CHAPTER I. Of the State of Athens till Cecrops .

ALL Ages have had a great esteem and veneration for Antiquity ; and not only of Men , but of Families , Cities , and Countries , the most Ancient have always been accounted the most Honourable . Hence arose one of the first and most Universal Disputes that ever troubled Mankind ; almost every Nation , whose first Original was not very Manifest , pretending to have been of an equal Duration with the Earth it self . Thus the Aegyptians , Scythians , and Phrygians phansied themselves to be the first race of Mankind , and the Arcadians boasted that they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or before the Moon . The want of Letters did not a little contribute to these Opinions , for almost every Colony and Plantation , wanting means whereby to preserve the memory of their Ancestors , and deliver them down to Posterity , in a few Generations forgot their Mother-Nation , and thought they had inhabited their own Countrey from the beginning of the World .

Our Athenians too had their share in this Vanity , and made as great and loud pretensions to Antiquity , as the best of their Neighbours ; they gave out that they were produc'd at the same time with the Sun (a) (a) Menander rhetor . , and assumed to themselves the Honourable Name ( for so they thought it ) of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which word signifies Persons produc'd out of the same soil , that they inhabit : For it was an old Opinion , and almost every where receiv'd among the Vulgar , that in the beginning of the World , Men , like Plants , were by some strange Prolifick Virtue produc'd out of the Fertile Womb of one common Mother , Earth ; and therefore the Ancients generally called themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Sons of the Earth , as Hesychius informs us (b) (b) In voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . . Alluding to the same Original , the Athenians would sometimes stile themselves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Grashoppers ; and some of them wore Grashoppers of Gold , binding them in their Hair as Badges of Honour , and marks to distinguish them from others of later Duration , and less Noble extraction , because those Insects were believ'd to be generated out of the Ground (c) (c) Th●cydides lib. 1. Eustathius ad Iliad . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . : Virgil has mention'd this custom in his Poem entitul'd Ciris , Ergo omnis caro residebat cura capillo , Aurea solemni comptum quem fibula ritu Cecropiae tereti nectebat dente cicadae . Wherefore she did , as was her constant Care , With Grashoppers adorn her comely Hair , Brac'd with a Golden Buckle Attick-wise . Mr. Io. Abell of Linc. Coll. Without doubt the Athenians were a very ancient Nation , and it may be the first and only one that ever inhabited that Countrey ; for when Thessaly , and Peloponnesus , and almost all the fertile Regions of Greece chang'd their old Masters every Year , the barrenness of their Soil secur'd them from Forreign Invasions . Greece at that time had no constant and settl'd Inhabitants , but there were continual Removes , the stronger always dispossessing the weaker ; and therefore they liv'd , as we say , from Hand to Mouth , and provided no more than what was necessary for present Sustenance , expecting every Day when some more powerfull Nation should come and displace them , as they had lately done their Predecessors (d) (d) Thucyd. ibid. . Amidst all these troubles and tumults , Attica lay secure and unmolested , being protected from Forreign Enemies by means of a craggy and unfruitful Soil , that could not afford Fuel for contention ; and secur'd from intestine and civil Broils , by the quiet and peaceable Dispositions of it's Inhabitants ; for in those Golden-Days no affectation of Supremacy , nor any Sparks of Ambition had fired Men's minds , but every one liv'd full of content and satisfaction in the enjoyment of an equal share of Land , and other Necessaries with the rest of his Neighbours .

The usual Attendants of a long and uninterrupted Peace are Riches and Plenty , but in those Days when Men liv'd upon the products of their own Soil , and had not found out the way of supplying their wants by Traffick , the case was quite contrary , and Peace was only the Mother of Poverty and Scarceness , producing a great many new Mouths to consume , but affording no new Supplies to satisfie them . This was soon experienc'd by the Athenians , for in a few Ages they were increas'd to such a number , that their Countrey being not only unfruitfull , but confin'd within very narrow bounds , was no longer able to furnish them with necessary Provisions . This forced them to contrive some means to disburthen it , and therefore they sent out Colonies to provide new Habitations , which spread themselves in the several parts of Greece .

