The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the Englysh language by Thomas Nicolls citezeine and goldesmyth of London

¶How Tissaphernes did come into greate suspytion of the Peloponesyans: aswell for that, that he abused them wyth the succours whyche he had promysed: as al∣so for thys, that Alcibiades was restored and called agayn by the Athe∣nyans that were in the armye, and had all the auctorytie wyth them, whyche he vsed to the welth and proffytt of his partie. ☞The .xi. Chapte.

IN thies enterfayctes the Peloponesyans souldyars by sea, that were at Mylet: murmured and dyd speake openly agaynste Astyochus and against Tyssaphernes, saying that they destroyed & wasted all, to wit, Astyochus, for that, that he wolde not fyght, whan their armye by sea was weake, yea althoughe that they than were in a greate dyssentyon amonge theymself, and that their armye by sea was departed into many places, yet wold he not assaylle theym, but consumed the tyme vnder couloure of attendynge and taryinge the shyppes, that shulde comme oute of Phenice, and he dyd geue them succours wyth woordes, but not in effecte, wyllynge so to consume and destroye theym in expenses: and also he payde not intierly and continuelly the armye by sea, by occasyon whereof it was loste and destroyed. Wherefore they sayde that he shulde delaye them no moore, but saylle to assaulte the sayde Athenyans, and the Syracusayns moste instantely requyred hym thereunto. Astyochus and the other Chiefz that were there for the confederated cyties, being aduertysed therof, determyned to faight, vnderstandinge specyally, that there was greate mutyne and sedytion at Samie. So they assembled all the shippes, that they had, which were sixe skore and two at Micale, and fromthence aduertysed and cōmaunded those, which were at Mylet, that they shulde marche by land. Nowe the ships of the Athenyans were foore skoore and two in nomber, whiche were comme oute of Samie, into Glauca, in the countrey of Mycale. And it muste be vnderstande that the Cytye of Samye ys a lytle in lengthe of the lande frome the coas••e of Mycale. Fromewhence the Athenyans, seynge the Peloponesyans shyppes to comme agaynste theym, they retyred to Samye: for yt semed vnto theym, that they were not suffycyentlye stronge for to hazarde the battaille, wherein rested the question of the whole estate. And forsomuche as they hadde learned, that the ennemys dyd comme wyth an erneste wylle to fayghte: they saylled lokynge for Strombichides, who was at Hellesponte & shulde come thider w^t the ships that he had broughte frome Chio to Abyde, whythe thinge they hadde commaunded him to doo, soone after that they retyred to Samie, and that the Peloponesians

