ABSTRACT
But I had almost forgoten Julius Cesar, who, beinge nat able to sustaine the burden of fortune, and envienge his owne felicitie, abandoned his naturall disposition, and as it were, beinge dronke with over moche weith, sought newe wayes howe to be advaunced above the astate of mort all princes. Wherfore litle and litle he withdrewe from men his accustomed gentilnesse, becomyng more sturdy in langage, and straunge in countenance, than ever before had ben his usage. And to declare more plain ely his entent, he made an edict or deere, that no man shulde prease to come to hym uncalled, and that they shuld have good awaite, that they spake not in suche familiar facion to hym as they before had ben accustomed; wherby he so dyd alienate from hym the hartis of his most wise and assured adherentis, that, from that tyme forwarde, his life was to them tedious, and abhorring him as a monstre or commune enemie, they beinge knitte in a confederacy slewe hym sitting in the Senate; of which conspiracie was chiefe capitaine, Marcus Brutus, whome of all other he beste loved, for his great wisedome and prowesse. And it is of some writers suspected that he was begoten of Cesar, for as moche as Cesar in his youth loved Servilia, the mother of Brutus, and, as men supposed, used her more familiarly than honestie required. Thus Cesar, by omittinge his olde affabilitie, dyd incende his next frendes and companions to sle hym.