This sending forth of Colonies was very frequent in the first Ages of the World , and several instances there are of it in later Times , especially amongst the Gauls , and Scythians , who often left their Native-Countries in vast Bodies , and , like general inundations , overturn'd all before them . Meursius reckons to the number of forty Plantations peopl'd by Athenians ; but amongst them all , there was none so remarkable as that in Asia the Lesse , which they call'd by the Name of their Native-Countrey , Ionia . For the primitive Athenians were nam'd Iones , and Iaones (a) (a) Herodot . lib. I. Strabo Geogr. lib. IX . Aeschylus Persis . ; and hence it came to pass , that there was a very near Affinity between the Attick , and old Ionick Dialect , as Eustathius observes (b) (b) Iliad . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . . And tho' the Athenians thought fit to lay aside their Ancient Name , yet it was not altogether out of use in Theseus's Reign , as appears from the Pillar erected by him in the Isthmus , to shew the Bounds of the Athenians on the one side , and the Peloponnesians on the other ; on the East-side of which was this Inscription (c) (c) Plutarch . Theseo . , This is not Peloponnesus , but Ionia . And on the South-side this , This is not Ionia , but Peloponnesus . This Name is thought to have been given them by Iavan , which bears a near resemblance to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and much the nearer , if ( as Grammarians tell us ) the Ancient Greeks pronounc'd the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 broad , like the Dipthong 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as in our English word All , and so Sr. George Wheeler reports the Modern Greeks do at this Day . This Iavan was the fourth Son of Iapheth , and is said to have come into Greece after the confusion of Babel , and seated himself in Attica . And this Report receiveth no small confirmation from the Divine Writings , where the Name of Iavan is in several places put for Greece . Two instances we have in Daniel (d) (d) Cap. X. v. XX ; And when I am gone forth , behold the Prince of Graecia shall come . And again (e) (e) Cap. XI . v. II. ; He shall stir up all against the Realm of Graecia . Where tho' the Vulgar Translations render it not Iavan , yet ( as Mr. Rous hath observ'd ) that is the Word in the Original . And again in Isaiah ; And I will send those that escape of them to the Nations in the Sea , in Italy and in Greece . Where Sr. Walter Raleigh hath taken notice , that the Tigurine Version , with that of Geneva , retains the Hebrew words , and useth the Names of Tubal and Iavan , instead of Italy and Greece . But the Grecians themselves having no knowledge of their true Ancestor , make this Name to be of much later date , and derive it from Ion , the Son of Xuthus . This Xuthus ( as Pausanias reports ) having robb'd his Father Deucalion of his Treasure , convey'd himself together with his ill-gotten Wealth into A●tica , which was at that time govern'd by Erectheus , who Courteously entertain'd him , and gave him his Daught●r in ●arriag● , by whom h● had two Sons , Ion and Achaeus , the former of which gave his Na●e to the Ionians , the latter to the Achaeans . It is not improbable that 〈◊〉 himself might r●ceive his Name from Iavan ; it being a Custom observable in the Histories of all Times , to keep up the Ancient Name of a Fore-Father , especially such as had bee● eminent in the Times he liv'd in , by reviving it in some of the 〈…〉 his Pos●erity

From the first Peopling of 〈…〉 the time o● King Ogyges , we have no Account of any thin● 〈…〉 th●re ; only ●lato (a) (a) Tima● . reports , they had a Tradition , that 〈◊〉 Athenian Power and Gl●ry were very great in those Days ; that they were exc●●l●●tly skill'd both in Civil and Military Affairs , were gov●r●'d by the J●st●st and most Equitable Laws , and liv'd in far great●r Spl●nd●r , than they had ●●●iv'd to in his Time . But of the Transaction● of these , and th● following Ages , till Theseus , or the Trojan War , littl● or nothing of C●●t●inty must be expected ; partly , because of th● want o● Record● , in 〈◊〉 and illiterate Ages ; partly , by reason of th● v●st distance o● Time , wherein those Records they had ( is they had any ) w●r● lo●t and d●●tr●y'd ; and partly , thro' the Pride and Vain-gl●● 〈…〉 , that out of an affectation of being though● 〈…〉 some Divine Original , industriously conceal'd their Pe●igr●e● , and obscur'd their Ancient Histories w●●h idle T●les , and Poetical Fictions . And to use the words of Plutarch (b) (b) Thes●o . ; As Historian● in th●ir Geographical Descriptions o● Countr●ys , c●oud into the farthest part of their Maps those things they have no knowledge of , with some such remarks in the Margin , as these ; All beyond is nothing but dry and desart Sands , or Scythian Cold , or a Frozen Sea ; so it may very well be said of those things that are so far remov'd from our Age ; All beyond is no●hing but Monstrous and Tragical Fictions , there the Poets , and there the Inventors of Fables dwell ; nor is there to be expected any thing that deserves credit , or that car●i●s in it any appearance of Truth .

