a strong fleet, and were become, though not otherwise very skilful mariners, yet good fighters at sea. So it fell out as happily as could be wished, that the Illyrian queen Teuta made at the same time cruel war upon the Greeks, wasting their country and sacking their towns, only because they were unable to resist, though they had done her none offence. Into this quarrel if the Romans were desirous to enter, the queen was not slow to give them c cause. And their happy accomplishing of that war which they made with her, was, in their own opinion, a matter not unworthy to make their patronage to be desired by the Greeks. But no such thing happened, though they sent ambassadors, as it were, to offer themselves, by signifying, that for the love of Greece they had undertaken this Illyrian war. Thus began the first acquaintance betwixt the Greeks and Romans, which afterwards increased very hastily, through the indiscretion of king Philip the Macedonian; whose business with them being now the subject of our story, it is meet that we should relate (though somewhat briefly) the beginning of his reign, and his first actions.

It was like to prove a busy time in the world, when, within the space of four years, new kings began to reign in the most of all countries known, and three of them young boys, in three of the greatest kingdoms. This happened from the third year of the hundred thirty-ninth Olympiad, unto the third of the Olympiad following. For in this time died Seleucus Ceraunus, king of Asia and Syria, in whose room succeeded his brother Antiochus, afterwards called the Great. Ptolomy Philopater succeeded in the kingdom of Egypt unto his father Euergetes. And Philip the son of Demetrius, being sixteen or seventeen years old, received the kingdom of Macedon, together with the patronage of the Achæans and most of the Greeks, by the decease of his uncle Antigonus Doson, that was called the tutor, or protector. About the same time also was the like change in Cappadocia, Lacedæmon, and the countries about mount Taurus. For Ariarathes then began his reign in Cappa• Lib. 5. ch. 2. §. 7.

docia. Lycurgus found means to make himself king over the Lacedæmonians, whose commonweal, since the flight of Cleomenes, had continued in a manner headless, and Achæus, a kinsman of Antiochus, but a rebel unto him, occupied the regions near unto mount Taurus, and kept a while the state of a mighty king. Lastly, in the second and third years of the hundred and fortieth Olympiad it was, that open war brake out between Rome and Carthage, and that Hannibal began his great invasion upon Italy. Those troubles of the western world, which were indeed the greatest, we have already followed unto an end: of Antiochus, Ptolomy, and the rest, we shall speak hereafter, when the Romans find them out.

Philip, soon after the beginning of his reign, came into Peloponnesus, greatly desired of the Achæans, and many others his dependants. That country having freed itself by the help of Antigonus from the danger (accounted great) of an easy subjection unto Cleomenes, was now become no less obnoxious to the Macedonian, than it should have been to the Spartan, and therewithal it lay open unto the violence of the Etolians, who despised even the Macedonian kings, that were patrons thereof. These Etolians were no men to be idle, nor were much addicted to any other art than war; therefore, wanting employment, they fell upon the Messenians that were their own clients, and (excepting the Eleans, that were anciently of their consanguinity) the only good friends which they had at the present in Peloponnesus. Their invasion was no less unexpected than it was unjust, whereby with greater ease they made spoil of the country, finding none prepared to make resistance. The Achæans were called by the Messenians to help, which they did the more willingly, because the Etolians, passing without leave through their territory, had (as it was their manner) done what harm they listed. Old Aratus could ill abide these Ætolians, as both knowing well their nature, and remembering the injuries wherewith most ungratefully they had requited no small benefits done to them by the Achæans. He was therefore so hasty to fall upon this their army, that

he could hardly endure to stay a few days until the time of his own office came, being chosen pretor of the Achæans for the year following. But his anger was greater than his courage, and he shewed himself a man fitter (as hath been already noted of him) for any other service, than leading of an army. He suffered them to pass quietly along with their booty, through a great part of the country, wherein he might easily have distressed them; and afterwards pressed them so near, when they had recovered ground of advantage, that they easily defeated all his army. So they departed home rich, and well animated to return again. As for the Achæans, they got hereby only the friendship of the Messenians, with whom, by license of king Philip, they made confederacy. Shortly after, the Etolians invaded Peloponnesus again, having no more to do than to pass over the narrow straits of the Corinthian bay, called now the Gulf of Lepanto, where they might land in the country of the Eleans. There joined with them in this their second invasion a great number of the Illyrians; who, neglecting that condition imposed upon them by the Romans of setting out no ships of war unto the coast of Greece, made bold to seek adventures again, and did great mischief. e Demetrius Pharius, a creature of the Romans, commanded a part of these Illyrians, who shortly repented him of this his voyage, which caused him to lose his kingdom, as is shewed before. But this Demetrius went another way, and fell upon the islands of the Cyclades in the Ægean sea; whence returning, he did some good offices for king Philip, or his friends. The rest of the Illyrians under Scerdilaidas, or Scerdiletus, having gotten what they could elsewhere by roving at sea, accompanied the Etolians into Peloponnesus, who made greater havoc in the country now, than in their former expedition, and returned home without finding any

