Subjects against their Fellows whose Cause might well be favour'd by many who yet durst not discover themselves being unarmed as they might when Weapons were put into their Hands So desperate is the Condition of Tyrants who think it a greater Happiness to be Feared than Loved yet are oblig'd to fear those whose Love would make them dreadful to others § 4. Iehoram taking no notice of God's displeasure by these Afflictions was threatned by a Prophetical Writing sent to him being such a Tyrant as the Prophets durst not reprove him to his Face as they had done many of his Predecessors bad as well as good but they writ to him keeping themselves from him Elias being Translated might have left this Writing or as some conjecture by mistaking in Writing one Letter for another Elias is put for Elisha c. The Accomplishment of the Prophecy proved as terrible as the Sentence when the Philistins which from David's days durst never look out brake in upon him c. with the Arabians a naked People on Horse-back of no Force dwelling in a Barren Desert So that the one quarter of those whom Iehosaphat Mustered had been able to repel greater Forces than both these Enemies could raise had the Iudean People been Armed as by their Prince's Jealousy they were not according to the Policy of the Philistins in the days of Saul The House of Iehoram which they surprised seemeth rather a Country House than in Ierusalem considering they made no further Ravages It is probable all Iehoram's Children were not now slain considering the Slaughters made after by Iehu and Athaliah within two years Lastly himself after two years Torment voided his Guts c. And as the People had small cause of comfort in his Life so they observed not the decency of pretending Sorrow for his Death neither had he the Honour of his Ancestors Burial though his Son Succeeded and his Wife did all Athaliah busie in Plotting her own Greatness and providing trusty Counsellors for her Son thought it unreasonable to offend the Eyes of the People with a magnificent Funeral of a Man by them detested and chose rather to let the Blame of past Actions lie upon the Dead than by doing him Honour to procure an ill Opinion of her self and Children which it now concerned her to avoid Such is the quality of Wicked Instigators to charge the Man whose Evil Inclination they corrupted by sinister Counsel not only with his own Vice but with their Faults also when once he is gone and can profit them no longer Thus we may clearly see how the corrupted Affections of Men impugning the Revealed Will of God accomplish nevertheless his hidden Purpose and without miraculous means confound themselves in the seeming Wise Devices of their own Folly All Men may likewise learn to submit their Judgments to the Ordinance of God rather than to follow Worldly Wisdom contrary to his Commandments § 5. Ahaziah succeeded his Father in the Twelfth year of Iehoram King of Israel and was guided by the same Spirits that had been his Father's Evil Angels Touching his Age 2 Chron. 22.2 a Point more difficult than important I see not a more probable Conclusion than that of Torniellus's mentioning an Edition of the Seventy at Rome Anno. 1588 which saith he was Twenty years old when he succeeded and the Annotations thereon which cite other Copies which give him two years more c. He accompanied Iehoram King of Israel to Ramoth Gilead and returneth home after the Battle and presently took a new Journey to visit Iehoram It seems his speedy return to Ierusalem was not pleasing to Athaliah as interrupting her in her Plots who therefore sought to oblige him abroad if it were but in a vain Complement to visit one whom he had seen but yesterday But however these things may seem accidental yet all concurred as disposed at this time to fulfil the high pleasure of God yea Athaliah's secret Plots which intended nothing less § 6. Ahaziah and that Family perished with the House of Ahab § Iehu is anointrd King and made Executioner of the Sentence of God against the House of Ahab according to the Prophecy of Elias and is proclaimed by all the other Captains He having this Honour upon the sudden thrown upon him was not slow in the heat of their Affections to put himself in possession and to set on foot the Business which so nearly concerned him and not to be retarded being no more his own than God's Ahab's House never so flourished having Seventy Princes of the Blood a valiant King honoured with the Victory of Ramoth Gilead so deeply Allied with Iudah and Courted by the King and so many Princes of his Blood that it might discourage all common Enemies and make Rebellious Enterprises hopeless In this Security and Joy of the Court for the King's Recovery and Entertainment of the Princes of Iudah the King his Court and Friends are suddainly surprized and slain neither could Iezebel's Painted Majesty nor Man-like Spirit with untimely brave Apothegms terrify her Adversary who of her Servant became her Lord at whose Command her base Grooms feared not to violate her affected Majesty Ahaziah is also wounded to Death CHAP. XVII Of Athaliah and Ioash that succeeded her § 1. AThaliah Vsurpeth and upon what pretences § Ahaziah being dead after one Years Reign his House was not able to retain the Kingdom 2 Chron. 22.9 which Speech hath bred the question of Ioash's Pedigree Athaliah having Reigned under her Sons Name had laid the Plot to play the Queen under her own Title if her Son fail'd and to that end had furnished the King Councel and Places of Chief Command with Men fittest for her purposes And though Ambition be violent yet seldom is it so shameless as to neglect Beauty It is not therefore improbable to think that Athaliah seeing the Royal Blood so wasted in her Husband and Son's days had by some means drawn her Husband or Son to make her Heir if the King's Blood should be extinct considering that without some such order taken when the King's Blood fail'd the Kingdom were like to be torn in sunder by Competitors or some Popular Seditious Man should be chosen that would subvert all regularity and exercise his Cruelty on such as they loved most and cast aspersions on the Royal House Pretence of Testaments to thrust out true Heirs is no new thing Yea what is new under the Sun To prefer a younger before the natural Heir hath proof in David and for State-Policy to slay a Brother by example of Solomon c. And though these had ground of their doings yet they which follow Examples which please them will neglect the Reasons which please them not Solomon slew Adonijah which had Rebelled and was entred a new practice Iehoram slew his Brethren better than he David purchased the Crown yet he gave it by God's direction when as Ahaziah sought to cut off David's Issue which the Lord had appointed