However I must not omit what is reported concerning Ogyges , or Ogygus , whom som● will have , to have been King of Thebes , some of Aegypt , some of Arcadia , but others of Attica , which is said to have been called after his Name , Ogygia (c) (c) Stephanus Byzantin . de Urb. & Pop. . He is reported to have been a very Potent Prince , and the Founder of several Cities , particularly of Eleusis , and Pausanias tells us farther , that he was Father to the Heroe Eleusis , from whom that City receiv'd it's Name . He is said to have been Contemporary with the Patriarch Iacob ; about the Sixty-seventh Year of whose Age he is suppos'd to have been Born (a) (a) Hieronym . Chronic. Euseb. , others bring him as low as Moses (b) (b) Iustin. Mart Orat ad Gent●s . . His Reign is the utmost Period that the Grecian Stories , or Traditions ever pretended to reach to , and therefore when they would express the great Antiquity of any thing , they call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of which we have a great many instances in several of the Ancient Writers , but I shall only give you one out of Nicander's Theriaca , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And in allusion to the great Power , he is suppos'd to have been possess'd of , they call any thing Great or Potent , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as two Learned Grammarians inform us . Hesychius , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Suidas , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . And therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are great and insupportable Evils ; and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Philo , extreme Folly and Stupidity . He reign'd two and thirty Years ( for so Cedrenus computes them ) in full Power and Prosperity , and Bless'd with the Affluence of all Things , that Fortune can bestow upon her greatest Favourites ; but the conclusion of his Life was no less deplorable , than the former part of it had been prosperous , for in the midst of all his Enjoyments he was surpriz'd with a sudden and terrible Inundation , that overwhelm'd not Attica only , but all Achaia too , in one Common Destruction .

There is frequent mention made in Ancient Authors of several Kings , that Reign'd in Attica , between the Ogygian Flood and Cecrops the first . As of Porphyrion , concerning whom the Athmonians , a People in Attica , have a Tradition , that he Erected a Temple to Venus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in their Burrough (c) (c) Pausa●●as . . Also of Colaenus (d) (d) Idem . ; and of Periphas , who is describ'd by Antoninus Liberalis , (e) (e) Metamorphos . VI. to have been a very Vertuous Prince , and at last Metamorphos'd into an Eagle . Isaac Tzetzes in his Comment upon Lycophron speaks of one Draco , out of whose Teeth he tells us , it was reported that Cecrops sprung , and this reason some give for his being call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Lastly , to mention no more , Pausanias and Stephanus speak of Actaeus , or Actaeon , from whom some will have Attica to have been call'd Acte ; and this Name frequently occurs in the Poets , particularly in Lycophron , a Studious affecter of Antiquated Names , and Obsolete Words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

But small Credit is to be given to these reports , for we are assured by Philochorus , an Author of no less Credit , than Antiquity , as he is quoted by Africanus , that Attica was so much wasted by the Ogygian Deluge , and it 's Inhabitans reduc'd to so small a Number , that they liv'd an Hundred and Ninety Years from the Time of Ogyges to Cecrops , without any King at all ; and Eusebius concurs with him in this Opinion f f Ch●onico . .

CHAPTER II. Of the State of Athens from Cecrops to Theseus .

IT is agree'd almost on all Hands , that Cecrops was the first that gather'd together the Poor Peasants , that lay dispers'd here and there in Attica , and having United them into one Body , ( tho' not into one City , for that was not effected till many Ages after ) constituted among them one form of Government , and took upon himself the title of King .

