2. The ἐρυκτῆρες enjoyed the same “(especial confidence) in war.”[219] On points of this kind it is necessary to rely on some authority, and the historian adduces none.[220] It has, indeed, been conjectured, from the derivation of their name, that this class of freedmen served as a body-guard to their former masters. Positively, however, nothing whatever is known of their condition. ----- Footnote 216: Müll. Dorians, ii. 43. Footnote 217: In fact Dion Chrysostom states most distinctly, that there was no such way: Οὐδὲ ὑπάρχει τοῖς Εἵλωσιν γενέσθαι Σπαρτιάταις, ὅθεν δὴ καὶ διατελοῦσιν ἐπιβουλεύοντες τῇ Σπάρτη. Orat. xxxvi. t. ii. p. 92. Reisk. Footnote 218: Dorians. ii. 43. Hesych. in v. Ἀργεῖο ... ἐκ τῶν Εἱλώτων οἱ πιστευόμενοι οὕτως ἐλέγοντο. t. i. p. 514, seq. Albert. This has previously been remarked by Capperonier: “On lit dans Hesychius, qu’on donnoit le nom d’Argiens à ceux qui se distinguoient par leur fidelité.” Recherches sur les Hilotes, Mem. de l’Acad. des Inscript. t. xxiii. p. 285. Cf. Crag. de Rep. Laced. l. i. c. xi. p. 70. Footnote 219: Cf. Anim. ad Athen. t. viii. p. 603. Footnote 220: Cf. Athen. vi. 102. ----- 3. The ἀφέται were, _probably_, released from “all service.” The expression of Eustathius[221] is, “being made free, they were called aphetæ.” ----- Footnote 221: Ad Iliad, ο. p. 1031. 10. Cf. ν. p. 933. 51. ----- 4. “The δεσποσιοναύται,[222] who served in the fleet, resembled, _probably_, the freedmen of Attica, who were called the _out-dwellers_.”[223] This phrase is calculated to convey an erroneous impression, as though these freedmen necessarily took up their quarters in the country, whereas οἱ χωρὶς οἰκούντες merely signifies persons who have establishments of their own. With respect to the Desposionautæ, they would appear to have been slaves brought up in their masters’ houses, and afterwards enfranchised, and ordered to be employed about the fleet. ----- Footnote 222: Cf. Eustath. ad Il. λ. 784. 15. Footnote 223: See Bœckh. Pub. Econ. of Ath. i. 349. ----- 5. “When they (the Helots) received their liberty, they also obtained permission _to dwell where they wished_, and, _probably_, at the same time, a portion of land was granted to them without the lot of their former masters.” This is drawing a general inference from a particular case. Thucydides,[224] the authority relied on, speaks only of those Helots who having served in Thrace under Brasidas, obtained enfranchisement on their return, together with a portion of the lands recently taken from the Lepreatæ. On other occasions, as the whole of Laconia and Messenia had been divided among the citizens, it is difficult to understand whence the state could have obtained lands to bestow. The _probability_, therefore, is, that they bestowed none. ----- Footnote 224: l. v. § 34. -----