way for Greece to visit Persia the second time to the translating of the Empire CHAP. XI Of the Greeks Affairs under the Lacedemonians Command § 1. GReece understanding the effeminate Baseness of the Asiaticks desired an undertaking of that huge unweildy Empire but were hindred by home Distractions through the Theban War which called the Lacedemonian Power out of Asia Xenophon's retreat from Babylon to Greece four thousand two hundred and eighty one Mile in one Year and three Months through Enemies Countries I know not whether any Age hath parallel'd Conon the Briton with six Thousand Men came home thro' all the breadth of Italy and length of France in despight of the Emperor Theodosius which Retreat was like rather than equal § 2. Timbro the Grecian General in Asia receiving Xenophon's Men took in Towns which fell from Tissaphernes but for his Oppressions is deposed and Dercillidas a Spartan succeeded who bearing a grudge to Pharnabasus and not favoured by Tissaphernes the other Persian Governours in lower Asia upon appointment with Tissaphernes entred Aeolis and in few days subdued it wasted Bithynia took Atarne a strong City and Cheronia with Eleven Towns in it Then he was Commanded from Sparta to attempt Caria the Seat of Tissaphernes In defence whereof Pharnabasus joyned with Tissaphernes by which means the Greeks were over-match'd being forsaken by the Ionians and Islanders yet Tissaphernes feared to Fight well remembring Xenophon's Retreat and so contrary to Pharnabazus's Councel a Truce is concluded § 3. The Lacedemonians being now at leisure resolve to revenge some private Wrongs done by the Eleans who were Precedents of the Olympian Games and accordingly forced them to free the Cities which had been subject to them and overthrew their Walls This pretence of Liberty was their usual ground of Wars though after that they made the same Towns little better than Vassals to Sparta § 4. Agesilaus newly made King of Sparta ambitious of the honour of Victory against the Persians with a great Army set forward to Aulis in Baeotia to Sacrifice there as Agamemnon had done long before but the Thebans Lords of that Country interrupted him Agesilaus resented this Contumely pursued his Enterprize and landed at Ephesus where Tissaphernes entertained him with a Treaty of Peace seeking only to gain time for the better supplying himself with Men and Mony which being come he sent to Agesilaus to be gone or to maintain his Post by force Agesilaus answer'd He was glad he had to deal with an Enemy which by Perjury deserved vengeance from Heaven So seeming to prepare for Caria where Tissaâ—hernes was prepared for him he went directly to â—â—rygia which he plundred 'till Tissaphernes's Cavalry came up whom he could not well repell for want of Horses and therefore returned to Ephesus to furnish himself with them and as soon as the Season served he entred and took Baeotis in Tissaphernes's Country overthrew his Cavalry in the Plain of Meander for want of their Infantry and took their Camp which was very Rich. The King his Master distrusting him and seeing how odious he was to the Greeks thought fit for procuring Peace to take off his Head by Tithraustes whom he sent to succeed him Which being done he sent to Agesilaus to certifie the Author of the War was dead and that the King was content that the Greeks should enjoy their Liberty paying his Tribute The Answer is referred to the Council of Sparta and 'till it came Agesilaus is content for Thirty Talents at his request to transfer the War against Pharnabasus Thus these Lieutenants valu'd not the King's Affairs further than in their own Provinces the foolish Custom of those Kings being to be guided by Eunuchs and Concubines Rewarding or Punishing the Provincials as they got or lost § 5. Agesilaus wasteth Phrygia took Pharnabasus's Palace and drove him out of his Camp c. Pharnabasus seeketh some good Composition representing the many good Offices done to the State of Sparta in the Wars with Athens Agesilaus replieth That having War with his Master they were forced to offend him but if he would revolt from the King they would Establish him a free King over his Province Pharnabasus answering plainly That while his Master trusted him he would be their Enemy but if the Charge were taken from him he would shift sides and come over to them So Agesilaus removeth out of Phrygia having made a violent Enemy of an honourable Friend § 6. Tithraustes perceiving Agesilaus design'd not to leave Asia took a wise Course and sent Fifty Talents to be dispersed among the Principal of Thebes and caus'd the Argives and Corinthians to raise War against Sparta whom they formerly hated The Quarrel is framed from the Locrians paying a Rent to the Thebans which the Phocians claimed and for which they made a Distress by violence whereupon the Thebans invaded Phocis in Hostile manner which flyeth to Sparta for aid The Spartans send Lysander to raise Men about Phocis and to attend Pausanias the other King with Forces out of Peloponesus but Corinth refused to assist Thebes knowing how many Succours Lacedemon should have even of those which affected them little sent to Athens to beg assistance and obtained it by Thrasibulus's means who in the time of the Thirty Tyrants being Banish'd was courteously used at Thebes while Pausanias stayed for the Confederates Lysander was slain at the Siege he layed to Halyartus whither after Pausanias came and that the Athenian Aid was come to the Thebans he departed for which he was Condemned and fled to Tegea § 7. The Thebans upon this Success had the Argives Corinths Eubaeans and others come into Confederation so that Sparta seeing the danger sent for Agesilaus Pharnabasus considering how much the Greeks Division imported the King his Master as before he had advanced the Lacedemonians Sea-Forces to the Overthrow of the Athenians so now he seeketh to raise the Athenian and break the Lacedemonian who for three Talents had sold his Favour He therefore furnish'd Conon and the Athenians with Eight Ships and gave him Command of a great Navy with which he destroyed the Spartan Fleet at Cnidus in requital of the loss of the Athenian Navy at Aegos Potamos surpriz'd by Lysander Conon thus return'd to Athens with a strong Navy and much Gold § 8. The Lacedemonians for some years support their Reputation by some Victories gotten by Agesilaus 'till Iphicrates the Athenian General gain'd a great Victory over them at Lechaeum and that by Pharnabasus's persuasion promising them to Rule by their own Laws The Cities in Asia expelled the Spartan Governours Abidos only excepted and Thrasibulus the Athenian with a Fleet had taken Bizantium Chalcedon Lesbos c. § 9. The Lacedemonians not able to maintain War against Men as good as themselves assisted with Persian Treasure crave Peace with Artaxerxes offering to leave the Greeks in Asia to him and set the Islands and Towns in Greece all free so that Greece should never be able
§ 15. Thalestris or Minothea Queen of the Amazons visited Alexander and made suit to him for his Company 'till she were with Child by him which she obtained and departed Plutarch citeth many for this Report which yet is rather a Tale than true not being mention'd by Alexander in his Epistle to Antipater and laughed at by King Lysimachus of Thrace a follower of Alexander Here in a digression he citeth Pomponius Mela Solinus Ptolomy Pliny Claudian Diodorus Herodotus Ammonius Marcellinus Plutarch to prove there were such Amazons of old And to justify his own Report of such now in the South part of America he citeth Fra. Lopez his Indian History p. 2. cap. 28. and Vlrichus Schnidel and Ed. Lopes in Disc. § 16. Alexander having begun at Persepolis to fall into the Persian Luxury now took on him Persian Robes and Greatness to be Adored to esteem Clemency as Baseness Temperance a poor humour fitter for a Teacher of Youth than an incomparable King His Court and Camp grew full of shameless Courtisans and Sodomy Eunuchs and all other shameless Manners of the vanquished Persians which he had detested but now exceeded that Monster Darius from whose Tyranny he vaunted he had deliver'd many Nations by assistance of the Gods he served which detested the Persian Vices His nearest Friends grew ashamed of him crying out he had more impoverished the Macedonians in their Virtues than inriched them in their Victories and made them more Slaves than the Conquered Alexander understanding hereof sought to pacify the wiser sort with Gifts and gave out that Bessus had assumed the Title of King of Bactria and raised a great Army so persuading them to go on Coming to pass over an inaccessable Rock he forced away the Guarder by the Smoke of a Pile of Wood taking the advantage of the Winds as in Guicciardine three hundred