Most Nations at the first were Govern'd by Kings , who were usually Persons of great Worth , and Renown , and for their Courage , Prudence , and other Virtues promoted to that Dignity by the general Consent and Election of the People ; who yielded them Obedience out of Willingness , rather than Necessity , out of Advice rather than by Compulsion : and Kings rather chose to be obey'd out of Love , and Esteem of their Virtues , and Fitness to govern , than by the Force of their Arms , and out of a Slavish Fear of their Power . They affected no uncontrolable Dominion , or absolute Sway , but pre●err'd the good of their People , for whose Protection they knew , and acknowledg'd themselves to have been advanc'd , before any Covetous or Ambitious Designs of their own . They expected no bended Knees , no prostrate Faces , but would condescend to converse familiarly , even with the meaner sort of their Subjects , as oft as they stood in need of their Assistance . In short , they endeavour'd to observe such a just Medium in their Behaviour , and all their Actions , as might neither expose their Authority to contempt , nor render them formidable to those , whom they chose rather to win by Kindness into a voluntary Compliance , than to awe by severity into a forc'd Subjection . They propos'd to themselves no other Advantage , than the good and welfare of their People , and made use of their Authority no farther , than as it was conducive and necessary to that End . Their Dignity and Office consisted chiefly in three Things .

First , in doing ●ustice , in hearing Causes , in composing the Divivisions , and deciding the Differences , that happen'd among their Subjects , in constituting new Laws , and regulating the Old (b) (b) Tullii de O●fic . lib. II. Cap. XII . , where they had any ; But the People generally repos'd such trust and confidence in the ●ustice and Equity of their Prince , that his sole Will and Pleasure past ●or Law amongst them (c) (c) Iustin. Hist. lib. I. .

Secondly , in leading them to the Wars ; where they did not only assist them by their good Conduct and management of Affairs , but expos'd their own Persons for the Safety and Honour of their Countrey , pressing forward into the thickest of their Enemies , and often encountering the most Valiant of them in single Combat . And this they thought a principal Part of their Duty , judging it but reasonable , that they who excell'd others in Honour , should surpass them too in Valour ; and they that had the first places at all Feasts , and Publick Assemblies , should be the first also in undertaking Dangers , and exposing themselves in the Defence of their Countrey ; and thus the Heroe in Homer argues the Case with one of his Fellow-Princes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 b b Iliad . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Glaucus , since us the Lycian Realms obey Like Gods , and all united Homage pay , Since we first seated have our Goblets Crown'd , Enjoy large Farms , near Xanthus streams , whose Ground Is fertil , and beset with shady Trees around ; Ought we not in the Battel 's Front t' engage , And quell our furious Foes with doubled Rage ? Mr. Abell .

Thirdly , the Performance of the Solemn Sacrifices , and the care of Divine Worship was part of the King's Business . The Lacedaemonian Kings at their Coronation were consecrated Priests of Iupiter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and executed that Office in their own Persons . No man can be ignorant of Virgil's Anius , who was both King and Priest , Rex Anius , Rex idem hominum , Phoebique sacerdos . We seldom meet with a Sacrifice in Homer , but some of the Heroes , and those the Chief of all then present , are concern'd in the performance of the Holy Ceremonies ; and so far was it from being thought a Piece of Condescention , or any way below their Dignity and Grandeur , that they thought it an Accession to the rest of their Honours , and the Inferiour Worshippers were no less carefull to reserve this piece of Service for them , than they were to give them the most Honourable Places in the Banquets , which they refresh'd themselves with , after the Sacrifices were ended .

Let us now return to Cecrops , whom , as soon as he had establish'd himself in his new rais'd Kingdom , we shall find employ'd in laying the Model of a City , which he design'd for the Seat of his Government , and place of his constant Residence . And as the most commodious place in his Dominions for this purpose , he pitch'd upon a Rock , strongly fortified by Nature against any Assaults , and situated in a large Plain near the middle of Attica , calling both the City , and the Territorie round it after his own Name , Cecropia . Afterwards , when the Athenians increas'd in Power and Number , and fill'd the adjacent Plains with Buildings , this was the Acropolis , or Cittadel .

Then for the better Administration of Justice , and the promotion of mutual Entercourse among his Subjects , he divided them into four Tribes , the Names of which were 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

And finding his Countrey pretty well stock'd with Inhabitans , partly by the coming in of Forreigners , partly by the Concourse of People from every Corner and lurking-hole in Attica , where they had before lain , as it were , buried in Privacy , he instituted a Poll , causing every one of the Men to cast a Stone into a Place appointed by him ●or that purpose , and upon Computation he found them to be in number Twenty-Thousand , as the Scholiast upon Pindar reports out of Philochorus (a) (a) Olympionic . Od. IX . .