came to Micale. In the whyche place, they had the same daye made their cam∣pe, aswell wyth men, whyche they had in their shippes, as wyth those, that were at Mylett, and also wyth the people of the countrey. And they determyned to go the morowe after to mete the enemys at Samie. But beinge aduertysed of the comynge of Stronbichides, they did retourne vnto Mylet, in the whyche place, the Athenyans determyned to go to presente them battaill, after that they shuld haue bene reforced or newe strengthened wyth the shippes, that Strombichi∣des gouerned: for they were in all an houndred and eight shippes. But seing that the Peloponesyans wolde not issue fourth at large, they retourned vnto Samie. And after their departure, the Peloponesyans, although that they had so fayer and so puissante an army: yet neuerthelas reputinge not themselfe suffyciente for to fight agaynste the ennemyes, and not knowynge in the reste howe they might enterteigne that same army, specially seing that Tyssaphernes payed it not wel: they sent vnto Pharnabazus,* 1.1 Clearchus sonne of Ramphius,* 1.2 Capytain of forty shippes, ensuynge that whiche had bene already commaunded vnto them from Peloponese, for that, that the sayd Pharnabazus had promised to paye the ar∣my: and on the other syde, they did vnderstande that if they saylled to Bizance, the towne wolde tourne vnto them. So Clearchus launched fourthe wyth hys forty shyps keping the mayne sea•• for not to be perceyued of hys enemyes. But there came vpon him soubdainly; tempest, so that his ships were disparsed and skatered abroad, & one parte, which followed Clearchus, sailled to Delos, y^• other retourned to Mylet, and sone after did come agayne to the said Clearchus. Who came by lande into Hellesponte.* 1.3 But tenne shipps, whiche were bifore arriued at the sayde Hellespont caused the cytie to tourne to their confederation. Whereof the Athenyans, whiche were at Samie, beinge sone after aduertysed, sente a nō∣ber of ships for to warde and defende Hellesponte, the which had a light battaill bifore Byzance: to wytt, eyght shippes of them, against the like nomber of the Pe¦loponesians. In this meane tyme, they, that were chiefz of that same army for the Athenyans, and principally Thrasibulus (who had always bene of aduyse, that Alcibiades ought to be called home agayne, and also sithens that the estate of A∣thens was changed, by his meane) they were alwaies from muche into more in that purpose. And he declared it in suche sorte and so perswaded the souldyars, whyche were there: that they all agrede to the restoringe of the sayde Alcibiades: and the decree was concluded and put in wrytinge, by the whyche the sayde Alci∣biades was pardonned, and that he shulde be called home agayne into the cytie. The whyche beynge so published, Thrasibulus wente vnto Tyssaphernes, and broughte the same Alcibiades wyth hym to Samie. Hopynge by hys meane to wythdrawe the sayde Tyssaphernes to the amytie of the Athenyans. Alcibiades, beinge arryued at Samie, caused the people to assemble, and proponed and de∣clared vnto them, many greate losses and damaiges, whiche he had su••teigned in his bannishement: and afterwardes did speake profoundely, highly and wyttely of the affayres of the comon welth: in suche sorte, that he did put them in greate hope, to set it vp agayne: magnefyinge greatly the auctoritie, whiche he hadde w^t the said Tissaphernes, to the ende, that those, which had the auctorytie and adm••••nistration at Athenes, shuld be in feare of him, & by that meane their cōspiraties and confederations shulde be dissolued a••d weakened: and also that those, that were at Samie shulde conceyue and haue the more truste in hym, and by conse∣quente, that he myghte be in more reputation, and that the ennemyes shulde the more mistruste the sayde Tyssaphernes and lose the hope, whiche they had to be ayded by him. For he sayde to the sayd Athenyans, that were at Samie, that

the same Tyssaphernes had promysed hym to paye the wages of their souldy∣ars (yf he might finde and take suer truste in them) vntill the ende of their affay∣res: though that he shulde therefore sell asmuche as he was worth: and that he wold cause to come to their succour and ayde the Phenicians shyps, which were already in Aspendus, in stede of sendyng thēto the Peloponesyans. And for all y^e assurance, he demaūded of them, but that they shulde receyue and take agayne y^e said Alcibiades. Who hauing declared suche and lyke wordes, the capytains and souldyars did adioigne and adde hym to the nōber of the other chiefz of the ar∣my, & dyd geue him auctorytie for to order in all thyngs. And in effect they toke so great confidence and hope in him, that they made no maner of doubte in their welth: nother of the ruyne & fall of the foore houndred, also they were all ready euen at the selfe tyme, vpon confydence of that, whyche he had sayde, for to saille into Pyreus, wythout hauynge regarde to the enemyes that were there so nighe: but though that there were many that made greate instance to obteygne the sa∣me, yet wolde he not consente therunto, saying, that it was not expedient, hauing the ennemyes so nyghe, to saille into Pyreus. And that sithens that they had ge∣uen the charge of the warre vnto hym, and had made him Chief, that he wolde prouyde for euery thynge wyth Tyssaphernes. Towardes whome he retourned incontynētly after the departure of that same assemblie, for to shewe and declare vnto them, that he woolde communicate and consulte wyth him in all thinges: & to the said Tissaphernes, that he was in great auctorytie with the Athenians, and was their chief, to the ende that he myght be the moore estemed of him, and that he shuld vnderstande that by the same meane, he might ayde and hurt him. Also it happened therin euen as he vnderstode yt: for through the fauour of Tis∣saghernes he helde the Athenyans in feare: and through the feare of them, the self Tissaphernes. Whan the Peloponesians, that were at Mylet, vnderstode the re∣peale and callinge home agayne, that was made of Alcibiades, hauynge already so great suspytion agaynst him: they begon to blame him openly. And for trouth in that, that they refused to saylle to encounter the armye by sea, whyche was come to presente them battaill, euen to Mylet, had caused the said Tissaphernes to be more colde to paye the soulde or wages of the sayd armye, togiders w^t this, that Alcibiades had a right longe tyme trauailled and laboured to cause him to come into difference and dissention with the said Peloponesians. Thys bruyt be∣inge than come, vp the warryours, that were at Mylet, begonne to assemble thē self by trowpes, as they had done byfore time, & to make a great mutyne or sedy∣tion. So that some amōgest them, men of auctorytie, saying that they had neuer had their entier paiment, & also that the s••ne litle, which had bene paid to them, was not contynued: they threatened y^t if ••••ey were not brought into some parte aither for to fight or for to haue to liue w^t, they wold habandone and forsake the shyppes, and charged Astyochus therewyth: who, for hys particuler proffit was mynded to complayne to Tyssaphernes. By thys murmuraryon and mutyne, a greate tumulte ensued agaynste the sayde Astyochus. For the marroners of the Syracusains and those of the Thuriens, for that, that they were lesse subiected, than the other: made greatest instance, and that wyth sharpe and more prycking wordes, to haue their payment, than the other. U••to whome, Astyochus made a rude aunswere, & Hermocrates, willinge to speake for his men and to maing∣teigne their quarelle, he lifted vp a staff, whiche he helde for to stryke him: which parceyued, the maroners & souldyars Syracusains did all ronne impytuous••ye & furiously vpon y^e said Astiochus. Who perceiuing them cōming, w^tdrew himself into Franchise or Sanctuary in a chapell therby, & by that meane saued himself.

