The military diploma, which is here published, was acquired by the British Museum in 1923. It was bought from a dealer at Cairo, and was included in a purchase consisting mainly of MSS. made by the Museum jointly with the University of Michigan. No further source can be named, but the contents make it probable that it was found in or near the Arsenoite Nome.

The document conforms closely to the normal type. It consists of a pair of bronze tablets measuring 16 by 19 cm. Two holes pierced in each near the angles of a long side (one is now lost from the first tablet) served for the insertion of rings to form hinges. Two holes pierced near the centre of each long side served for the wire or string, which fastened the tablets, and was sealed by the seven witnesses who attested the certificate. On the outside of the second tablet are remains of the metal shield which protected the seals, but which has itself perished in almost every instance.

In the establishing of Vespasian on the imperial throne an important part was played by Ti. Iulius Alexander, the prefect of Egypt. Before any decisive step was taken by Vespasian, the Egyptian prefect had deliberated with either Mucianus or Vespasian, or with both, and had pledged his support. The prefect was, moreover, the first to have his soldiers take the oath of allegiance to Vespasian, on July 1st, 69. The die was cast by Vespasian at the conclusion of a conference held with Mucianus at Mt. Carmel, and it is only reasonable to suppose that Ti. Iulius Alexander had a representative at this all-important meeting. I suggest that there was such a representative, a certain Basilides, concerning whom we have considerable information.

The written history of the Roman operations in Caledonia is incomplete and shadowy. In the Agricola the legions march across the stage fighting victoriously, but the natives, except in the battle of Mons Graupius, hardly emerge from the forests and the marshes. In recent years not a little has been done to shed clearer light on the Roman campaigns. Roads have been traced, remains of forts have been recovered and laid bare, periods of occupation have been worked out, and the collection of relics becomes daily larger and of greater importance. Looking over the material which has been gathered together in the past ten years, the question naturally suggests itself: has the investigation of Roman sites in Scotland resulted in any corresponding increase in our knowledge of the native population against whom these campaigns were directed? To this, it seems, the answer must be in the affirmative.