This Epistle, which belongs to the year 321, seems to have been written by Athanasius, acting as secretary to his Archbishop, and forms a suitable introduction to his acknowledged works which follow. He was, it is true, at this date not more than twenty-five or twenty-six years old, but he seems already to have written his Contra Gentes and De Incarnatz'one, the two most finished of his works, and was in familiar intercourse with Alexander, and high in his esteem and confidence, if not already his Archdeacon. In consequence Tillemont goes so far as to say, We need not doubt that St. Athanasius had a great share in the multitude of letters which at this time St. Alexander wrote on all sides to defend the faith.