Conscript Fathers, greetings from Argos. I write to you on a matter that I feel to be of importance. Acting in my capacity as the representative of Roma, I sent a letter to Philip, King of Macedon, requesting that he prepare a force of 3000, infantry and 1500 cavalry. This force was to be readied in case Roma decided to militarily involve herself in the present altercation between the Achaean League and the Independant cities should my negotiations prove ineffective.

Philip has complied with my request. The promptness of his response is appreciated. However, I am concerned on another matter. Philip, instead of sending the 3000 infantry and 1500 cavalry requested, immediately dispatched 10,000 men under his general Phoneticos. I have ordered Philip to withhold half of that force and only send 5000 men. I have also ordered him to hold his forces north of the Macedonian border until such time as a Roman commander calls for his forces.

What concerns me is that Philip sent 10,000 men. The treaty he signed with Roma allows him a maximum of 20,000 men under arms. That he could send 10,000 men so quickly and easily leads me to wonder if he does not, in fact, have more than 20,000 men under arms. I think it would behoove the Senate to send a delegation to Macedonia, perhaps even covertly, to discover the present numbers of troops that the Macedonian king has under arms. We cannot allow Philip to break his treaty with us, and so we need information regarding his current troop dispositions. I myself am unable to carry out such an embassy as I must soon leave Greece for my province of Hispania Ulterior. I leave this information in your hands and trust that the Senate will exercise the wisdom it has so often displayed.

Drakus Domitius Cordatus
Pontifex Maximus
Princeps Senatus