¶ The Names.
Cotton is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: in Latine, Xylum, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the Greeke: in shops, Lanugo, Bombax, and Cotum: in Italian, Bombagia: in Spanish, Algodon: in high-Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in English and French, Cotton, Bombaste and Bombace.
Theophrastus hath made mention hereof in his fourth booke, cap. 9. but without a name; and he saith it is a tree in Tylus which beares wool. Neither is it any maruell if he took an vnknown shrub or plant, and that groweth in Countries farre off, for a tree: seeing also in this age (in which very many things come to be better knownethan in times past) the cotton or wooll hereof is called of the Germanes (as wee haue said) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that is, Wooll of a tree, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it is rather an herbe or small shrub, and not to be numbred among trees.
Of this Theophrastus writeth thus; It is reported that the same Island (viz. Tylus) doth bring forth many trees that beare wooll, which haue leaues like those of the Vine, &c.
Pliny writing of the same, lib. 19. cap. 1. saith thus: The vpper part of Egypt toward Arabia brin∣geth forth a shrub which is called Gossipion, or Xylon, and therefore the linnen that is made of it is called Xylina. It is (saith he) the plant that beareth that wooll wherewith the garments are made which the Priests of Egypt do weare.