Judge could sustain nor suffer them no longer.

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Above all thynge (dere sone) beware that thou breke not thy faythe and othe that thou hast made. For it is belongynge to strompettes, and also to people that kepe not, nor do not care for theyre faythe and othe. Wherfore kepe thy faythe that thou hast promysed, for and yf that thou do otherwyse, it wyll come to an evyll ende at the last.

And yf thou breke thy fayth thou shalt be reputed of every man as a chylde or a brute beest than beware therof.

And yf thou wylt wyte what was the destruccyon of Nubye, and of the assyryens. I certyfye the that theyr kynge made othes gylefully, to deceyve the men and cytezens next by. And brake his alyaunces and promysses that he had made, bycause they were profytable to his realme. And also to his subgectes he made many fals othes to destroy theyr next neyghboures. The ryghtwyse Juge coude susteyne nor suffre them no longer.

– Aristotle to Alexander the Great, Kitab Sirr al-Asrar, 10th cent, (and 1528 translation)