But the Soil being in its own Nature unfruitfull , and the People unskill'd in tilling and improving it to the best advantage , such multitudes could not have fail'd of being reduc'd in a short Time to the greatest Extremities , had not Cecrops taught them the Art of Navigation , and thereby supply'd them with Corn from Sicily , and Africk (b) (b) Iohannes Tze●ze● in Hesiodi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 .

Besides this , he was the Author of many excellent Laws and Constitutions , especially touching Marriage , which according to his appointment was only to be celebrated betwixt one Man , and one Woman , whereas before promiscuous Mixtures had been allow'd of amongst them , as the Poet intimates , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (c) (c) Nonnus Dionysiac . lib. XLI . . With curious Art Cadmus did Letters frame , The Law 's Invention from Wise Solon came , But Cecrops glories in the Marriage tie Of the united Pair . — Mr. Abell .

Nor did he only prescribe Rules for the Conduct of their Lives , with respect to one another , but was the first that introduc'd a Form of Religion , erected Altars in Honour of the Gods , and instructed his People in what manner they were to Worship them .

In the Reign of Pandion , the Fifth King of Athens , Triptolemus is said to have taught the Athenians how to sow , and manure the Ground ; and to have enacted several useful and necessary Laws , three of which we find quoted by Porphyry out of Xenocrates (a) (a) De abstinent . ab Animal lib. IV. ; 1. Honour your Parents . 2. Make Oblations of your Fruits to the Gods . 3. Hurt not Living Creatures .

Cecrops the Second of that Name , and the Seventh King of Athens , divided his Dominions into twelve Cities , or large Burroughs , compelling his Subjects to leave their separate Habitations , and Unite together for the replenishing of them (b) (b) Etymolog . . Their Names were these , as they are deliver'd by Strabo in his Description of Attica (c) (c) Geograph . lib. IX . : Cecropia , Tetrapolis , Exacria , Decelea , Eleusis , Aphidnae , Thoriccus , Brauron , Cytheris , Sphettus , Cephissia , and Phalerus . But Cecropia still continu'd the chief Seat of the Empire , tho' each of these Cities ( they are the words of Sr. George Wheeler , who refers this Division to Cecrops the First , led thereunto by the Authority of Eusebius , and some others ) had distinct Courts of Judicature , and Magistrates of their own ; and were so little subject to their Princes , the Successours of Cecrops , that they seldom , or never , had recourse to them , save only in Cases of imminent and publick Danger ; and did so absolutely order their own Concerns , that sometimes they wag'd War against each other , without the advice or consent of their Kings .

In this state continu'd Attica , till the Reign of Pandion the second of that Name , and eighth King of the Athenians , who was depriv'd of his Kingdom by his Cousins , the Sons of his Uncle Metion ; who themselves did not long possess what they had thus unjustly gotten , being driven out of it by the more powerful Arms of Pandion's ●our Sons , viz. Aegeus , Lycus , Pallas , and Nisus . These having expell'd the Metionidae , divided the Kingdom amongst themselves , as Apollodorus reports . But others are of Opinion , that Pandion himself being restor'd to the quiet possession of his Kingdom by the joynt Assistance of them all , by his last Will and Testament divided it into four Parts , bequeathing to each of them his Proportion ; And tho' it is not agree'd amongst Ancient Writers , which Part fell to every Man's Lot ; yet thus much is consented to on all Hands , that the Sovereignty of Athens was assign'd to Aegeus , for which he was extremeley envi'd by his Brethren ; and so much the more , for that , as most think , he was not the begotten , but only adopted Son of Pandion ; and for this reason it was ( saith Plutarch ) that Aegeus commanded Aethra , the Mother of Theseus , to send her Son , when arriv'd at Man's estate , from Troezen , the place where he was born , to Athens with all Secrecy , and to enjoyn him to conceal , as much as possible , his Journey from all Men , because he fear'd extremely the Pallantidae , who did continually mutiny against him , and despis'd him for his want of Children , they themselves being Fifty Brothers , all the Sons of Pallas . However , as the same Author tells us , they were withheld from breaking out into open Rebellion , by the hopes and expectation of recovering the Kingdom , at least after Aegeus's Death , because he was without Issue ; but as soon as Theseus appear'd , and was acknowledg'd rightfull Successour to the Crown , highly resenting , that first Aegeus , Pandion's Son only by Adoption , and not at all related to the Family of Erectheus , and then Theseus , one of another Countrey , and a perfect stranger to their Nation , should obtain the Kingdom of their Ancestors , they broke out into open Acts of Hostility ; but were soon overcome and dispers'd by the Courage and Conduct of Theseus .