Spaniards were smothered by firing withered Grass § 17. Alexander at the entrance of Bactria taketh the way of Hyrcania and thence Northward towards the Mardi on the Caspian and so over the Mountain Coranus into Aria East of Bactria where the City Artaconna yielded after some resistance Here upon a Treason of Dimnus and others against Alexander Philotas is suspected for not acquainting Alexander with it after that Cebalius had discovered it unto him but upon Examination his error of Concealment for want of opportunity to tell the King was for his Father Parmenio's sake and his own good Service and his dead Brother Pardoned But upon Craterus his Enemies instigation pretending piety for the King's preservation the Prince swallowed his Promise and made his Enemies his Judges Alexander the Evening of the same Night he had appointed for Philotas's apprehension called him to a Banquet and discoursed familiarly with him as of old but being in the dead of the Night apprehended and bound he cried out O Alexander the malice of mine Enemies surmounts thy Mercies and is more constant than the word of a King Among other Circumstances urged by Alexander this was not the least that in Answer to a Letter written to him by the King of the Honour given him by Iupiter Hamon he said He could but joy that he was admitted into the Fellowship of the Gods yet he could not but grieve for those which should live under one which would exceed the Nature of a Man Hereby Alexander gather'd he envy'd his Glory for so the Monster Flattery persuaded Princes of the Men which cannot approve in them things to be abhorred Philotas the next day is brought bound like a Thief to hear the King's Oration against him his Father the Greatest Captain in the World and his Brethren slain in his Service which so opprest him with Grief that he could utter nothing but Tears Sorrow having wasted his Spirits But when he would have answered in the Persian Tongue which all understood the King departed saying he disdained his own Country Language Thus all are encouraged to exceed in hatred against him seeing the King's resolution so that his Defence availed not Though none of the Conspirators upon torment accused him yet by resistless and unnatural Torments devised by Craterus Cinus Hephestion and others he accused himself in hopes to be slain out-right but was deceived though he confessed not what he knew but what they best liked Of this kind of judicial Proceeding St. Augustine complaineth * So Seneca speaking of Alexander's Cruelty said Cruelty is no Humane Vice it is unworthy so mild a Spirit it is a beastly Rage to delight in Blood and changing a Man into a Salvage Monster The like End had all the accused Only Parmenio yet lived who with great Fidelity had served both the Father and the Son opened the way into Asia depressed Attalus the King's Enemy in all hazards led the Vanguard prudent in Councel successful in Attempts beloved of the Men of War as he who had purchased of the King the East Empire and all his Glory This Man being in Media must be dispatched by Polydamas his best beloved Friend leaving Cleander and others who murthered him reading the King's Letter Thus ended Parmenio who had performed many notable things without the King who did nothing without him worth praise Alexander after this subdued the Araspians and Araâ—â—sians and came to the foot of Taurus where he built another Alexandria which he Peopled with Seven Hundred ancient Macedonians Bessus forsakes Bactria of which Artabazus is made Governour and Alexander followed him over Oxus into Sogdiana where he lost more Men by drinking inordinately after great want than in any Battle with the Persians At this River Bessus might easily have distressed him being forced to pass over his Army with Hides stuffed with Straw and sowed together but Spitamines Dataphernes Catanes c. Commanders of his Army remembring how he had served Darius laid Hands on him bound him and with a Chain about his Neck led him like a Mastiff Dog to Alexander who gave him to Oxatres Darius's Brother to torment Shortly after he came to Maracanda which Petrus Perondinus takes to be Samarchand Iamerlames a Regal City which was Seventy Furlongs compass But upon the Rebellion of the Bactrians and Sogdians stirred up by Spitamines and Catanes he left the place which they recovered while he was busy in subduing others against whom he employed Menedemus In the mean time Alexander Marched on to the River Iaxartes not Tanais as Curtius and Trogus mistake it being two thousand Miles from Sogdiana upon which he Built a City of his Name sixty Furlongs in compass which while the Citizens sought to hinder as prejudicial to their excursions some Sixty Macedonians were slain and One thousand one hundred hurt in passing that great River to repell them Menedemus the mean while with 2000 Foot and 300 Horse are slain by Spitamenes who flies into Bactria and leaveth Sogdiana where Alexander kills and wasteth without mercy Here he received supply of Nineteen thousand out of Greece Syria and Lycia as oft before
having been trained up in the Art of War by Cyna a Warlike Woman The Souldiers disappoint her and Pithon who hoped to have been intreated by them to hold and chose Antipater who in a few days arrived at the Camp with his Army and took it upon him as the only powerful Man then living of all Alexander's Captains whom all acknowledge their Superior Antipater taketh the King Queen and Princess into Macedon leaving Antigonus General of the Royal Army against Eumenes and Ruler of Asia during the War and besides his former Provinces gave him the Rule of Susiana § 11. Antigonus Lieutenant of Asia being to subdue Eumenes Alcetus and Attalus began with Eumenes seeking to Corrupt his Army by Letters but failed therein by Eumenes's cunning who made shew as if he writ them to try their faith to him Then Antigonus dealt with the Captains of which one brake out untimely and another called Apollonides held close 'till the Battle and then turned to Antigonus with such of the Horse-men as he could persuade being their General but Eumenes overtook him and cut him off though he lost the Battle Eumenes not able to keep the Field wished his Men to shift for themselves and retained only five hundred Horse and two hundred Foot with which he tired Antigonus in following At last he entred Nora a strong and well provided Fort bordering on Cappadocia where they parted without agreeing so Antigonus leaveth Nora besieged and with his other Forces entred Pisidia and overthrew Alcetus § 12. Ptolomy while other Princes were quiet in their Government sent an Army and won Syria and Phaenicia and took Laomedon the Governour thereof Prisoner Antipater being Eighty Years Old reposing great Confidence in Polyspercon one of Alexanders most Ancient Captains committed to him the Protectorship and Government of Macedon doubting his Son Cassander's sufficiency he also gave charge that no Woman should be admitted into the Administration of the Empire and so dyed § 13. Polysâ—ercon's skill was greater in War than in the high Office he now undertook being a man of an Inferior Wit fitter to assist than command in Chief The better to Countenance his Injunctions to the Governours of Provinces he and his Council thought fit to call the Queen of Olympias to Court whom Antipater suffered not in Macedon But Cassander Son of Antipater who thought himself the better Man was not satisfyed with the Captainship of a Thousand his Ambition soared high when he considered the Love of those which commanded the Garrisons and all the Rulers in the Cities so of Greece so placed by his Father Besides he had that Interest in Queen Euridice that was due only to her Husband all which would not serve to bear out an open Rebellion