lexander (by Olympia's confession), Themistocles, Jugurtha, King
Arthur, William the Conqueror, Homer, Demosthenes, P. Lumbard, P. Comestor,
Bartholus, Adrian the fourth Pope, &c., bastards; and almost in every
kingdom, the most ancient families have been at first princes' bastards:
their worthiest captains, best wits, greatest scholars, bravest spirits in
all our annals, have been base. [3654]Cardan, in his subtleties, gives a
reason why they are most part better able than others in body and mind, and
so, _per consequens_, more fortunate. Castruccius Castrucanus, a poor
child, found in the field, exposed to misery, became prince of Lucca and
Senes in Italy, a most complete soldier and worthy captain; Machiavel
compares him to Scipio or Alexander. "And 'tis a wonderful thing" ([3655]
saith he) "to him that shall consider of it, that all those, or the
greatest part of them, that have done the bravest exploits here upon earth,
and excelled the rest of the nobles of their time, have been still born in
some abject, obscure place, or of base and obscure abject parents." A most
memorable observation, [3656]Scaliger accounts it, _et non praetereundum,
maximorum virorum plerosque patres ignoratos, matres impudicas fuisse_.
[3657]"I could recite a great catalogue of them," every kingdom, every
province will yield innumerable examples: and why then should baseness of
birth be objected to any man? Who thinks worse of Tully for being
_arpinas_, an upstart? Or Agathocles, that Silician king, for being a
potter's son? Iphicrates and Marius were meanly born. What wise man thinks
better of any person for his nobility? as he said in [3658]Machiavel,
_omnes eodem patre nati_, Adam's sons, conceived all and born in sin, &c.
"We are by nature all as one, all alike, if you see us naked; let us wear
theirs and they our clothes, and what is the difference?" To speak truth,
as [3659]Bale did of P. Schalichius, "I more esteem thy worth, learning,
honesty, than thy nobility; honour thee more that thou art a writer, a
doctor of divinity, than Earl of the Huns, Baron of Skradine, or hast title
to such and such provinces," &c. "Thou art more fortunate and great" (so
[3660]Jovius writes to Cosmo de Medici, then Duke of Florence) "for thy
virtues, than for thy lovely wife, and happy children, friends, fortunes,
or great duchy of Tuscany." So I account thee; and who doth not so indeed?
[3661]Abdolominus was a gardener, and yet by Alexander for his virtues