Page 506 Phayllus, the Third, who spoil'd the Oracle of the greatest part of its Sacred Treasures, that he might not altogether escape Punishment, consum'd away by a lingring Disease.
Phalecus, the last of them, having robb'd the Temple of all that was left, wander'd up and down in great Terror, and in divers Hazards and Troubles, for a long time together; not in any Favour to him more than the rest of his Confederates in Wickedness, but that he might be longer tormented, and that the Vengeance executed might be more remarkable to all where-ever he went. After his Flight, whereby he escap'd being a Prisoner, at the first he remain'd with his Mercenaries about Peloponnesus, and maintain'd his Soldiers with the Money he had sacrilegiously got into his hand from the Temple. Afterwards he hir'd some great Transport-Ships at Corinth, and having Four other small Vessels of his own, he prepar'd for a Voyage into Italy and Sicily, hoping either to possess himself of some Citie in those Parts, or that he and his Men should be employ'd by some or other as Mercenaries.
There was at that time a War broken out between the Lucanians and Tarrentines; he pretended to the Soldiers that went along with him, that he was sent for by the Sicilians and Italians: But when he came into the open Sea, some of the Soldiers who were on board in the largest Vessel with Phalecus, discours'd among themselves, and declar'd their Suspicions one to another, That it was but a Pretence, and that none had sent for them: For they saw no Commanders go along with him, that were sent from any that desir'd their Assistance; and they perceiv'd that the Voyage undertaken was long and tedious, and full of Hazards: And therefore concluding that Phalecus was no longer to be credited (dreading the Expedition beyond-sea) they conspir'd, especially the Officers of the Mercenaries, and with their drawn Swords so threatned both Phalecus and the Pilot, that they compell'd them to tack about, and return: The like being done in the other Ships, they all came back, and arriv'd in Peloponnesus. And being rendezvous'd at Malea, a Promontory of Laconia, they there found the Gnosian Ambassadors, who accidently were come hither to list some foreign Soldiers. After some Discourse had past between them and Phalecus and the other Officers, the Pay in hand was so large, that all of them sail'd away with them to Crete; and having landed at Gnosus, they presently took the City Lyctus at first Assault. But unexpected Assistance came in suddenly to the expuls'd Lyctians; for the Tarrentines being at that time engag'd in a War with the Lucanians, sent Ambassadors to the Lacedaemonians, from whom they were descended, to supply them with Auxiliaries; upon which the Spartans, upon the account of their Kindred, were ready to assist them; and to that end had both Naval and Landâ–ª Forces ready, under the Command of Archidamus the King of Sparta. And being now ready to set sail for Italy, at that very time came some from the Lyctians, earnestly desiring that they would help them in the first place. The Lacedaemonians agreed to it, and pass'd over to Crete, where they routed Phalecus and his Mercenaries, and recover'd the Country for the Lyctians.
Then Archidamus made for Italy, and there assisted the Tarrentines, and was kill'd in Fight, behaving himself with great Valour and Resolution. He was an excellent Commander, and of good Reputation in other respects; but ill spoken of, by reason of his joining with the Phocians, as the principal Promoter and Author of the seizing of the Temple and City of Delphos. He was King of Lacedaemon Three and twenty Years, and his Son Agis succeeded him, and continu'd Fifteen Years.
Afterwards all the Mercenaries under Archidamus, and who were concern'd in the robbing of the Oracle, were killed by the Lucanians. But Phalecus being driven out of Lyctus, besieged Sidon; and while he was preparing his Engines to batter the Walls, and making his Approaches to the City, the Engines were set on fire, and consumed by a Thunderbolt from Heaven, and a great number of the Soldiers who endeavoured to save them, were consumed by Fire from Heaven, amongst whom was Phalecus himself: Though there be some who report, That he was run through the Body by one of his own Soldiers whom he had provoked. Those Soldiers that were left, were hired by the Elean Exiles, and transported into Peloponnesus, who assisted them against their own Countrymen. But the Arcadians, who assisted the Eleans, routed them, and killed a great Number of the Mercenaries, and took Four thousand Prisoners; which the Arcadians and Eleans divided amongst themselves, and the Arcadians sold those under the Spear that fell to their Share: But the Eleans put all theirs to the Sword, for their Impiety in robbing of the Oracle. And in this manner all the Sacrilegers, and those that took part with them, met with their due Punishment for their Wickedness. Likewise the most famous Cities that shared with them in their Impiety, being afterwards conquered by Antipater, lost both their Authority and Liberty at once. Moreover, the Wives of the most principal
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Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.