Cassander therefore finding what Ptolomy had done in Syria and what Antigonus aimed at since Antipater's death for whose sake he presumed upon them and seeing their occasions needed a Civil War he went to Antigonus in Asia and writ to Ptolomy § 14. Polyspercon upon Cassander's departure to disappoint him of his hopes from Greece decreed in Council to restore the popular Government in their Cities and discharge the Garrisons and Banish or kill the Governours placed by Antipater Thus he dishonours the Man that raised him overthrew worthy Men placed as Friends to the State of Macedon and gives away Macedon's Command of Greece if he means as he pretends c. § 15. Athens by this Decree in all haste cast out their Governours Phocion and others who fly for their Lives but cannot remove the Garrison commanded by Nicanor a trusty Friend to Cassander He possessing one of the Havens found means to take the other called Paraeus to their great discouragement but by Alexander the Son of Polyspercon coming with an Army are wholly misled as if he came to aid them whereas he came to get what Nicanor held if he could persuade him thereto Phocion and his Fellows fly to Polyspercon for Patronage but he finding he could not get the Key of Athens as he fought without offending the other Towns of Greece to cover his intent as meaning well to Athens he sent Phocion back into Athens who wickedly put him to death being above Eighty Years old who had been chosen forty five times Governour without seeking it whose Integrity was approved whose Counsel the City never repented nor private Man for trusting him Philip and Alexander honoured him but could fasten no Gifts upon him Athens never after bred a worthy Man § 16. Cassander with such Forces as Antigonus lent him entred Pireus which drew Polyspercon headlong into Attica with an Army but for want of Victuals departed leaving Alexander with some Forces to hindeâ— Nicanor 'till he in Peloponesus attempted Megalopolis which affected Cassander But the Town furnished with Fifteen thousand able Men was so defended and his Elephants so galled in their Feet with Nails driven through Boards laid and lightly covered in the Way that he prevailed not and wanting Provision to stay long he forsook the Siege After this his Admiral Clitus after an Overthrow given to Nicanor in Propontis is in the second Encounter Antigonus having furnished Nicanor utterly defeated which made Athens submit to Cassander as did other Cities § 17. Antigonus lying before the Fort Nora when he heard of Antipater's death knowing Eumenes's sufficiency and fidelity to Perdicas thought no Man fitter to be employed in his designs He sent therefore a Friend to them both to deal with him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Antigonus which he refused except Olympias and the Children of Alexander were put in which was yielded to so he departed Antigonus had before this taken on him as Lieutenant of Asia to remove Governours of Provinces as Aridaeus of Phrygia and Clitus of Lydia which repaired to the Court for Relief but all failed in Clitus's overthrow at Sea § 18. Antigonus now commanding the most of the Lesser Asia was able to enter Macedon and seize the Court but doubted the Reconciliation of Cassander and Polyspercon thereby he also knew Eumenes's fidelity to the Royal Blood Against him therefore he bent with Twenty thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse hoping to surprize him in Cilicia Eumenes a Thracian of all the old Souldiers was only faithful to the Royal Blood the Court therefore gave him Commission to raise an Army against Antigonus requiring the Provincials to assist and the old Silver-shield-bands to follow him § 19. Olympias the Old Queen intending to remove Aridaeus and place Alexander Son of Roxane joining with Polyspercon enters Macedon taketh Euridice and Aridaeus forsaken of all that followed her at the sight of Olympias both are Murdered and a hundred of Cassander's Friends with Nicanor his Brother § 20. Cassander lying at the Siege of Tegea in Peloponesus hearing these ill Tidings compounded with Tegea and shipt his Army into Thessaly the Aetolians keeping the Streights of Thermopylae by Land in favour of the Queen Cassander leaveth Callas with part
slew him Goes into Persia Peucestes entertain'd him obsequiously but lost his place § 9. Antigonus visiting Seleuchus in Babylon hath Kingly Entertainment and Susa's Castle with the Persian Treasure and Riches yet calls for a further Accompt Seleuchus doubts the meaning of his Friend of whom he never deserved well and so fled to Ptolomy in Egypt CHAP. V. Civil Wars between Alexander's Captains § 1. ANtigonus's Riches and Power made him formidable and caused Ptolomy Cassander and Lysimachus to combine against him notwithstanding his Embassadours by whom he intreated the continuance of their Amity In their Answer they require a share of the Eastern Treasure increase of Cassander and Lysimachus's Dominions and restoring of Seleuchus He roundly replyed that he would share his Victories with them who afforded him no succour and injoy'd what they had thereby being by his Arms freed from Polyspercon § 2. Antigonus prepareth for War Guards the Sea Coast to hinder Cassander and invaded Syria setting Workmen on Lybanus to build a Navy takes Ioppa and Gaza and forces Tyrus by Famine to yield upon Condition that Ptolomy's Souldiers might depart with their Armies Ptolomy kept close in his Country not being able to Incounter the other in the Field but sent a Fleet of One Hundred Sail with Sâ—leuchus to strengthen Cyprus by which also Caria held by another Cassander took a Resolution to hold out § 3. Greece was desired on both sides as an aid of much Importance where Antigonus by his Treasures gained the Lacedemonians and others of Peloponesus He also sought to make Cassander odious for the Death of Olympias and Imprisoneth Roxane and her Son forcing Thessalonica building Cassandria and re-edifying Thebes in spite of Philip and Alexander Upon these Reasons he required the Army to declare Cassander a Traitor except he restored Roxane and her Son and submitted to the Lieutenant General himself and that all the Cities of Greece should be set free His regard of the Royal Blood was not soon to be abated but 't was the Liberty of Greece which induced Ptolomy to decree the like Antigonus to make sure work gave Alexander Son of Polyspercon Five Hundred Talents to make War in Peloponesus But he at the persuasion of one sent from Cassander kept the Treasure and had the Lordship of Peloponesus put into his hand making a League with Ptolomy and Cassander But this Honour he enjoy'd not long being slain by the Treason of the Sycionians hoping thereby to become free but were subdued by Crâ—tisipolis his Wife c. § 4. Antigonus with his Five Hundred Talents having bought an Enemy stirred up the Factious Aetolians but Cassander curbed them and won from them Ptolomy's Fleet Commanded by Polyclitus who upon Alexander's defect from Antigonus left Peloponesus and returned homewards hearing of the Rhodian Fleet led by Theodatus Admiral to Antigonus he cunningly surprized it not one escaping This ill News brought Antigonus and Ptolomy to meet about some composition but to no effect § 5. Lysimachus Overthrew Seuthes a King of the wild Thracians with the Cities which Rebelled and slew Pausanias and took his Army sent by Antigonus Philip also Lieutenant of Cassander wasted the Aetolians and drove most out of their Country and slew Aeacides King of Epirus lately Restored Antigonus in the mean time won Caria sent Armies into Peloponesus and other parts of Grâ—ecâ— bestowing Liberty on whom he took and making shew to come over into Macedon forc't Cassander to hast thereto and to leave many places