But afterwardes being come fourth fromthence, they dyd take hym, and besi∣des that, the Mylesiens wente to assaulte a castelle or bulleworke, whyche Tis∣saphernes hadde there made, the whyche they toke, and chased fromthence hys men, that he had sette therein, whyche thynge was agreable to the other allyes, and also the other Syracusains. But Lychas was therwyth displeased, saying that the Mylesians and other, which were vnder domyny on of the kynge, shuld obey and please Tissaphernes in the thynges that were reasonable vntil that the affayres of the warre might haue bene better ordered: by occasion wherof, and of many other like declarations, the Mylesyans conceyued so great indignation a∣gainst him, that, being sone after dead afa disease or maladie, they would not suf∣fre that hys body shulde be engraued in the place, where the Lacedemonyans, that were there, had appoincted. In thies entrefaites and thies dissentions being amonge the souldyars: Tyssaphernes and Astyochus arryued at Mylet. Myn∣darus,* 1.4 beinge sente for chief of that same army from the Lacedemonyans in the stede of Astiochus: who after y^t he had rēdred the charge to the said Mindarus he retourned to Lacedemonie, and Tyssaphernes sente wyth hym an Ambassadour of Gaulere named Cara,* 1.5 whyche coulde speake well both languages, to wytte, Greke and Persyan, aswell for to complayne of the oultrage that the Milesians had done vnto hym and hys men in thys castell or bastillion: as also for to ex∣cuse hymselfe of that, wherwyth he knewe well that they woolde charge hym & that they hadde sente men to Lacedemonie to do yt, and that Hermocrates was gone wyth them, who affyrmed that he and Alcibiades were agrede for to de∣stroye and marre the affayres of the Peloponesians. For he had had of a longe tyme a meruelous hatred agaynste the sayde Tissaphernes by cause of the pay••∣mente, and also for thys, that beinge come the other three Chiefes of the Syra∣cusains shippes vnto Mylet, to wytte, Potamus,* 1.6 Miston and Demarchus,* 1.7 the same Tyssaphernes had sharpely charged hym in their presence of many things and amonge othere, that the hatred, whyche he had agaynste hym, was for thys cause, that he would not delyuer vnto hym a certen some of monney, whyche he had demaunded of him. In thys manner Astyochus, the messengers of the My∣lesians and Hermocrates sailled frome Mylet the Lacedemonye. And on the o∣ther syde Alcibiades retourned from Tyssaphernes to Samie. Beinge arryued at whyche place, certen messengers dyd come from Delos, whiche, the foure hoū∣dred gouernours of Athenes had sente thyder for to pacefie & quyett those, that were in the sayd place of Samie. But at the begynnynge, the people beynge by them assembled, the souldyars made instance that no man shulde geue them au∣dyence, but rather cryed wyth a lowde voyce, that men ought to hacke into pie∣ces suche people, as woolde destroye the comone estate, neuerthelas after manye woordes, sylence was made, and they were hearde wyth greate difficu••tie: who declared howe the change of the estate, whych had bene made, was not for the de¦struction of the cytie, as they were done to vnderstande, but rather for the welth of the same, and to the ende that it shulde not come into the power of the enne∣myes, who were comme vnto byfore the towne. Whereupone yt was deuysed to be necessarye to depute the sayde foore houndred to geue order to the defence, and in the affayres of the same, wyth the othere fyue thowsande, all the whych•• shuld be parttakers in euery whatsoeuer thyng for the cōductyng or admynistra¦tyon of the affayres. And also that yt was not trewe, whyche Chereas had spo∣kene for enuye, that men had bannyshed and euyll intreated the Childrene, pa∣rentes and frendes of those, whyche were wythout: but rather suffred them all in their goodes, howses and in lybertie, as they had byfore tyme bene. But hauynge

