A G I 
by the Greek and other churches under the dominion of 
the Turks, to call together affemblies of the people. The 
agiofyniandrum was introduced in the place of bells, 
which the Turks prohibited their Chriftian fubjefts the 
life of, left they fhould make them fubfervient to fedition. 
AGIS, king of Lacedaemon, and colleague of Leoni¬ 
das in the government of Sparta, was a young prince of 
great hopes. He (hewed himfelf juft and obliging to all 
men; and, in the gentlenefs of his difpofttion, and the 
fublimity of his virtues, not only exceeded Leonidas, who 
reigned with him, but all the kings of Sparta from king 
Agelilaus. He was a very handfome perfon, and of a 
graceful behaviour; yet, to check the vanity lie might 
take therein, he would always drefs in a very plain man¬ 
ner. He had been bred very tenderly by his mother Age- 
fiftrata, and his grandmother Archidamia, who were the 
wealthieft of all the Lacedaemonians; yet, before the age 
of twenty-four, he fo far overcame himfelf, as to renounce 
effeminate pleafures. In his diet, bathings, and in all his 
exercifes, he chofe to imitate the old Lycurgic frugality 
and temperance ; and was often heard to fay, “ He wotdd 
not delire the kingdom, if he did not hope, by means of 
that authority, to reftore their ancient laws and difcipline.” 
This maxim governed his whole life : and, with this view, 
he aftociated with men of intereft and capacity, who were 
equally willing to bring about the great deftgn he had 
formed of thoroughly reforming the ftate, now funk into 
luxury and debauch. For this purpofe attempts were 
made; and fo far fucceeded, that Leonidas thought it ad- 
vifeableto abdicate the throne. But Agelilaus, from in- 
terefted views, afted fo precipitately, that, while Agiswas 
leading a body of Spartan troops to the aftiftance of the 
Achteans, a confpiracy was formed for reftoring Leoni¬ 
das, w hole ambition, pride, and luxury, had greatly con¬ 
tributed to effeminate the minds of the people. Leonidas, 
feeing now re-fettled on the throne, tried every method 
poflible to get Agis into his power; and which he at laft 
effected by the treachery of Amphares and Demochares. 
Being dragged aw ay to the common prifon, the ephori 
conftituted by Leonidas fat ready to judge him. Asfoon 
as he came in, they alked him, “ How he durft attempt 
to alter the government ?” at which he fmiled without af¬ 
fording an anfwer; which provoked one of the ephori to 
tell him, “ That he ought rather to weep; for they would 
make him fenfible of his prefumption.” Another afked 
him, “ Whether he was not conftrained to do what he did 
by Agefilausand Lyfander ?” To which Agis, with acompo- 
fed countenance, anfwered, “ I was conftrained by no man; 
the deftgn was mine; and my intent was to have reftored 
the laws of Lycurgus, and to have governed by them.” 
“ But do you not now (faid one of his judges) repent of 
your raftinefs?” “No, (replied the king;) I can never 
repent of fo juft and honourable an intention.” The 
ephori then ordered him to be taken away, and ftrangled. 
The officers of juftice refufed to obey; and even the mer¬ 
cenary foldiers declined fo unworthy an aftion. Where¬ 
upon Demochares, reviling them for cowards, forced the 
king into the room where the execution was to be per¬ 
formed. Agis, about to die, perceiving one of the fer- 
jeants bitterly bewailing his misfortune: “ Weep not, 
friend, forme, (faid he) who die innocently ; but grieve 
'for thofe who are guilty of this horrid aft. My condition 
is much better than theirs.” Then, ftretching out his 
neck, he fubmitted to death with a conftancy worthy both 
of the royal dignity and his own great character. Im¬ 
mediately after Agis was dead, Amphares went out of the 
prifon gate, where he found Ageliftrata; who kneeling 
at his feet, he gently raifed her up, pretending (till the 
fame friendfhip as formerly. He affined her, (lie need not 
fear any farther violence fliould be offered againft her foil; 
and that, if (lie pleafed, fhe might go in and fee him. She 
begged her mother might alfo have the favour of being 
admitted: to which he replied, “ Nobody fhould hinder 
her.” When they were entered, he commanded the gate 
fliould be again locked, and the grandmother to bp the 
VPL. I. No. 13. 