weakly Guarded which his Army freed § 6. Antigonus's Presence in lesser Asia gave life to his Affairs there and in Greece but Ptolomy took advantage of his Absence in Syria visited Cyprus recover'd it and left a Lieutenant in it and in return made Ravage in Caria and Cilicia and drew Demetrius Policartes Son of Antigonus to the rescue and departed to Egypt where with Seleuchus he raised a Royal Army for recovery of Syria Demetrius being return'd and hearing of Ptolomy's coming is advised to give way and not to Encounter two such Generals but he rejects the Council as a cold Temper of aged Men and will needs stand them at Gaza Ptolomy hath the odds but wanted Elephants which â—e supplied with a Palisade sharpned to gall the Beasts and Overthrew Demetrius who fled to Azotus Thirty Miles off Won Gaza and the best part of Syria § 7. Seleuchus Nicanor now took leave of Ptolomy with Eight Hundred Foot and Two Hundred Horse too small a Garrison to keep much less to win one of those great Cities in the East but Men enough to enter where the Hearts of the Inhabitants are already gain'd Seleuchus's Name whose Government the Babylonians had found so good was sufficient to them to put all the resistance upon Antigonus Men wishing them ill to speed The defection grew so general that the Antigonians durst stay in no strong Town only they held a Castle full of Hostages and Prisoners which Seleuchus took and so the Possession of Mesopotamia and Babel Nicanor left in Media by Antigonus with an Army came with Ten Thousand Foot and Seven Thousand Horse Seleuchus having but Four Hundred Horse and above Three Thousand Foot drew them into a Marsh near Tygris which Nicanor thinking to be a flight grew less careful to Fortiâ—ie his Camp and so was surprized the first Night and lost all with Susiana and Media Now began the Aera or Date of the Greeks used by the Iews Chaldeans and Syrians whose first Compleat Year at Babylon was accounted from the end of the 438th of Nabonasser saith Gauricus § 8. Ptolomy having taken Gaza sent Demetrius all his Goods Pages and Servants freely with a courteous Message that their War was upon Terms of Honour not Personal hatred This inflam'd Demetrius's earnest desire of Requital which made him gather all the Force he could and send to his Father for supply against which Ptolomy sent Cilles with part of his Army which was suddenly Surpriz'd by Demetrius through Cilles's careless Marching as against a beaten remnant Thus Demetrius repaired his Honour and requited his Enemy by restoring Cilles and many other Friends with rich Presents Antigonus hasteth into Syria to embrace his Son and perfect the recovering of it upon his Son's Foundation but Ptolomy now at leisure returns to Egypt Dismantling the Principal Cities as he went thus all fell to Antigonus presently So easily did the Provinces accept strange Lords as Sheep and Oxen change Masters having no Title to their own Heads These People of Syria Egypt Babylon Assyria Persia were of no such manly Temper as at this time the States of Greece were who took all occasion to recover Liberty which these little esteemed So that the Persian Nobles never strove to recover Liberty after Alexander's Death but tamely submitted to the Captains and Officers of the Army The Reason hereof Machivel gives from the Form of Government For where the Subjects are kept as Slaves as in Turkey a
and took an Hundred private Hostages The Rhodians presently erect Statues for Lysimachus and Cassander and make a God of Ptolomy § 3. Demetrius chaseth Cassander beyond the Straits of Thermopilae and recover'd all that Cassander held there the like he did in Peloponesus setting all Free and translateth Sicyon to anâ—ther place and called it Demetrius Then he was proclaimed General of all Greece and Athens decreed all his Commandments should be held Sacred and just with God and Men Cassander's Case now oblig'd him to seek Peace for Macedon but Antigonus will have absolute submission which made Cassander sollicit the Confederates Lysimachus Ptolomy and Seleucus who apprehending the common danger agree to joyn Forces against a common Enemy Lysimachus with part of Cassander's Forces begins and passeth the Hellespont makes hot War in Asia which Antigonus hasteth to oppose but cannot force Lysimachus home who stayed for Seleucus's coming and made him send for Demetrius c. § 4. Seleucus is come and joyned with Ptolomy's Forces and Lysimachus making Sixty four Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Five Hundred Horse Four Hundred Elephants and One Hundred aâ—med Carts Antigonus had Seventy Thousand Foot Ten Thousand Horse and Seventy Five Elephants they met at Ipsus near Ephesus where the only memorable Thing was that Demetrius encountred young Antiochus Son of Seleucus and so pursued him in flight that Seleucus interposeth his Elephants between Demetrius and Antigonus's Phalanx and with his Troops of Horse so forced it that many soon revolted and left him to death Thus Princes commonly succeed who are more fear'd by their Enemies than lov'd by Friends § 5. Demetrius finding all lost made a speedy retreat to Ephesus with Four Thousand Horse and Five Thousand Foot thinking long to be at Athens the Worshippers of his Godhead not knowing they had repealed his Deity 'till he met their Messengers not as Theories to Consult at their Oracle but as Officers to prohibit his entring their City which shameless Ingratitude more afflicted him than all the rest yet he spake them fair 'till he recovered his Ships out of their Haven In the mean time the Confederates are dividing his Father's Provinces of which Seleucus seised on Syria and part of Asia the less whereat the rest repined and consulted to oppose his Greatness in time whereof he was not ignorant knowing the Law of Sâ—â—te ought not to permit the over-growing of Neighbours Therefore to serve his turn of Demetrius against Lysimachus he Married his Daughter Stratonica but to save the life of his Son Antiochus who was passionately in love with her he gave her to him The like Alliance was between Ptolomy and Lysimachus Demetrius and Cassander Demetrius and Ptolomy yet not bound to each other but for the present as it hath been with Christian Kings whom neither Bed nor Book can make faithful in their Covenants Yet Demetrius had this advantage by Seleucus's Affinity that he got Cilicia from Plistarchus Brother to Cassander who yet was pacified by Phila their Sister Wife to Demetrius who also about that time married Ptolomy's Daughter yet Seleucus had rather have Demetrius further off having a mind to Cilicia as Ptolomy had to Cyprus and offered ready mony for it but in vain for Demetrius had already found there Twelve Thousand Talents of his Fathers § 6. Demetrius with Three Hundred good Ships entreth Attica besiegeth the City of Athens which Ptolomy sought to relieve but could not so by extream Famine it was yielded but was spared notwithstanding all their unthankfulness yet he put a Garrison in it to keep them honest by force Then he went to Peloponesus against Lacedemon but was hastily called away into Asia where Lysimachus had won many Towns from him and Ptolomy besieged Salamis in Cyprus where his Mother and Childrâ—n reâ—ained Yet hearing of Cassander's death and that his Sons Antipater and Alexander fought for the Kingdom and that Antipater had furiously slain their Mother Thessalonica for affecting his Brother he chose rather to go to assist Alexander who desired aid of him and Pyrrâ—us King of Epirus § 7. Pyrrhus Son of Aeacides an Infant at his Father's death was conveyed unto Glaucias King of Illyria who at Twelve Years old set him in his Kingdom out of which six years after he was forced and went to serve Demetrius who married his Sister and after the