Page 493 Moreover he corrupted many of the Enemy, drawing some into the Confederacy, and working upon others to sit still in the mean time. And all this he easily effected, through the Covetousness of those he wrought upon. For by his Bribes he prevailed with the Thessalians, the most considerable of the Confederates on the other side, to stand Neuter. Those among the Phocians that opposed him, he clapt up in Prison, and put them to Death, and expos'd their Goods to publick Sale; He then march'd into the Enemies Country, and took Thronius by Assault, and sold all the Inhabitants for Slaves. The Amphissenians likewise being greatly terrified, he forced to a Submission, and possessed himself also of the Cities of the Doreans, and wasted and spoiled the Country. Thence, he marched into Boeotia, and took Orchomenus, and when he was even ready to sit down before Chaeronea, he was worsted by the Thebans, and so returned into his own Country.
About this time Artabazus, who had rebelled against the King, still continued his War with those Lord Lieutenants of the Provinces that were ordered out against him. At the first, while Chares the Athenian General assisted him, he vallantly stood it out against the Enemy. But when he left him, wanting aid, he made his Application to the Thebans for Relief; who thereupon sent Pammenim General with Five thousand Men over into Asia; who joining with Artabazus, routed the Royalists in two great Fights, and thereby advanced both his own Reputation, and the Glory and Honour of his Country. For it was the Admiration of all Men, That the Boeotians, at the very time when they were deserted by the Thessalians, and in eminent Danger by the Phocian War, which then threaten'd them, should transport Forces into Asia, and be Conquerors in all their Engagements.
In the mean time a War broke out between the Argives and the Lacedemonians, who beat the other at Orneas, and took the Town, and then returned to Sparta. Chares likewise, the Athenian General, with his Fleet entred the Hellespont, and took Sestos, the most considerable Town upon that Coast, and put all the young Men that were able to bear Arms, to the Sword, and carried away, the rest as Slaves.
About the same time, Cersobleptes the Brother of Cotys, Enemy to Philip, but in League with the Athenians, delivered up all the Cities in Chersonesus, (except Cardia) to the Athenians, who sent Colonies thither to inhabit the Towns, which were to be divided amongst them by Lot.
Philip therefore discerning that the Methoneans designed to deliver up their City, (which was of great moment in the War) to his Enemy, laid close Siege to it, which the Citizens defended for some time; but being too weak to cope with him, they were forced to surrender it upon these Conditions, That all the Citizens should depart out of Methon with all their Clothes.
Being possess'd of the Place, he raz'd the City to the Ground, and divided the Territory among the Macedonians. During this Siege, Philip lost one of his Eyes by the stroke of a Dart.
Afterwards being sent unto by the Thessalians, he marched with his Army into Thessaly. And in the first place, in Aid of the Thessalians, he fought with Lycophron, Tyrant of Pheraea.
Lycophron then made Application to the Phocians for Assistance, who thereupon sent to him Phayllus, the Brother of Onomarchus, with Seven thousand Men: But Philip routed the Troops of the Phocians, and drave them out of Thessaly. Upon which, Onomarchus thinking to be Lord of all Thessaly, came to the Assistance of Lycophron with his whole Army.
Philip opposed him, both with his own and the Forces of the Thessalians, but Onamarchus overpowering him by Number, routed him in two several Battels, and killed many of the Macedonians; in so much as Philip was brought into very great Streights.
His Soldiers were hereupon so dejected, that they were ready to desert him; but with much ado, and many Perswasions, he at length brought them over to a due Obedience, and within a short time after returned into Macedonia. But Onomarchus made an Expedition into Boeotia, and fought and routed the Boeotians, and possessed himself of Coronea.
In the mean time Philip marches again with his Army out of Macedon into Thessaly, and incamps against Lycophron the Tyrant of Pherea, who being too weak for him, sent for Aid to the Phocians, promising to use his utmost Endeavour to order and dispose of all Things throughout Thessaly for their Advantage. Whereupon Onomarchus came to his Assistance by Land with above Twenty thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse.
Philip having persuaded the Thessalians to join with him, raised above Twenty thousand Foot and Three thousand Horse.