1 Maccabees 12:3–6

3 So they went to Rome and entered the senate chamber and said, “Jonathan the high priest and the Jewish nation have sent us to renew the former friendship and alliance with them.” 4 And the Romans gave them letters to the people in every place, asking them to provide for the envoys safe conduct to the land of Judah.

5 This is a copy of the letter which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: 6 “Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests, and the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren the Spartans, greeting.