Overthrow at Ipsus became Hostage to Ptolomy upon his reconciliation with Demetrius In Aegypt he got the favour of Berenice Ptolomy's principal Wife and Married her Daughter and was restored to Epirus He being requested of Alexander to aid him against Antipater for reward took Ambracia by force Acarnania and much more leaving the united Brethren to divide the rest Demetrius also bâ—ing come after all was done is discontented and pretending Alexander had plotted his death slew him at a Feast and seized on his part of the Kingdom At which Antipater who had Married Lysimachus's Daughter was so inraged that his Father-in-Law to quiet him took away his troublesome life Thus the House which Cassander had raised with so much Treachery and Royal-Blood fell on his own Grave before the Earth was throughly setled Demetrius after this access of Dominion grew to such dissoluteness in Wine Women and Idleness that he would not endure the trouble of Petitions and doing justice so that the People grew weary of his idleness and the Souldiers of his vanity Having lost all he had in Asia and Cyprus but his Mother and Children which Ptolomy honourably sent him home he went against Thebes and won it twice then he went against Pyrrhus with two great Armies of which one led by Pentauchus was overthrown and he beaten by Pyrrhus upon Challenge hand to hand which loss offended not the Macedonians so much as the young Princes behaviour pleased them seeming to see a lively figure of Alexander in his best qualities This esteem of Pyrrhus was increased by the dislike which he had of Demetrius for his Insolency and Cruelty to his Souldiers of whom he said The more of them died the fewer he had to pay In the end he grew sensible of their general hatred which to prevent he intended a War in Asia with a Royal Army of almost One Hundred Thousand Foot and Twelve Thousand Horse and a Navy of Five Hundred Sail of which many exceeded all former greatness Seleucus and Ptolomy doubting the issue are earnest with Lysimachus and Pyrrhus to joyn against him who accordingly invade Macedon Lysimachus entring that part next him and when Demetrius went against him Pyrrhus broke in on his side and took Berrhaea which News put all the Camp in a consternation few forbearing seditious Speeches and many desiring to return home But he perceiving their design to go to Lysimachus their Countryman led them against Pyrrhus a Stranger thinking so to pacify them wherein he was deceived For though they were as hasty as he to meet with Pyrrhus yet was it not to fight with him but to
Thoro long after Usurped Gela forced Naxos Zancle and Leontium and giving aid to the Magistrates of Syracuse against the People was chosen Prince in the Second Year of the Seventy Second Olympiad He aiding Thoro his Father-in-Law of Agrigentum against Terillus of Himera slew One Hundred and Fifty Thousand led by Amilcar in defence of Terillus The Carthaginians well beaten seek his Peace which is granted on Condition no more to Sacrifice Children to Saturn but to pay Two Thousand Talents and Two Armed Ships whereto they added a Crown of Gold worth One Hundred Talents of Gold so much are some Natures improv'd by hardship His Subjects loved him exceedingly yea his Dog burnt himself with his Body at his Funeral Hierom his Brother succeeded a Cruel Rude Covetous Man but improv'd by Simonides became a Studier of good Arts. His Brother Thrasibulus succeeded who after Ten Months Tyranny was forced by the Citizens to restore their Liberty and was Banished so Syracuse kept her Liberty almost Sixty Years and was in some manner acknowledged of all the Greek Cities by freeing them from Ducetius King of the Sicilians except Trinacia But Leontium being oppressed by Syracuse sought aid from Athens the Sixth year of the Peloponesian War which sent One Hundred Gallies and other Forces which invaded Syracuse winning and losing 'till both sides wearied agree and Leontium is admitted into equal Fellowship and the Athenian Captains sent home whom their City banish for gaining nothing in Sicily as they expected Shortly after fell out the most memorable War that ever Greece made there Athens aided Egesta oppressed by Seleucus and Leontium and Catana wronged by Syracusa whom the Lacedemonians succoured Alcibiades Nicias and Lamachus are sent from Athens but did little the first Summer and Alcibiades is discharged and new Supplies on both sides are sent the next Spring but Syracuse is almost blocked up yet with Lamachus's death before the Succors from Sparta and Corinth led by Glippus and Pitbon came But after their coming Nicias was broken and forced to write for new Supplies which were sent with Euremedon and Demosthenes who the same day invaded the Syracusians with more hast than Success having such loss as they determined to return to succour Athens then in distress Nicias on the contrary persuaded them to stay upon intelligence the Town could not hold out long but had not the Moon been Eclipsed the suspicion whereof caused them to defer it they had departed But their Superstition cost them dear even the utter loss of all in two Sea-Fights in the great Haven and in their retreat by Land toward Camerina in which Forty Thousand are overthrown Nicias and Demosthenes taken and miserably murder'd for contrary to the Endeavours of Glippus and Hermocrates the Syracusian Commander to save them they were barbarously murdered by the cruel Multitude c. The Egestanes now fearing the Syracusians apply themselves to Carthage to whom they ofâ—er their City and Hannibal with Thirty Thousand Men is sent who in revenge of his Father's and Uncle's Death won and sack'd Himera and Seleucus and buried Three Thousand Himerans where Amilcar was slain Hermocrates after his good Service is by malice of his Enemies Exiled by the ungrateful Multitude being in Greece who being returned began to repair Silenus but upon persuasion of his Friends in Syracuse attempting to take a Gate was slain Dionysius Son-in-Law to Hermocrates being made Praetor and Commander of the Syracusian Armies behav'd himself so well that he got the good will of the People and Men of War and began early being but Twenty Five Years Old that he might play the Tyrant long He obtain'd his first Favour by accusing the Noblemen whom the baser sort desire to reign over then he got of them Six Hundred Men to guard his Person as Pisistratus at Athens had done against the malice of his Enemies and to gain the Souldiers he gave them double Pay and procured the restoring of many Banished Men who thereby were made his own Then he made himself absolute Lord by possession of the Citadel in which was great Provision and under which the Gallies Moored what he design'd by this the Chief Citizens discerned it though the People would not see Yet after a Foil given at Gela by the Carthaginians which the Men at Arms thought he was willing to they left him and hasting to Syracuse in hope to free the City of him they forced his Palace ransaked his Treasure and abused his Wife all which he revenged being at their heels sparing none that he suspected Then he grew so doubtful being the greatest Robber that ever State had that he trusted not a Brother to enter his Chamber unsearched yet being at the War the Citizens rebell at home so that with much difficulty he recovered the Citadel and so the Command of the City and when the multitude were gathering in Harvest he disarmed the Citizens Afterwards he went into the Field with Eighty Thousand Foot and Three Thousand Horse and sent his Brother Leptines with Two Hundred Gallies to Sea and Five Hundred Ships of Burthen which overthrew Fifty Ships of War Five Thousand Souldiers and many Ships of burthen brought by Himilco from Carthage while many Cities also yielded to