324 HISTORY OF GREECE. envoys should be despatched to Thebes, desiring that no Iheban army might enter into Arcadia until formally summoned, and cancelling the preceding invitation as unauthorized. At the same time, the assembly determined to conclude peace with the Eleians, and to restore to them the locality of Olympia with all their pre- vious rights. The Eleians gladly consented, and peace was accord- ingly concluded. 1 The transactions just recounted occupied about one year and nine or ten months, from Midsummer 364 B. c. (the time of the battle at Olympia) to about April 362 B. c. The peace was gen- erally popular throughout Arcadia, seemingly even among the cities which adhered to Thebes, though it had been concluded without consulting the Thebans. Even at Tegea, the centre of Theban influence, satisfaction was felt at the abandonment of the mischievous aggression and spoliation of Olympia, wherein the Thebans had had no concern. Accordingly when the peace, hav- ing been first probably sworn in other Arcadian cities, came to be sworn also at Tegea, not only the city authorities, but also the Theban harmost, who occupied the town with a garrison of three hundred Boeotians, were present and took part in the ceremony. After it had been finished, most of the Mantineans went home ; their city being both unfriendly to Tegea and not far distant. But many other Arcadians passed the evening in the town, celebrating the peace by libations, paeans, and feasting. On a sudden the gates were shut by order, and the most prominent of the oligarchi- cal party were arrested as they sat at the feast, by the Boeotian garrison and the Arcadian Epariti of the opposite party. The leaders seized were in such considerable number, as to fill both the prison and the government-house ; though there were few Mantineans among them, since most of these last had gone home. Among the rest the consternation was extreme. Some let them- selves down from the walls, others escaped surreptitiously by the gates. Great was the indignation excited at Mantinea on the fol- lowing morning, when the news of this violent arrest was brought thither. The authorities, while they sent round the intelligence to the remaining Arcadian cities, inviting them at once to arms, despatched heralds to Tegea, demanding all the Mantineau 1 Xen. Hellen. /. c.
