Page 578 Hereupon, Leosthenes very privately Listed these Soldiers, and (beyond all expectation) had ready a brave Army: For having been a long time in the Wars in Asia, and often engag'd in many great Battles, they were become very expert Soldiers. These things were contriv'd when the Death of Alexander was not generally known: But when a Messenger came from Babylon, who was an Eye witness of his Death, the People of Athens declar'd open War, and sent part of the Money left by Harpalus, with a great number of Arms to Leosthenes, charging him no longer to conceal or palliate the Matrer, but to do what was most conducible to the Service of the Common-wealth. Whereupon, having distributed the Money among the Soldiers as he was commanded, and arm'd those that wanted, he went into Aetolia, in order to carry on the War with the joint Assistance of both Nations. The Aetolians join'd very readily, and deliver'd to him for the service Seven thousand Soldiers. Then he stirr'd up his Messengers, the Locrians and Phocians, and other neighbouring Nations, to stand up for their Liberties, and to free Greece from the Macedonian Yoke. But in the mean time, the Wealthy Men among the Athenians dissuaded them from the War, but the Rabble were for carrying it on with all the Vigour imaginable: Whence it came to pass, that they who were for War, and had nothing to live upon but their Pay, were far the greater Number: To which sort of Men Philip was us'd to say, War was as Peace, and Peace as War. Forthwith therefore, the Orators (who were in a Body together, and clos'd with the Humours of the People) wrote down the Decree, That the Athenians should take upon them the Care and Defence of the Common Liberty of Greece, and should free all the Greek Cities from their several Garisons; and that they should rig out a Fleet of Forty Gallies of Three Tire of Oars, and Two hundred of Four Tire of Oars; and that all Athenians under Forty years of Age should take up Arms; That Three of the Tribes should keep Watch and Ward in Athens, and the other Seven should be always ready to march abroad: Moreover, Ambassadors were sent to all the Cities of Greece to inform them, That the People of Athens in the first place look'd upon all Greece to be the common Country of every Grecian, and that they had heretofore repuls'd the Barbarians at Sea, who invaded them with a Design to Inslave Greece, and that now they had determin'd to oppose the Macedonians for the common Good, with their Navies, Lives and Fortunes.
The Wiser sort of the Grecians judg'd the Athenians more forward than prudent in passing this Decree, and what they had design'd seem'd to carry an honourable Aspect, but nothing of Profit and Advantage to the State: For that they made a stir and bustle unseasonably, and began a War against mighty and victorious Armies when there was no necessity for it; and though they had the repute of a prudent People, yet they consider'd not the notorious Ruine and Destruction of Thebes.
However, notwithstanding the Ambassadors came to the Cities, and by their usual florid way of address had heated and egg'd them on to the War, yet many confederated in the League; some in the Names of their several Cities; and others in the Names of whole Countries. As for the rest of the Grecians, some sided with the Macedonians, and others stood Neuter. But all the Aetolians generally (as is before said) enter'd into the Confederacy; and after them all the Thessalians, except them of Pellena. Likewise the Oetaeans, except the Heracleans. The Phthiotians amongst the Acheans, except the Thebans. The Elians, except the Maleans. Then generally all the Doreans, Locrians, and Phocians join'd in the League: Also the Enians, Clyzeans, and Dolopeans. To these join'd likewise the Athamanes, Leucadians, and Molossians, under the Command of Arypteus: But this Man play'd the Impostor in the Confederacy, and afterwards underhand treacherously aided the Macedonians.
A small Part likewise of the Illyrians and Thracians (out of hatred to the Macedonians) came into the League together, with the Carystines out of Euboea; and at length out of Peloponnesus the Argives, Sicyonians, Eleans, Messenians, and those that Inhabited Acta. All these before nam'd, confederated with the Grecians.
The People of Athens also sent Auxiliaries to Leosthenes, out of the Cities Five thousand Foot and Five hundred Horse, and Two thousand Mercenaries; who were oppos'd by the Boetians in their march through Boetia, for the Reasons following.
Alexander, when he raz'd Thebes, granted the Territories of the City to the neighbouring Boetians; who divided the Lands of those miserable People amongst themselves by Lot, and thereby gain'd large Possessions; who understanding that the Athenians (if they prevail'd) design'd to restore the Country and Lands to the Thebans, sided with the Macedonians; and while the Boetians were Encamp'd at Platea, Leosthenes came with part of his Forces into Boetia, and drawing up the Athenians into Battalia, fell upon the Inhabitants, routed them, and set up a Trophy, and then return'd to Pylas. Here (after he