Ptōchomuseion [sic]. = The poore mans librarie Rapsodiæ G.A. Bishop of Exceter vpon the first epistle of saint Peter, red publiquely in the cathedrall church of saint Paule, within the citye of London. 1560. Here are adioyned at the end of euery special treatie, certaine fruitful annotacions which may properly be called miscellanea, bicause they do entreate of diuerse and sundry matters, marked with the nombre and figures of Augrime. 2.

Basilius Magnus. 18.

BAsilius Magnus had to his father a priest and a bishop (as Na∣zianzenus writeth) who was called Basilius also, a man of rare vertue, and notable piety and godlines. He had fiue sonnes, wher¦of three were enhaunced to the office of a Bishop.

Basilius was the hishop of Cesarea in Cappadocia, Petrus was Bi∣shop of Sebasta, Gregory was bishop of Missa, they were three worthy men, very famous and excellently learned.

Basilius had to his scholemaster his own father, who taught him the rudiments of godlines, principles of grammer, and the discipline of good maners. VVhen he was a young man, he both did learne and also teach at Athens, and had to his companions Gregorie Nazianzene, and one Li∣banius. After that he had gone through the chiefest churches in Grecia, and al Asia, he returned to Cesarea, wher, for a time he professed diuity. But when a certaine strife and contention was risen betwene him and Eusebius, the byshop of Cesarea, he departed from thence vnto Pontus, wher he spent with his auditours. 14 yeares, in the study of heauenly doc¦trine. But when the Arrians did inuade the Churches wyth their here∣sies, he was called backe againe to Cesarea, and after the death of Euse∣bius, was chosen bishop, and had great conflicts, and very sharpe dispu∣tacions with the Arrians, whom the Emperour Valence maintained and nourished: which Valence commaunded Basile to leaue his office, and to go into exile, yet he would not obey, but being brought before the iudge∣ment seat of the Emperour Valence, and his officers, and being much at∣tempted to obey the threatnings of the Emperour, stood stout and stiffe against him. And when they gaue him a nightes space, to deliberate with

himselfe, Basilius answered: nay (saith be) I will not take that space, but take thou y^t space, to desiste & leaue from thy naughty purpose. And in y^t night the Emperour Valence wife was taken in great dolour and paine, and also one of his young daughters died. Then Valence sent to Basilius, that he would pray vnto God, that he himselfe might be preserued from daunger and death. And so it came to passe that Basilius was deliuered. He that will reade more of the life of Basilius, let him looke in Gre∣gory Nazianzene his worke, called Monodia, where is commended the abstinence, the frugality, & the simple apparel of Basilius, who through continuall fastinges, watchinges, and lying on the ground, could not ex∣ecute his office as he ought to doo. VVhich thing Erasmus in his booke called Concionator, layeth to his reproche. Before he died, his voyce was very vocall and audible, where before he had a verye slender and small voyce. He dyed meekely and peaceably, and when he had named his suc∣cessor, and had spoken these wordes of the prophet (Into thy hands Lord I commend my spirite) he gaue vp the ghost, the yeare of Christ. 387.