Of Saltu. chap. 142.
SAltus is a wilde place, and wilde trées there growe and spring on high, as Isidore sayth; libro. 14.* 1.1 And he sayth, li∣bro 17. that Saltus is high thicknesse of Tráes, and hath that name, for Trées spring and rise there in height. And Sal∣tus and Silua bée diuerse, for in a woode that is called Silua groweth many trees, and more short and more thicke, and neerer togethers, then in the wood that is called Saltus: And in the wood that is cal∣led Saltus, trées be more high and great. And so Silua is a thicke wood with short trées, and hath that name Silua, of Silen, that is a frée, for many Trees be there∣in hewen and felde and wasted.
And Silua, Nemus, and Lucas bee all one: and be names of woods, but Sylua commeth of Silen, that is widenesse or wasting, or of Silence, for a woode that is called Silua, is where be wilde pla∣ces, wastes, and desartes, full of silence. And the Woode that is called Nemus, hath that name of Numen, that is God, for therein Ido made a mawmet, and foreshaped it in steede of God, and in woodes that be called Nemora Trees be great, and make shadowe with boughes and braunches. And the woode that is called Lucus is thicknesse of Trees, and letteth light to come to the grounde, and commeth per Antiphrasim, by con∣trary of Lucco, luces, to shine, and so Lu∣cus is to bee vnderstoode, as it were not shining, as Piscina is a poole or a water without Fish, as Isidore sayeth, libro 16. Then Saltus, Silua, and Nemus be wide places,* 1.2 wast, and desolate, that ma∣ny Trees growe in without fruite, and also few hauing fruite. And those trees which be barren, and beare no manner fruit, be alway generally more and high∣er then that with fruit, few excepted, as Oke and Beech. In their woodes be ofte wilde beastes and foules, therein grow∣eth hearbes, grasse, lees, and pasture, and namely medicinable hearbes in woodes be founde. In Summer woods be beau∣tified with boughs and braunches, with hearbes and grasse. In woods is place of deceit and of hunting. For therein wilde beasts be hunted, and watches and de∣ceites be ordeined and set of hounds and of hunters. There is a place of hiding & of lurking: for oft in woods théeues be hid, and oft in their awayts and deceits, pas∣sing men commeth and be spoiled and robbed, and oft slains. And so for many and diuerse wayes & vncerteine, strange men oft erre and go out of the way, and take vncerteine way, and the waye that shal is vnknowen, before the way that is knowen: & come oft to the place there théeues lye in awaite, & not without pe∣rill.
Therfore be oft knots made on trées and in bushes, in boughes and in braun∣ches of Trées, in token and marke of the high way, to shew the certeine and sure way, to waifaring men, but oft ye théeues in turning and méeting of waies, change such knottes and signes, and beguyle