After these proceedings the ephors now in power at once sent messengers to Philip bringing accusations against their victims, begging him to delay his arrival until the present disturbance had subsided and the town had returned to normal condition, and informing him that it was their intention to maintain all their obligations to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a> and remain friendly.
These messengers met the king near Mt. Parthenium and spoke according to their instructions.
After listening to them, he bade them return home at once, and inform the ephors that for his own part he would continue his march and take up his quarters in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a>, where he demanded that they should send him as soon as possible some persons of sufficient weight to discuss the present situation with him.
The messengers obeyed, not Lacedaemonian magistrates, on receiving the king\'s communication, dispatched ten envoys to Philip, the chief of the mission being Omias, who on reaching <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Tegea&groupId=1011&placeId=1780">Tegea</a> and presenting themselves before the king\'s council, laid the responsibility of the late disturbance on Adeimantus, and engaged themselves to observe faithfully the terms of the alliance with Philip, and be second to none of those who were regarded as his true friends in their devotion to him. So the Lacedaemonians after these and other similar assurances withdrew, upon which there was a difference of opinion among the members of the council.
Some knowing the evil disposition of the Spartan government, and convinced that Adeimantus and the others had met their fate owing to their favouring <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Macedonia&groupId=723&placeId=428">Macedonia</a>, and that the project of the Lacedaemonians was to join the Aetolians, advised Philip to make an example of <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Sparta&groupId=660&placeId=1208">Sparta</a>, treating it in the same way as Alexander had treated Thebes at the outset of his reign.
But some of the older councilors declared that such vengeance was heavier than the offence deserved. Philip, they said, should punish the guilty parties and, removing them from office, place the government in the hands of his own friends.
Walbank Commentary