Page 434 Afterwards, when Lysistratus Govern'd in Chief at Athens, a great Sedition arose in Rome, for some were for making of Consuls, others were for Creating Military Tribunes in their room: And by reason of this dissention there was an Anarchy for some time. But at length, Six Military Tribunes were chosen, which were Lucius Amilius, CaiusVerginius, Serulius Sulpitius, Lucius Quintius, Caius Cornelius, and Caius Valerius. About the same time, Polydore the Pherean Prince of Thessaly (when he was drunk) was poysoned by a deadly Potion given him by his Brother Alexander, who Succeeded him, and Reign'd eleven Years. And as he got into the Throne by wickedness and injustice, so he rul'd (as he ever design'd) with Tyranny and Oppression: And whereas all those before him by their Moderation and Kindness to their Subjects, gain'd the Love and Good-will of all, he by his severe and tyrannical Government, became the Object of all Mens hatred. Therefore some of Larissa who from their high Birth were sirnam'd Alevadari, (fearing what might be the Effect of his Wickedness) Conspir'd to Dethrone him. To this end they made a Journey into Macedonia, and Treated with Alexander the King, in order to Assist them in Deposing of the Tyrant. While they were Negociating this Affair, Alexander the Pharean (having Intelligence of the preparations making against him) rais'd a considerable Army, designing to Engage with the Enemy in Macedonia; but the King of Macedon being join'd with the Deserters, brought his Forces presently to Larissa, and so prevented him: When he came there, the Citizens open'd the Gates to him, and so he became Master of all but the Castle, which he afterwards took by Force. The The City Cranon likewise surrendr'd to him, and he promis'd to restore all the Cities to the Thessalians. But afterwards (not valuing his Word or Honour) he Garrison'd them, and detain'd them all in his own hands. But Alexander the Pherean in a great Fright Fled to the City Pherea. And this was then the Condition of Thessaly.
The Lacedaemonians send Polytropus into Arcadia; who is Slain, and his Party Routed by Lycomedes. An Invasion by Epaminondas and Pelopidas into Peloponnesus. Sparta Besieg'd. The Antiquity and History of Messina in Greece. Pallane taken by the Arcadians. A Wall drawn between Cenchrea and Lecheum to hinder the Thebans Inroad into Peloponnesus. Epaminondas breaks through into Peloponnesus; Assaults Corinth.
IN Peloponnesus, in the mean time, the Lacedemonians sent a Thousand heavy Arm'd Men of their own Citizens, and Five hundred Deserters from Argos and Beotia, into Arcadia, under the Command of Polytropus, who when he came to Orchomenon in Arcadia, put a Garrison into it, being a City that favour'd the Spartans. But Lycomedes of Mantinea (then Commander in Chief of the Arcadians) with a Body of Men, to the number of Five thousand, March'd against Orchomenon, and upon their arrival the Lacedemonians drew out their Forces, where happen'd a sharp Engagement, in which the Lacedemonian General was slain, and two hundred more with him: The rest by the hot Pursuit of the Enemy were forc'd back into the City. However, tho' the Arcadians then got the Victory, yet they so far fear'd the power of Sparta, that they durst not depend upon their own strength in Contending with the Lacedemonians, and therefore taking into their Confederacy the Argives and the Eleans, they first sent Ambassadours to Athens to desire them to be their Consederates, which being deny'd, they then Address'd themselves to the Thebans for the same purpose. Upon which the Beotians (together with the Phocians and Locrians their Confederates) drew out their Forces, and March'd directly into Peloponnesus, under the Command of Epaminondas and Pelopidas. For all the other Beotarchs had willingly given up the sole and absolute Command of the Army to those two, being Men eminent for Prudence and Valour.
When they entred into the Confines of Arcadia, they were met by all the Arcadians, Eleans, Argives, and the rest of their Confederates. And now they had an Army of above Fifty thousand Men, and after a Council of War had, the Generals resolv'd to March forthwith to Sparta, and to Wast and Spoil all the Country of Laconia. But the Lacedemonians having lost the Flower and strength of their young Men in the Battle at Leuctra, and many in several other Fights here and there, were thereby reduc'd to a very