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one, who though he be not my ſonne, I would diſdaine the fauour of life after him: but while there is hope left, let not the weakeneſſe of ſorrow, make the ſtrength of it languiſh: take comfort, and good ſucceſſe will follow. And with thoſe words, comfort ſeemed to lighten in his eyes, and that in his face and geſture was painted victorie. Once, Kalanders ſpirits were ſo reuiued withall, that (receiuing ſome ſuſtenance, and taking a little reſt) he armed himſelfe, and thoſe few of his ſeruants he had left vnſent, and ſo himſelfe guided Palladius to the place vpon the frontiers; where already there were aſſembled betweene three & four thouſand men, all well diſpoſed (for Kalanders ſake) to abide any perill: but like men diſuſed with a long peace, more determinate to do, then skilfull how to do: luſtie bodies, and braue armours; with ſuch courage, as rather grew of deſpiſing their enemies, whom they knew not, then of any confidence for any thing which in themſelues they knew; but neither cunning vſe of their weapons, nor art ſhewed in their marching, or in camping. Which Palladius ſoone perceiuing, hee deſired to vnderſtand (as much as could be deliuered vnto him) the eſtate of the Helots.

And he was anſwered by a man well acquainted with the affaires of Laconia, that they were a kind of people, who hauing bene of old, freemen and poſſeſſioners, the Lacedæmonians had conquered them, and laid, not only tribute, but bondage vpon them; which they had long borne; till of late the Lacedæmonians through greedineſſe growing more heauie then they could beare, and through contempt leſſe carefull how to make them beare, they had with a generall conſent (rather ſpringing by the generalneſſe of the cauſe, then of any artificiall practiſe) ſet themſelues in armes, and whetting their courage with reuenge, and grounding their reſolution vpon diſpaire, they had proceeded with vnlooked for ſucceſſe hauing already taken diuerſe Townes and Caſtels, with the ſlaughter of many of the gentrie; for whom no ſex nor age could be accepted for an excuſe. And that although at the firſt they had fought rather with beaſtly fury, then any ſouldierly diſcipline, practiſe had nowe made them comparable to the beſt of the Lacedæmonians, and more of late then euer; by reaſon, firſt of Demagoras a great Lord, who had made himſelfe of their party, and ſince his death, of another Captaine they had gotten, who had brought vp their ignorance, and brought downe their furie, to ſuch a meane of good gouernment, and withall led them ſo valourouſly, that (beſides the time wherein Clitophon was taken) they had the better in ſome other great conflicts: in ſuch wiſe, that the eſtate of Lacedæmon had ſent vnto them, offering peace with moſt reaſonable and honourable conditions. Palladius hauing gottē his generall knowledge of the party againſt whom, as he had laready of the party for whom he was to fight, he went to Kalander, and told him plainly, that by plaine ſome deviuce was to be taken in hand, wherein no leſſe diſcretion then valour was to be vſed.

Whereupon, the counſell of the chiefe men was called, and at laſt, this way Palladius (who by ſome experience, but eſpecially by reading Hiſtories, was acquainted with ſtratagemes) inuented, and was by all the reſt approoued: that all the men there ſhould dreſſe themſelues like the pooreſt ſorte of the people in Arcadia, hauing no banners, but bloudie ſhirtes hanged vpon long ſtaues, with ſome bad bagge-pipes in ſtead of drumme and fife, their armour they ſhould aſwell as might bee, couer, or at leaſt make them looke ſo ruſtilie, and ill fauouredly as might well become ſuch wearers; and this the whole number ſhould do, ſauing two hundred of the beſt choſen Gentlemen, for courage and ſtrength,