Dionysius who yet lost a great part of his Army at Egesta Himilco finds half his Army with Mago by Sea which met again with Leptines and slew Twenty Thousand and took One Hundred Gallies which made Dionysius hasten home whom Himilco follows with speed besieging him by Sea and Land but the Plague having taken away One Hundred Thousand of his Men and other numbers slain by the City with the Lacedemonian aid he craved Peace which the other sold for a great Summ and on Condition to leave such as were not Carthaginians but when he was out at Sea the Tyrant followed and slew many Mago who stayed behind to strengthen the Carthaginians in Sicily received Supplies of Eighty Thousand Men which did nothing but make Peace with Dionysius who march'd into Italy where he took Rhegium and used much Cruelty therein Afterwards in another Battle with Mago he slew him and Ten Thousand Africans but Mago's Son slew his Brother Leptines and Fourteen Thousand Men which made him now buy his Peace Shortly after he died after Thirty Eight Years Tyranny and his Son Dionysius succeeded with his Father's disposition tho' to gain favour he dissembled freed many Prisoners and remitted many Taxes but slew his Brethren by another Mother the Sister of Dionysius a Valiant Just Man This Man had so prevail'd with him as to hear Plato whom he had sent for by whose Wisdom he began to be reform'd but continu'd it not After this his Flatterers procure Dionysius's Banishment persuading the King Dionysius sought to weaken his Mind by Philosophy and by offer which he had made to furnish the King with Fifty Gallies to make himself Master of the Kingdom Dionysius was well beloved in Greece where he gathered Eight
Brutians wan Pretilia by force and Cosentia Croton was left them and Locri yeilded but Rhegium held out Rome at this time was brought so low that when the Messengers from Petilium upon their Knees sought succour the Senate willed them to provide for their own safety At the same time their Praetor Posthumus Atomus with Twenty Five Thousand was cut in pieces by the Gauls in a Wood through which they must pass whose Trees before their coming were so cunningly sawed that a little force would throw them down So that after they were in the Gauls about the Wood beginning one Tree cast down another and overwhelmed the Romans About the same time Philip King of Macedon entred into League with Hannibal of mutual and Personal assisting the one in Conquest of Italy for the Carthaginian the other of Greece for Philip But predisposing of Kingdoms is justly controuled by the Divine Providence The Romans understanding this League sent M. Valerius the Praetor to employ Philip more in Greece than would give him leave to visit Italy which he so well effected by stirring up the Aetolians old Enemies to Macedon that he was chosen Consul at Rome and Sulpitius sent in his stead Philip being thus incumbred in Greece and seeing Carthage was careless of supplying him with a Fleet which he wanted after he had forced the Aetolians to submit he hearkned to the Romans who desired his Friendship which he esteemed much to his Honour § 13. The Carthaginians undertaking so many Enterprises at once and following them by halves was â—n errour but their neglect of supplying Hannibal when he had as great an opportunity as a Conquerour could desire argued his Enemies at home durst not trust him with the Power which might injure themselves Hannibal therefore is forced by necessity to feed his Italian Friends with Hopes trifling about Nola Naples and Cuma about which latter Gracchus a Consul over-reached the Magistrates of Câ—pua who had Conspired to take the Senators of Cumae at a Sacrifice but was himself surprised by Gracchus who slew above Two Thousand and immediately after One Thousand Four Hundred more of Hannibal's Men at this Siege of Cumae Hannibal noâ— able to make good all his Garrison Towns and continue strong in Field was forc'd to pass from place to place waiting occasions till his supply came In the mean time Hanno in a Journey against Beneventum with Seventeen Thousand Foot and Twelve Hundred Horse is met by the Consul Gracchus with an Army consisting of Slaves who upon promise of Manumission fought so valiantly that they forced Hanno to flie but with Two Thousand Thus Rome began to repair her breach made at Cannae yet her Treasury was empty For all the Fruits her Ground could yield were hardly able to feed their own Armies No not Sicily and Sardinia Now Asdrubal is expected out of Spain Macedon is feared which mortal dangers could not be avoided but with expence of Treasure Hereupon the People are Assemâ—led and Quintus Fabius the Praetor opened to them the publick Wants and how to supply them which the People undertook Then followed the two Censors who Censured all disorders in the City or about the Wars past and thus by Pruning the Branches the decayed Root recovered § 14. Fabius Maximus one of the Consuls having Besieged Casseline in Campania after Marcellus the other Consul was come who finding it so obstinately defended would have left it as no great Eâ—terprise if Marcellus had not replied that Things undertaken by a great Commander ought to be prosecuted So the Siege being continued he forced them within to seek Peace But as the Besieged were going forth according to Covenant Marcellus takes a Gate entreth and puts to the Sword or taketh all but Fifty which ran to Fabius for Protection This needed a Roman Equivocation to justifie it Many other small Towns of the Samnites and some of the Lucans and Apulians were recovered and Twenty Five Thousand of the Enemies put to the Sword The new Consul next was Quintus Fabius Son to Maximus Gracchus who was Consul the other Year Thus the Father became Lieutenant to his Son Fabius entred Arpi by Scalade in a stormy Night yet was so resisted by a Carthaginian Garrison that they left the Town by Composition Divers other places returned to the Roman obedience But Tarentum in the mean time was betrayed to Hannibal who entred the Town but the Citadel was held by the Romans The next Year the City of Rome Armed Twenty Three Legions of which many were Boys under Seventeen Years Old and Fulvius Flaccus with Appius Claudius Consuls Besiege Capua who send to Hannibal to relieve them which Charge was committed to Hanno who made good Provision which the Peasants should have carried to Capua but by their negligence Fulvius took it with Two Thousand Waggons in Hanno's Camp in his absence where were Six Thousand slain and Seven Thousand taken In the mean time the Metapontines and Thurines yielded to Hannibal And Gracchus late Consul was slain being appointed to keep Beneventum for securing the Consuls at the Siege of Capua But Hannibal dislodged them followed Claudius and upon his return fell upon Penula with almost Sixteen Thousand Men of which scarce Two Thousand escaped and Fulvius a Praetor with Eight Thousand in Appulia was so surprized by Mago that he carried away but Two Thousand The Consuls renew the Siege of Capua which sendeth to Hannibal then at Brundusium and have a comfortable Answer but came not till Want began to pinch them But being come he took one of their Forts and fell upon the Camp the Citizens also issue out and Claudius hath his Deaths wound yet can he not raise the Siege Then inraged with himself he resolves to Attempt Rome hoping so to raise it which the Senate understanding refer it to the Generals whether to stay or come home and they agree that Fulvius with Fifteen Thousand Foot and One Thousand Horse should go to Rome Hannibal hasteth with Ten Days Provision and Fulvius is not long after him but when his Provision was spent he made as much haste away having only frighted the timerous multitude Fulvius also returns to Capua where Belstar and Hanno are closely Besieged and can by no means draw on Hannibal whose Spirits were spent more by Domestick Treachery than Roman Force Capua in desperate Case having twice rejected mercy after Twenty Seven chief Senators had purposely Poison'd themselves at a Supper open the Gates to the Romans who tooke severe revenge on all but Two poor Women who were found not guilty the rest were either slain fold or banished Other Capuan People that submitted sped not better Capua was new Peopled but never incorporated but Governed by a Magistrate sent yearly from Rome § 15. Sardinia during the Wars in Italy was drawn to a Rebellion by the Carthaginians who encourage Harsicoras and Hostius his Son Popular in the Island promising them aid against Mutius the Praetor The Romans hearing thereof