made their excuses and declarations and wylling to passe further: they were em∣pesched or interrupted by those Chartagians that were there, whiche toke that, that was sayde in an euill parte, and bigone to speake many and dyuers opyny∣ons, but the more parte did put it fourth, that men shulde saille fromthence by vnto Pyreus. In the whyche trouble, Alcibiades shewed hymselfe asmuche or more frende to the partie, wherwyth he did take, than any of the other. For seing that the Athenyans, whyche were there, were mynded to saille agaynst those, that were at Athenes, and knowinge that if that dede were donne, it shulde be occa∣sion, that the ennemyes shuld take all the contrey of Ionum and of Hellesponte, he wolde not suffre it, but rather did speake against it: whych thynge, none other but he, might do in the same furye. And by hys auctorytie he stayed that same na¦uigation: and also caused those to holde theire peace, whyche cryed agaynste the messengiers and blamed them openly. And afterwardes sente them agayne des∣peched by hymself in thys manner. To wytte, that as touchynge the fyue thow∣sand men, whiche were named for to ayde in the gouernance of the Cytie, he was not of opynyon, that they shulde be taken frō the gouernance, but he willed glad∣ly that the foore houndred shulde be dysmyssed, and that the counsaill shulde be readmytted in the nomber of fyue houndred in like forme, as it was bifore. And somuche as touched that, whyche had bene made by the sayde foore houndred, for to dymynishe the expences of y^e cytie for to fournishe the payment of the men of warre, he dyd right well allowe it, and exhorted them to prouyde well in the other affayres of the cytie, and not to suffer the cytie to comme into the handes and power of the ennemyes, geuinge them good hope for to appoincte and con∣clude all thies dissentions, the cytie remayninge in his entier estate, wythout that they shulde ryse in stryfe and armure the one agaynst the other, wherunto men ought to haue good regarde. For if they at any tyme shulde come to fight, to wit, those that were in the cytie, agaynste them that were at Samie, which of the par¦ties shulde haue the victorie, there shulde none remaine with whom the appoin∣tement might be made. Nowe were come thider Ambassadours from the Argi¦ues, which presented to the Athenyans that were there, ayde & succours against the foore houndred, for defence of the comon estate, vnto whome Alcibiades dyd render thankes for their good offres, and neuerthelas hauing demāded of them, who had prayed them to come thider for that matter, and they hauyng aunswe∣red that they were not come thyder, as called by any parson: he ••ente them away graciously. And for trouth they had not bene required to come. But certayne Pa¦raliens, beynge sente by the foore houndred in a shippe of warre for to saille to see what was done in Eubee, and also for to carye three Ambassadours, that those foore houndred sent to Lacedemonie, to wyt, Lespondias, Aristophon & Milesi∣as: the said Paralians whan they were arryued at Argos rendred the sayd Am∣bassadours prysoners vnto y^e Argyues, as those, which had bene the pryncipal au¦thors & accomplices for to beate downe the comō estate of Athenes: and the sayd Paralians dyd not afterwardes retourne to Athenes: but did take in the Ambas∣sadours of the Argiues, and did cary them in the ships to Samie. In the same somer, Tyssaphernes knowinge that the Peloponesyans had a ryght naughty opynyon of hym, aswell for other reasons, as also for the restorynge of Alcibia∣des, for the whyche, they presumed that he was reallied wyth the Athenyans, for to pourge hymself of that same suspition towardes them, he prepared hymsel•• for to goo ••o mete the Phenycyans shyppes, that shulde comme, and for to haste theym forwardes, whyche were in the poarte of Aspendus: and requyred that Lychas shulde come with him: and duringe that he shuld be in his voiage,

