This the senate, unable itself to decide about all these matters, and thinking that Demetrius should not be forced to meet all these charges,
as they were well disposed towards him and saw that he was still quite young and very far from being competent to face such a whirl of complications,
and wishing particularly not to hear speeches from Demetrius but to obtain some true test of Philip's views,
relieved the young man from pleading in justification himself, but asked him and his friends who were with him if they had any notes on all these matters from the king.
On Demetrius replying in the affirmative and presenting a little note-book, they bade him give them the general sense of the suggestions noted therein as a reply to each of the charges.
Philip in each case either maintained that he had executed the orders of the Romans, or, if he had not done so, cast the blame on his accusers.
He had added to most of his statements, "Although Caecilius and the other legates did not deal fairly with us in this case"; or again, "Although we were unjustly treated in this case." Such being the tone of all Philip's statements, the senate, after listening to the envoys who had arrived, came to one decision about all the questions.
Having through the praetor accorded a splendid and cordial reception to Demetrius, and addressed him at length in terms of encouragement, they gave as an answer that regarding all the matters on which he had spoken or read his father's notes they accepted his word that strict justice either had been done or would be done.
And, that Philip might see that this was a favour granted by the senate to Demetrius, they said that they would dispatch a commission to see if everything was being done as the senate desired and to inform the king at the same time that he met with this indulgence owing to Demetrius.
Such was the issue of this matter.
Walbank Commentary