resistance.

Of these things great complaint was made unto Philip, when he came to Corinth. And because men were desirous to satisfy themselves with some speedy revenge, there were

a Lib. 5. ch. 2. §. 6. ibid.

e Ch. 3. §. 1.

that urged to have some grievous punishment laid upon the Lacedæmonians, who were thought underhand to have favoured the Ætolians, in mere despite of the Achæans and Macedonians, by whom themselves had lately been subdued. It is true that the Lacedæmonians had been so affected, and (which was worse) at the arrival of Philip, they slew such friends of his, as having checked their inclination, seemed likely to appeach them of the intended rebellion. Neither durst they well commit themselves to judgment, but entreated the king, that he would abstain from coming to them with an army, since their town was lately much disquieted with civil discord, which they hoped soon to appease, and meant always to remain at his devotion. Philip was easily satisfied with this, not for that he (or rather old Aratus, who then wholly governed him) did misunderstand the Lacedæmonians; but for that a greater work was in hand, which ought not to be interrupted. There met at Corinth, in presence of the king, the ambassadors of the Achæans, Boeotians, Phocians, Epirots, and Acarnanians, all complaining upon the Etolians, and desiring to have war decreed against them, by common assent. Philip sent his letters unto the Ætolians, requiring them to make ready their answer in some convenient time, if they could allege any thing in excuse of that which they had done. They returned word, that a diet should be holden at Rhium for that purpose, whither if it pleased him to come or send, he should be well informed of them and their whole meaning. The king prepared to have been there at the day. But when the Etolians understood this for certainty, they adjourned the council unto a further time, saying, that such weighty matters ought not to be handled, save in the great parliament of all Ætolia. This trick of law notwithstanding, open war was proclaimed against them. And they, as it were to shew how well they had deserved it, made election of Scopas to be their pretor, that was author of these invasions made on Peloponnesus, and the only man in a sort upon whom they must have laid the blame of these actions, if they would have shifted it from the public.

After this, Philip went into Macedon, where he prepared busily for the war against the year following. He also assayed the Illyrian, Scerdilaidas, with fair words and promises, whom he easily won from the Etolian side, forasmuch as the Etolians had cozened him of his share, when he was partner with them in their late robberies. In like sort the Achæans, who had first of all others proclaimed the war in their own country, sent unto the Acarnanians, Epirots, Messenians, and Lacedæmonians, requesting them forthwith to declare themselves, and to denounce war unto the Etolians, without staying (as it were) to await the event. Hereunto they received divers answers, according to the qualities of those with whom they dealt. The Acarnanians, a free-hearted and valiant, though a small nation, and bordering upon the Ætolians, of whom they stood in continual danger, said, that they could not honestly refuse to shew their faithful meaning in that war, which was concluded by general assent. The Epirots, that were more mighty, were nevertheless more cunning and reserved, so that they stood upon a needless point, and desired to be held excused, until Philip (of whose meaning they needed not to have made any doubt) should first proclaim the war. The Messenians, for whose cause the war was undertaken, excused themselves, by reason of a town which the Etolians held upon their borders, and said, that they durst not be over bold, until that bridle were taken out of their mouths. As for the Lacedæmonians, the chief of them studied only how to manage that treason for which their city had been so lately pardoned, and therefore dismissed the ambassadors of the confederates without any answer at all. They had three years together continued subject against their wills to the Macedonians, expecting still when Cleomenes should return out of Egypt to reign over them again, and maintain, as he was wont, the honour of their city. In this regard they chose not any kings, but were contented with the rule of ephori. Of these there were some that thought the public safety to consist in holding their faith with the Macedonian that had preserved them: and hereto they referred all their