less as the common talk at Rome and Quintius's stay in Greece and seeking pretences not to Depart did Argue For being secure of Philip Greece being at Peace Antiochus still Solicites Peace But the Aetolians are much convinced that Quintius should still keep Possession of Câ—alcis Demetrias and Acrocorinthus Nabis Tyrant of Lacedemon kept Argos in Bondage which concerns the Romans in Honour to make free saith Quintius which the Aetolians will undertake Yet in a common Assembly of all the States Quintius is intreated to do it as being easie when all the Confedrates were joined with him After this the Romans depart out of Greece and Titus Quintius Triumpheth at Rome Quintius and his Associates from Rome and Antiochus his Embassadours make many Treaties to no purpose but to give Antiochus leisure of two Years to prepare for War The Roman Conditions were not less dishonourable for him to yield to than unreasonable for them to Demand For though they which have been at War and gotten no great advantage of each other may demand restitution of things gotten or lost Yet between them who never fell out for wrong done or received there can no such Conditions for establishing Friendship be proposed Seeing it is reasonable that each should enjoy their own and neither take Superiority over the other to prescribe Conditions as Conquerours may do § 5. Rome after Hannibal's departure out of Italy was continually Infested with Insurrections of the Insubrians Boijans and other Cisalpine Gauls with the Ligurians who having served together under Mago and Amilcar became such Friendly partakers of each others Fortune that they seldom undertook any Enterprize but together The Cisalpine Gauls or Lumbards had been kept under by Rome from the second Punick War until Hannibal invaded Italy and held out after by the assistance of the Ligurians a stout subtle hardy poor People induring hardness and not discouraged by losses obstinate in War without respect of keeping Covenant and continu'd Enemies and Friends more by Custom as Savages do than by Judgment The Roman War with them served to train their Men to Hardness and Military patience Spain also after Scipio's departure put Rome to continual employment slew a Proconsul Porcius Cato Consul had almost as much work there as the Re-conquest of Spain He began to disarm them which made them desperate he cast down all their Walls and brought the Country to that pass that it was in no danger to be lost long after Hannibal being forced to leave Carthage his Enemies promise themselves and their City all the happiness which obedience to Rome could afford but coming to try the Controversie before the Senate with King Masanissa who had taken from them some Land which he claimed anciently belonging to his Fore-fathers they found how little regard they had to Carthage § 6. The Aetolians discontented with the Peace made by the Romans as finding their Merit undervalued invite Philip Antiochus and Nabis against the Romans Nabis beginneth and besiegeth Gytheum and wasteth Achaea Pâ—ilopoemen was now Praetor of Achaea to whose discretion all being referred he began with a Sea-fight wherein his skill failed then he fell to his own Element to prove the Enemy at Land where his skill in discerning the advantages of Ground was excellent and by an Ambush intrapped his Enemy and slew many So likewise he deceived Nabis by a counterfeit Fugitive which told him Philopoemen designed to get between him and Lacedemon which made him hasten Homeward leaving some Troops to Guard his Camp which was presently fired and he pursued so hard that his People â—led into a Wood thinking to get Home in the Night but the Ways being laid hardly a quarter of them got into Sparta While the Romans are busie in Greece to prepare War with Antiochus their Embassadours with Antiochus Treat of Peace and there meeting with Hannibal and conferring often with him Antiochus grew jealous till he was informed by him of the Oath his Father had made him take never to be Friends with the Romans Antiochus rejecting the dear rated Peace offered by Rome complies with the Aetolians who thereupon in their Panaetolium or common Assembly of the Nation decree to call Antiochus into Greece to decide their Controversie with the Romans The execution of the Decree was referred to the Apocleti or Privy-Council who suddenly surprized Demetrias but failed of Chalcis yet they got Lacedemon by killing Nabis their Friend under pretence to give him aid in his weakness after his Overthrow by Philopoemen but while they were busie in rifling his Palace the Citizens took Arms and slew them Philopoemen while Lacedemon was in this doubtful Estate went to it and called out the chief Citizens persuading them to incoâ—porate the City unto Achaea which they yielded unto § 7. Antiochus upon Thoas the Aetolians Counsel changed his purpose of sending Hannibal with a Fleet against the Romans in Africa and ordered him presently to pass over to Greece which he performed but with no such numbers as were expected having only Forty serviceable Ships Six Elephants Ten Thousand Foot and Five Hundred Horse which smalness of number he excused promising shortly to fill all Greece Being chosen their General he went first against Chalcis thinking to gain them with words but could not till he returned with greater Power upon this the rest of the Island of Eubaea yielded Then Embassadours are sent to all Quarters to persuade them to join with King Antiochus who came to procure their Freedom they answer as had the Chalicidians Their Freedom could not be bettered They meet with Quintius at an Achaean Council where the Aetolians and Antiocheans extol one another by which Quintius took opportunity to shew their vanity and the Kings weakness both in Judgment and Power and that he and the Aetolians did but delude each other So War was Proclaimed against them Thus as the turbulent Aetolians were only forward with Antiochus against the Romans so the Achaeans do at last declare for them all the rest stand doubtful except Elamis who loved the Aetolians and the Eubaeans and Boeotians forced by Antiochus with the Magnetians and Athamanians Antiochus confers with these and Hannibal long neglected by reason of the bragging Aetolians is consulted who spake plainly his mind That as for these Confederates their weakness and fear made them uncertain Friends whereas if the Macedonian had been engaged he was strong and could not start having once fallen off from Rome but if he dare not let him keep at Work at Home and let the Gauls be provoked and a strong Power sent into Italy while the King proceeds at Greece They are pleased with the brave Speech of this great Spirit but nothing is done except forcing Thessaly where yet Larissa withstood his Army and was relieved by the Romans at whose sight he rose and went to Chalcis to promote the Love of a trappanning Woman M. Acilius Consul comes into Greece with Ten Thousand Foot Two Thousand Horse and Fifteen Elephants