The Rise and fall of the XXX tyrants of Athens fitly applyed to the tyrants of our time : seen and allowed.

The Rise and fall of the XXX tyrants of Athens fitly applyed to the tyrants of our time : seen and allowed.

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The Riſe and Fall of the XXX. TYRANTS of Athens. Fitly applyed to the Tyrants of our Time. Seen and Allowed.

§

The Riſe and Fall of the XXX. TYRANTS of Athens.
Fitly applyed to the Tyrants of our Time. Seen and Allowed.

[Page]

THe Thirty Governours, commonly called the Thirty Tyrants of Athens, werechoſen at the firſt by the people to compile a body of their Law, and make a collection of ſuch ancient Statutes as were meet to be put in practice; the condition of the City ſtanding as it did in that ſo ſodain alteration. To this Charge was annexed the Supream authoritie, either as a recompence of their labours, or becauſe the neceſſity did ſo require it, wherein the law being uncertain, it was fit that ſuch men ſhould give judgment in particular Cauſes, to whoſe judgement the very Lawes themſelves (by which the Citie was to be ordered) ſhould become ſubject.

But theſe thirty having ſo great power in their hands, were more carefull to hold it, then to deſerve it, by farthfull execution of that which was committed to them in truſt.

Therefore apprehending ſuch troubleſome fellows as were odious to the City, though not puniſhable therefore by law, they condemned them to death; which proceeding was by all men highly approved, who conſidered their lewd conditions, but did not withall bethink themſelves, how eaſie a thing it would be to theſe thirty men, to take away the lives of innocents, by calling them perturbers of the peace, or what elſe they liſted, when condemnation without due triall & proof had been once well approved of.

Having thus plauſibly entred into a wicked courſe of Government, they thought it beſt to fortifie themſelves with a ſure Guard ere they brake out into thoſe diſorders, which they muſt needs commit for the eſtabliſhing of their authority. Wherefore diſpatching two of their own company to Sparta, they informed the Lacedemonians, that it was the full intent of the 30. to keep the City free from all rebellious motions, to which purpoſe it behooved them to cut off ſuch as were ſeditious; and therefore deſired the Lacedemonians to ſend them a Garriſon, which they promiſed at their own coſts to maintain. This motion was well approved, and a Guard ſent, the Captain of which was ſo well entertained by the Thirty, that none of their miſdeeds could want his high commendations at Sparta.

Hereupon the Tyrants began to take heart, and looking no more after baſe and deteſted perſons, invaded the principall men of the Citie, ſending armed men from houſe to houſe, who drew out ſuch as were of great reputation, or likely, or able to make any head againſt this wicked form of Government: whereby there was ſuch effuſion of blood, as to Theramenes (one of the 30.) ſeemed very horrible, and unable to eſcape vengeance: his diſlike of their proceedings being openly diſcovered, cauſed his fellows to bethink themſelves, and provide for their own ſecurity, and his deſtruction, leaſt he ſhould make himſelf a Captaine of the diſcontented (which were almoſt the whole City) and redeem his own peace with their ruine, wherfore they ſelected three Thouſand of the Citizens, whom they thought meeteſt, and gave unto them ſome part of publick Authority, the reſt they diſarmed, and having thus increaſed their own ſtrength, and weakened their oppoſites, they began afreſh to ſhed the blood not onely of their private enemies, but of ſuch whoſe money, or goods might inrich them, and enable them for the payment of their guard. And to this purpoſe they concluded, that every one of them ſhould name one man, upon whoſe goods he ſhould ſeize, putting the Owner to death. But when Theramenes uttered his deteſtation of ſo wicked intent, then did Critias, who of all the 30 was moſt tyranicall, accuſe him to the counſell, as a treacherous man, and (one main priviledge of the 30. was, that no one of them ſhould ſuffer death at the appointment of the reſt, but have the accuſtomed tryall) he took upon him to ſtrike out of that number the name of Theramenes, and ſo reduced him under the triall and ſentence of that Order. It was well alledged by Theramenes, that his name was no mo [...]e eaſie to be blotted out of the Catalogue then any other mans; upon which conſideration, he adviſed them all to conceive no otherwiſe of his Caſe, then as of their own, who were liable to the ſame form of proceeding: but every man chooſing rather to ſave his own life by ſilence, then preſently to draw upon himſelf the danger, which as yet concerned him little (and perhaps would never come neer him) the Tyrants interpriting Silence as Conſent, condemned him forthwith, and compelled him to drink poyſon.

