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.

Democritus. 10.

DEmocritus was a philosopher borne in a citie called Abdera, who receauing of his elder brothers the portiō of his fathers inheritaūce, being kindled w^t the great desire of knowledge of things, went through the greatest part of the world. He returnyng afterward into his countrie, being in great penurie, gaue him selfe to the contēplacion of naturall things, in a certayne orchyard neare to the walles of his Citie.

It is reported, that he, what thing soeuer chaunced by fortune, or what soeuer he heard of the mutabilitie of things, fell into a maruailous laugh∣ter. And therefore by the figure, Antonomasia, all dissolute laughters be called Democriti.

At the last (as Cicero sayth) he pulled out his owne eyes, and made him selfe blinde of purpose, that he might the more narowly and nearely searche out the secretes of nature.

He died at the age of .109. yeares He said, that al things were made, Exatomis, and y^t there were many worldes, and those corruptible, he so excelled and profited in al kind of Philosophie, y^t he might haue ben cal∣led, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, siue quinquertio. For he attained to the knowledge of things naturall, morall, mathematicall, all the liberall sciences, and to the con∣nyng of all Artes.

His father was meruailous riche, for he made to the whole armie of the souldiours of kyng Xerxes, a solemne feast.

He had a very excellent saying, which is this: Cōueniētius est, vt parci¦tatē in tuo serues, {quam} luxū in alieno: parcitas enim est remediū necessitatis vt medicina dānorū, that is. It is more conuenient to be sparefull of thine owne, then to be prodigall of an other mans, for parcitie is a remedie of necessitie, euen as medecine is of hurtes.

Laertius writeth that there were sixe Democriti.