John Trapp on Matthew 14:21

Verse 21. Were about five thousand] Pythias is famous, for that he was able, at his own charge, to entertain Xerxes his whole [illegible: 1 word]. Army, consisting of ten hundred thousand men. But he grew so poor upon it, that he wanted bread ere he died. Our Saviour fed five thousand, and his store not a jot diminished: but as it is said of a great mountain of salt in Spain, de quo quantum demas tantum [illegible: 1 word]. accrescit: so is it here. Besides women and children] Which did very much adde to the number, and so to the miracle. But they are not reckoned of here (not out of any base esteem of them, as the Jews at this day hold women to be of a lower creation then men, and made only for [illegible: 1 word] voyage, pag 122. the propagation and pleasure of men, but) because they eat little in comparison of men.