The foreste or Collection of histories no lesse profitable, then pleasant and necessarie, dooen out of Frenche into Englishe, by Thomas Fortescue.

¶ Of a straunge case, whiche at twoo diuerse times chaunced, after one and the same sorte, vnto twoo Romayne Knightes of Honorable Families. Chap. 16.

THe chiefe and principall that conspired the death of Iulius Caesar, (as Plutarche at large with others recordeth) were Brutus and Cassius, whiche bothe with all their adherentes were after exiled, declared for open enimies to the Romaines, by Octauian, Lepidus, & Marcus Antonius, who commaunded as they pleased throughout the whole Citie. Of the faction of Brutus and Cassius, was Marcus Varro, one emonge all the others of moste fame & honour, who beinge in the fielde with the other coniurates, were discomfited by Octauian and Marcus Antonius, who the better to saue, if he might his life, and to be reputed for none other then a common Souldier, chaunged foorthwith & incontinently his ap∣parell, thrustinge him selfe into the heape or company of Captiues, and so without more adoo was solde for vile price emonge the others, vnto a certaine Romayne who

hight Barbulas: who within very fewe dayes, percei∣uinge well his honest demeanoure & dealinge, supposed him to be (as truthe was) a Romayne, although in very déede he knew him not for sutche a one. On a time there∣fore, he with drewe him aparte, earnestly intreatings him, to learne him what he was, promisinge that if he would disclose vnto him what he hight, & of what House or Familie, he would assuredly purchase him grace, with M. Antonius, and Octauian: but M. Varro would for no∣thing vtter him self, so that in fine Barbulas, farre other∣wise then he firste déemed, concluded with him selfe that he was no Romayne. Within fewe daies, nowe Octa∣uian, and M. Antonius returned them to Rome, as also Barbulas with his late bought Seruant, who perchance notwithstandinge was better Gentleman then his Mai∣ster. It chaunced him there shortly after his arriuall (wayting at the Senate doore, Barbulas his Lorde about his affayres within) to be knowen of a certaine Ro∣maine, who incontinently aduertised Barbulas thereof, whiche without any semblant that he knew any thinge, or without any woorde paste thereof vnto him, wrought so with Octauian, whiche then ruled in Rome, that he easily obtained him grace and pardon, by meane where∣of foorthwith, he frankly infranchised him, and brought him to Octauian, who courteously receiued him, & from that time foorth helde him in the number of his friendes. After this nowe Octauian, and M. Antonius fell out, in sutche sorte that Barbulas leaned to Antonius, whome Octauian in fielde ouerranne and discomfited. Barbulas then dreadinge the wrothe of Octauian, vsed for his safe∣tie, the aboue remembred policie practised by Varro, that is to wéete, he did on him the coate of a poore Souldier. M. Varro, then for that he longe before had not séene him, as also for that he had chaunged his apparel, emong other Captiues unknowen, bought him for a bondeman. But after shorte time, remembringe him againe, he so

practised with Octauian, that he obtained him pardon, doinge him to be frée, possest of woonted libertie. So that eche of them, repayinge the dutie of courtesie to other, leaue vs example sufficient of the lesse staide assurance of greate states in this life: with admonition to all, of what degrée they so be, that they neuer leaue to feare the fall, no not then, when they highest shall sitte in Fortunes Chayre, as also on the other side, neuer to dispaire when the same Fortune shall laye them vnder her angry, and disdainefull foote.