Theseus having deliver'd the Countrey from intestine Seditions , proceeded in the next place to free it from Forreign Slavery . The Athenians having Barbarously Murder'd Androgeus , the Son of Minos , King of Crete , were oblig'd by his Father to send a Novennial , or Septennial , or , as others , an Annual Tribute of seven young Men , and as many Virgins into Crete , where they were shut up within the Labyrinth , and there wandred about , till , finding no possible means of making their Escape , they perish'd with Hunger , or else were devour'd by the Minotaur , a terrible Monster , compounded of the different shapes of Man , and Bull. The time of sending this Tribute being come , Theseus put himself amongst the Youths that were doom'd to go to Crete , where having arriv'd , he receiv'd of Ariadne , the Daughter of King Minos , who had faln in Love with him , a Clew of thred , and being instructed by her in the use of it , which was to conduct him thro all the Windings of the Labyrinth , escap'd out of it , having first slain the Minotaur , and so return'd with his Fellow-Captives in Triumph to Athens .

In his return through an excess of Joy for the happy success of his Voyage , he forgot to hang out the white Sail , which should have been the token of their Safety to Aegeus , who sat expecting them upon the Top of a Rock , and as soon as their Ship came in View with a Black , and as it were , Mourning Sail , knowing nothing of their Success , threw himself headlong into the Sea , and so made way to Theseus's more early Succession to the Crown , than could otherwise have been expected . And to this time from the Reign of Cecrops the First , the Government and State of Athens continu'd with little alteration .

CHAPTER III. Of the State of Athens , from Theseus to the Decennial Archons .

THeseus being by the fore-mention'd Accident advanc'd to the Regal Scepter , soon found the inconvenience of having his People dispers'd in Villages , and canton'd up and down the Countrey . Therefore for the remedy of this Evil , he fram'd in Mind ( saith Plutarch ) a vast and wonderful Design of gathering together all the Inhabitants of Attica into one Town , and making them one People of one City , that were before dispers'd , and very difficult to be assembl'd upon any Affair , tho' relating to the Common benefit of them all . Nay , often such Differences and Quarrels happen'd among them , as occasion'd Blood-shed and War ; these he by his Perswasions appeas'd , and going from People to People , and from Tribe to Tribe , propos'd his Design of a Common agreement between them . Those of a more private and mean condition readily embracing so good advice , to those of greater Power , and Interest he promis'd a Common-wealth , wherein Monarchy being laid aside , the power should be in the People ; and that , reserving to himself only to be continu'd the Commander of their Arms , and the Preserver of their Laws , there should be an equal distribution of all things else among them , and by this means brought most of them over to his Proposal . The rest fearing his Power which was already grown very formidable , and knowing his Courage and Resolution , chose rather to be perswaded , than forc'd into a Compliance .

He then dissolv'd all the distinct Courts of Justice , and Council-Halls , and Corporations , and built one common Prytaneum and Council-Hall , where it stands to this Day . And out of the old and new City he made one , which he nam'd Athens , ordaining a common Feast and Sacrifice to be for ever observ'd , which he call'd Panathenaea , or the Sacrifice of all the Vnited Athenians . He instituted also another Sacrifice , for the sake of Strangers that would come to fix at Athens , call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which is yet celebrated on the 16th day of Hecatombaeon . Then , as he had promis'd , he laid down his Kingly Power , and settled a Common-wealth , having entred upon this great Change , not without advice from the Gods . For sending to consult the Delphian Oracle , concerning the Fortune of his new Government and City , he receiv'd this Answer , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hear , Theseus , Pittheus Daughters's Son , Hear what Jove for thee has done . In the great City thou hast made , He has , as in a Store-house , laid The settl'd Periods and fix'd Fates , Of many Cities , mighty States . But know thou neither Fear , nor Pain , Sollicit not thy self in Vain . For like a Bladder that does bide The Fury of the angry Tide , Thou from high Waves unhurt shalt bound , A●ways tost , but never drown'd . ( Mr. Duke . ) Which Oracle , they say , one of the Sibyls a long time after , did in a manner repeat to the Athenians in this Verse , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Thou , like a Bladder , may'st be wet , but never drown'd . Farther yet designing to enlarge his City , he invited all Strangers to come and enjoy equal Privileges with the Natives , and some are of opinion , that the Common form of Proclamation in Athens , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Come hither all ye People , were the words that Theseus caus'd to be proclaim'd , when he thus set up a Common-wealth , consisting in a manner of all Nations .