A G 1 20 i" 
firft introduced. She was now grown very old, and had 
lived all her days in great reputation of vvifdom and virtue. 
As foon as Amphares thought fhe w-as difpatched, he told 
Agefiftrata (lie might go in, if (lie pleafed. She entered: 
where, beholding her fon’s body ftretched on the ground, 
and her mother hanging by the neck, fhe ftood at firft afto- 
nifhed at fo horrid a fpeftacle: but, after a while recol¬ 
lecting her fpirits, the firft thing (lie did was to affift the 
foldiers in taking down the body; then covering it de¬ 
cently, fhe laid it by her fon’s; where, embracing and 
killing his cheeks, “ O my fon, (faid (lie,) it is thy too 
great mercy and goodnefs which hath brought thee and us 
to this untimely end.” Amphares, who ftood watching 
behind the door, ruflied in haftily ; and, with a furious 
tone and countenance, faid to her: “ Since you approve 
fo well of your foil’s actions, it is fit you fhould partake 
in his reward.” She, riling up to meet her deftiny, only 
uttered thefe few words: “ I pray the gods that all this 
may redound to the good of Sparta.” After which fhe 
fubmitted to death with a compofure and firmnefs that 
drew tears from the executioner. 
To AGIST, v. a. [from gijle, Fr. a bed or refting-place, 
or from gifter, i. e. Jlabulari.'] To take in and feed the cat¬ 
tle of ftrangers in the king’s foreft, and to gather the 
money. The officers that do this are called agiftors, in 
Englilh guejlov gift takers. Their function is termed agift- 
ment ; as, Agijlment upon the fea-banks. This word a gift. 
is alfo ufed for the taking in of other men’s cattle into any 
man’s ground, at a certain rate per week. 
AGISTMENT, f. in law, is where other men’s cattle 
are taken into gny ground, at a certain rate for their feed¬ 
ing. 4 Injl. 293. 
The tithe of agiftment of cattle is due of common right, 
becaufe the grafs which is eaten is de jure titheable, and 
muft have paid tithe if cut when full grown. And it is 
to be paid by the occupier of the ground, and not by the 
owner of the cattle; for, if the occupier in fuch cafe 
were not liable, it would be greatly inconvenient to fue 
every owner of the beafts, and it might be hard to be 
known, and infinite. Where there is no fpecial cuftom 
concerning the manner of paying this tithe, it is ufual to 
pay the tenth part of the money received; but this is on¬ 
ly for convenience, for the tenth part of the produce, and 
not a fum of money, is due de jure. zlnjt. 6 $i. 1 Roll's 
Abr. 656. Watf. c. 50. 
AGISTOR, or Agistator,/ an officer belongingto 
forefts, who has the care of cattle taken in to be grazed, 
and levies the moneys due on that account. They are 
created by letters patent; each royal foreft having four 
agiftors. 
AGISYMBIA, anciently a diflri6L of Libya Interior, 
fituated to the fouth-eaft of the ^Ethiopes Anthropopha¬ 
gi ; the parallel palling through which, at 16 0 to the fouth 
of the Equator, was the utmoft extent of the knowledge 
of the ancients to the fouth. 
AGITABLE, adj. [ agitabilis , Lat.] That which may¬ 
be agitated, or put in motion; perhaps that which maybi? 
difputed. 
To AGITATE, v. a. [ agito , Lat.] To put in motion; 
to fliake; to move nimbly; as. The furface of the waters 
is agitated by the wind; The veil'd was broken by agita¬ 
ting the liquor. To be the caufe of motion; to affuate^ 
to move. To affeft with perturbation ; as, "I he mind of 
man is agitated by various paftions. To ftir; to bandy 
from one to another; todifeufs; to controvert; as, To 
agitate a queftion. To contrive; to revolve; to form by 
laborious" thought —Formalities of extraordinary zeal and 
piety are never more ftudied and elaborate, than when pp» 
liticians moft agitate defperate defigns. King Charles. 
AGITATION, / [ agitatio , Lat.] The aft of moving 
or fhaking any thing. The ftate of being moved or agi¬ 
tated; as, The waters, after a ftorm, are fome time in a 
violent agitation. Difcuffion; controverfial examination. 
Violent motion pf the mind; perturbation.; difturhance 
of the thoughts. Deliberation; contrivance'; tjae ftate of 
3 F being 