After the death of Theramenes, the 30 Tyrants began to uſe ſuch outrage as excelled their former villanies, for having 3000. (as they thought) firm unto them, they robbed all others without fear or ſhame, deſpoiling them of lands and goods, and cauſed them to flie into baniſhment, for ſafeguard of their lives; This flight of the Citizens procured their liberty, and the generall good of the City. For the baniſhed Citizens, who were fled to Thebes, entred into conſultation, and reſolved to hazard their lives in ſetting free the City of Athens. The very thought of ſuch a practiſe had been treaſon at home, which had no other danger abroad, then might be found in the execution. Seventy men, or thereabouts, were the firſt undertakers, who with their Captain Thraſybulus took Phyla, a place of ſtrength in the territory of Athens. No ſooner did the Thirty hear of their exploit, then ſeek means to prevent further danger; aſſembling the three Thouſand and their Lacedemonian guard, with which force they attempted Phyla, but were with ſome loſſe of their men repelled: finding the place too ſtrong to be taken by aſſault, they intended to beſiege it, which purpoſe came to naught by means of Show that fell, and other ſtormy weather, againſt which they had not made proviſion. Retiring therefore to the City, which above all they were to ma [...] good, they left the moſt of that guard, and two Troops of Horſe, to weary out them which lay in Phyla, with a flying ſiege. But it was not long ere the followers of Thraſybulus were increaſed from ſeventy to ſeven hundred which adventured to give charge upon thoſe guards, of whom they cut off about an hundred and twenty: theſe ſmall, but proſperous beginnings added more to the number of thoſe in Phyla, who now with a Thouſand men got entrance into Piraeus the ſuburb of Athens, lying on the port. Before their comming, the Thirty had reſolved to fortifie the Town of Elewſine, to their own uſe, whereinto they might make an eaſie retrait, and ſave themſelves from any ſodain danger. It may well ſeem ſtrange, that whereas their barbarous manner of Government had brought them into ſuch danger, they were ſo far from ſeeking to obtain mens good will, that contrariwiſe, to aſſure themſelves of Elewſine, they got all of the place that could bear Armes, into their hands by a traine, and wickedly (though under form of juſtice) murdered them all. But ſceleribus tutum per ſcelera eſt iter, the miſchiefs which they had already done were ſuch, as left them no hopes of going backwards, nor any other apparant likelyhood of ſafety, then by extending their cruelty unto all, ſeeing few or none were left whom they could truſt. When Thraſybulus and his fellows, who as yet were termed Conſpiratours, had taken the Piraeus, then were the Three thouſand armed again by the Tyrants, and brought to aſſault it; but in the enterpriſe Thraſybulus had the better, and repelled his enemies, of whom although there were ſlain to the number of ſeventy onely, yet the victory ſeemed the greater, becauſe Critias, and another of the Thirty periſhed in that fight. The death of Critias, and the ſtout defence of Peraeus, together with ſome exhortations uſed by Thraſybulus to the Citizens, wrought ſuch effect, that the Thirty were depoſed. Nevertheleſſe there were ſo many of the three Thouſand, who having communicated with the Thirty in their miſdeeds, fearing to be called to a ſharper account, that no Peace nor quiet form of Government could be eſtabliſhed: for Ambaſſadours were ſent to Sparta, who craving ayde againſt Thraſybulus and his followers, had favourable audience, and a Power ſent to their aſſiſtance, both by Land and Sea, under the conduct of Lyſander and his brother; whom Pauſanias the Spartan King did follow, rayſing an Army of the Cities confederate with the Lacedemonians; and here appeared firſt the jealouſie, wherein ſome people held the ſtate of Sparta, The [...] and Corinthians, who in the late warres had been the moſt bitter enemies to Athens, refuſed to follow Pauſanias in this expedition; alledging, that it ſtood not with their Oaths to make war againſt that people, who had not hitherto broken any one Article of the League: But fearing ineed leaſt the Lacedemonians ſhould annex the Territory of Athens to their own demaines. It is not to be doubted that Pauſanias took this anſwer in good part, for it was not his purpoſe to deſtroy thoſe againſt whom he went, but onely to croſſe the proceedings of Lyſande, whom he envied. Therefore having in ſome ſmall ſcirmiſhes againſt them of Thraſybulus his party, made a ſhew of warre, finally wrought ſuch means, that all things were compounded quietly: the Thirty men, and ſuch others as were like to give cauſe of Tumults, being ſent to Sparta: The remainder of that tyranicall faction having withdrawn themſelves to Elewſine, were ſhortly after found to attempt ſome innovation, whereupon the whole City riſing againſt them, took their Captains as they were comming to parley, and ſlew them: which done, to avoid further inconvenience, a law was made, That all injuries paſt ſhould be forgotten, and no man called into queſtion for wrongs committed. By which order wiſely made, and caretully obſerved, The City returned to her former quietneſſe.

FINIS

§

OXFORD, Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the Vniverſitie. MDCXLIII.

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Title statement

The Rise and fall of the XXX tyrants of Athens fitly applyed to the tyrants of our time : seen and allowed.

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1643

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Text Creation Partnership,

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A57343

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Wing R1534

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ESTC R101

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12685754

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ocm 12685754

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65763

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— The Rise and fall of the XXX tyrants of Athens fitly applyed to the tyrants of our time : seen and allowed.,

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Printed by Leonard Lichfield ...,. Oxford :: 1643..

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