Of Sale. chap. 95.
SAlt is called Sal, and hath that name of Saliendo, leaping: for it leapeth out of the fire, and flieth the fire, though it be firie kinde, as Isidore sayeth. Other men meane, that it hath that name Sal, of Sale, or of Sole, of the sea, or of ye Sun. For it is gendered of sea water by wor∣king of the Sunne: for some of the Sea abideth at cliffes, and is dried with the Sunne, and is sometime drawne out of salt pits, and sodde till water turne into hardnesse of salt, that was fléeting before, and so made hard and thicke with heat. And is somtime gathered among grauell and Sande in waring of the Moone by night. For oft in Cerenia salt is founde vnder Grauell and Sand. Also in some places be rockes of Salt, and out therof stones be hewen with yron, that turneth afterwarde into kinde of Salt. As it fa∣reth in Arabia, & in Pannonia. Also those stones be so harde, that they make hou∣ses of them, and the common salt craketh & sparketh in fire, leapeth out there∣of, but Sal agrigentinum of Cicilia suffe∣reth fire, and melteth in fire against kind, & starteth and leapeth out of water. And salt is diuers in colour: for Sal memphi∣ticum is red. In a coūtry of Cicllia, wher mout Etna is, is pure salt. In ye same Ci∣cilia in Pathmos is so bright & cléere salt, ye Images be séene therein. In Capado, is yeolow salt digged and mined, as I∣sidore saith. Also salt varieth, and is di∣uers in sauour as he sayth. For in some place it is swéete in sauour, and in some place most salte, and in some most bit∣ter. And the more bitter salt is, the more hot it is, or is the more hotter déemed, as Auicen saith. Salt is most néedfull, for without Salt nigh all meate is wearish and vnsauory. Salt maketh Potage and other meate sauorie, and exciteth good ap∣petite in all meate. With salt al meat is made sauory and liking. Men wéene it hath this name Salt of the Sun: for no∣thing is more profitable then the Sunne & salt. And so we sée diuerse beasts come to pasture most for liking of Salt. Also milke and théese be the more abundant, for goodnesse of salte. Also salte hardneth and drieth things, and kéepeth and saueth dead bodies from rotting: Huc vsque Isidorus. libr. 16. cap. 3. Also Plat. and A∣uicen tell, that Salt hath generally ver∣tue to vndoe, cleanse, and wast rotted hu∣mours. Also to depart and destroy vento∣sitie, and namely if powder of salt be sod and layd all hot in a bagge to the mouth of the stomacke. Also this vertue ioyneth and saueth kinde moisture in the body, & wasteth & destroyeth vnkinde moysture therein. And so water of Salt wells dis∣solueth and wasteth swelling and boy∣ling, and also the Dropsie, as he sayth. Also salt fretteth awaye dead flesh, and namely if the Salt be burnt. For then it withstandeth best rotting: and dryeth, cleanseth, & thirieth into the inner parts, as he saith. Also salt softneth the wombe, and bringeth out supersluitie, & namely salt that is called Gemma, and hath that name, for it is cléere as a precious stone, & worketh wonderfully in ordeining of the guts. And softneth what is harde, and putieth out superfluitie, and so doth Ar∣moniacum & common salt also. Also salt