he lefte Tamus one of hys prouostes,* 1.8 to whome he dyd geue charge, as he said, for to paye the soulde or wages to the Peloponesyans maronners: howbeit yt appered afterwards that he was not gone to the sayd place of Aspendus for the same purpose. For he caused not the sayde ships to come, though that there were in the same place one houndred and .xv. all readye to saylle. And albeit that it can not be knowin for ••routh the cause wherfore he saylled thyder, and wherefore he caused not the sayde ships to come: yet were there sundry iudgementes pronoū∣ced. For some did presume that he dydde it, for to enterteigne the affayres of the Peloponesyans vnder the hope of that his iourney: for also Tamus who he had lefte for hys Lieutenant payde no better than he had done: but rather woorse, the other iudged that he was gone thyder, for to recouer the monney, which was ordened for the soulde of the Phenycians by sendynge them home agayne: other presumed that he was gone for to abolishe the euyll opynyon, whyche the Pelo¦ponesyans had of hym, and for to shewe them that he was wyllynge effectuously to helpe thē: sithens that he sailled for that same army by sea, which was knowin to be readye. But as for me I holde yt for mooste certayne, and the thinge is cle¦relye euydente, that he was not mynded to brynge hys shippes, but to dyssimu∣le in that voyage to the ende, that in attendynge hys commynge, the affayres of the Grekes shulde comme into confusion: and that by not geuynge ayde to the one partie nor to the other, and frustratynge and deceyuinge theym both, they shulde remayne egall and weake. For yt was veray notoryous that if he hadde bene wyllinge to ioygne wyth good purpose and syncerely wyth the Lacedemo∣nyans, they myghte than haue obteign••d the victorie. For that, that in the selfe seasone they were of themself as puyssante by sea, as the Athenyans. And the ex∣cuse, that he made for that, that he hadde not broughte the shippes: declared eui∣dently his malice & deceyte. For he sayd, that it was not for that, that the Pheni∣cians had not fournyshed suche nomber of shippes, as he had appoincted them. And yet neuerthelas it is to belieue that the kynge wolde haue bene ryght ioye∣fulle that he myghte haue done the selfe effecte wyth lesser nomber, and by conse∣quente wyth lesser expences. But for whatsoeuer intente that he dyd yt, the Pe∣loponesyans by hys order, dyd sende twoo galleys wythe hym to the sayde place of Aspendus, of the whyche was Chiefa Lacedemonyan, named Philippe. On the other syde Alcibiades vnderstandynge the voiage of Tissaphernes, did take xiii. ships of those, that were at Samie and sailled into that same quarter: doing the Athenyans to vnderstande, that were at the sayde Samie, that hys iourney shulde proffit theym greatelye. For he woolde compasse it that the same armye by sea, whyche was at Aspendus, shulde comme to their succours, orells shulde not go to the ayde of the Lacedemonyans, and therof assured theym, knowinge (as it is to be beleued) the wylle of the sayde Tissaphernes, by the comunication whyche he had hadde wyth hym: whyche was, for no••e sendynge of the sayd ar∣mye to the Peloponesyans, and also he practysed yt to the intente for to rendere the sayde Tyssaphernes frome moore into more suspecte wyth the Pe¦loponesyans, to the ende that afterwardes he shulde be constray∣ned to tourne to the partie of the Athenyans. So he sailled towardes hym, kepyng alwayes the mayne sea from the coaste of Phaselide and Cumus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pharna¦bazus.
• * 1.2

  Clear∣chus.
• * 1.3

  Hellespō••tus.
• * 1.4

  Mynda¦rus.
• * 1.5

  Gaule∣tes.

  Cara.
• * 1.6

  Pota∣mus.
• * 1.7

  Miston

  Demar∣chus.
• * 1.8

  Tamus