For all this , he suffer'd not his State by the promiscuous multitude that flow'd in , to be turn'd into Confusion and Anarchy , and left without any Order or Degrees , but was the first that divided the Common-wealth into three distinct Ranks , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. Noblemen , Husbandmen , and Artificers . To the Nobility he committed the choice of Magistrates , the teaching and dispensing of the Laws , and the interpretation of all Holy and Religious things ; the whole City , as to all other matters , being as it were reduc'd to an Equality , the Nobles excelling the rest in Honour , the Husbandmen in Prosit , and the Artificers in Number . And Theseus was the first , who , as Aristotle says , out of an inclination to Popular Government , parted with the Regal Power , and which Homer also seems to intimate in his Catalogue of the Ships , where he gives the Name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or People , to the Athenians only .

In this manner Theseus settl'd the Athenian Government , and it continu'd in the same State till the Death of Codrus the seventeenth , and last King , a Prince more renown'd for his Bravery , than Fortune . For Attica (a) (a) Tull. Tuscul. Quaest. Iustin. l II. Vell. Pate●c ▪ li● . II. Euse●ius . being invaded by the Dorians , or Spartans , or Peloponnesians , or , as some will have it , by the Thracians , the Oracle was consulted about it , and answer made , that the Invaders should have Success , if they did not kill the Athenian King ; Codrus having heard this , and preferring his Countrie 's Safety before his own Life , disguis'd himself in the Habit of a Peasant , and went to a place not far from the Enemies Camp , where picking a quarrel with some of them , he obtain'd the Death which he so much desir'd . The Athenians being advertis'd of what had happen'd , sent an Herald to the Enemy to demand the Body of their King , whereupon they were so much dishearten'd , that they immediately broke up their Camp , and left off their Enterprize without striking another blow .

The Athenians , out of reverence to Codrus's memory , would never more have any Governour by the Name or Title of King , but were Govern'd by Archontes , whom they allow'd indeed to continue in their Dignity as long as they liv'd , and when they di'd , to leave it to their Children , and therefore most Writers reckon them rather amongst the Kings , than the Archontes that succeeded them , who were permitted to Rule only for a certain time ; yet they differ'd from the Kings in this , that they were in a manner subject to the People , being oblig'd to render an account of their management , when it should be demanded . The first of these was Medon , the Eldest Son of Codrus , from whom the thirteen following Archontes were Sirnam'd Medontidae , as being descended from him ; During their Government the Athenian State suffer'd no considerable alteration , but was carried on with so great ease , and quietness , that scarce any mention is made of any memorable Action done by any of them , and the very Names of some of them are almost quite forgotten .

Thus have I endeavoured to give you a short Account of the Athenian State , whilst it was Govern'd by Kings , who were in all thirty , and Rul'd Athens by the space of seven-hundred-ninety-four Years , as the Learned Meursius has computed them , to which if you add the two and thirty Years of Ogyge● , and the intervall of an hundred and ninety Years , in which no Foot-steps of any Government are to be found , the number will amount to one thousand and twelve Years .

A Catalogue of the Athenian Kings . Years . Ogyges XXXII . Interregnum CXC . Cecrops I. L. Cranaus IX . Amphictyon X. Ericthonius L. Pandion I. XL. Erectheus L. Cecrops II. XL. Pandion II. XXV . Aegeus XLVIII . Theseus XXX . Menestheus XXIII . Demophoon XXXIII . Oxyntes XII . Aphidas I. Thymoetes VIII . Melanthius XXXVII . Codrus XXI Medon XX. Acastus XXXVI . Archippus XIX . Thersippus XLI . Phorbas XXX . Megacles XXVIII . Diognetus XXV . Pherecles XIX . Ariphron XX. Thespieus XXVII . Agamestor XVII . Aeschylus XXIII . Alcmaeon II.