and allegoricall: because it doth not wash spots or uncleannesse. So that _Homer_ made, and not without reason, that _Nausicaa Alcinous_ daughter, washed her linnen and clothes in a fountaine of fresh water on the Sea shore, for the truth is that Sea-water doth not wash. That which _Aristotle_, (as _Plutarch_ puts it) in the first of the _Symposiaques_ 9. question, referre to the pickle wherewith the Sea-water is alwayes filled, so that there being nothing empty therein it could receive no filthiness. And lee, is it not the same; yea more full of salt; yea more unctuous and fat then that of the sea? so that according to _Aristotles_ testimony, men put sea-water in their lamps, to make them shine clearer, and cast upon the flame, it becomes lighted; in which there may be also mystery contained, concerning fire and salt, and their affinity together. Join hereunto that wee may see that salt is an enemy to all filthinesse and uncleannesse; and will not thereto adjoin or associate; no more then fire, which will nothing but pure things, said good _Raimund Lullius_. Yet to the aforesaid purpose, _Plutarch_ in his naturall causes, sets down that the sea-water, doth neither nourish nor feed, trees, or plants; because being grosse and heavy it cannot mount into their stalks, which thicknesse and grosness is seen, for that carryeth greater burthens then the fresh water: and this comes from the salt therein dissolved, and it is earthly and consequently more uneasy to sinke. Moreover trees being (according to the opinion of _Plato_, _Democritus_, _Anaxagoras_, and others,) a terrestriall Animall, it cannot give it nourishment; for bitter doth not nourish, but sweet only. But what shall wee say of so many fishes that are procreated and nourished in the sea, of herbs also, and of trees? _Francisco de Oviedo_ _lib._ 2. _ch._ 5. sets down that in the first discoverie of _Christopher Columbus_, they found as of great green and yellow medowes in the main sea, more then two hundred leagues from land, of certain herbes called _Salgazzi_, which go floting on the top of the waters, as the winds carry them from one side to another. In the relation of _Francis Vlloa_, he sets down that the root of the herbs, whereof he gives the description and figure, do not sink more then 12 or 15 fadome in the water, yellow yet, as wax. But wee sufficiently see trees and bushes growing along the sea-shore, and even in the very sea: yet _Plutarch_ insisteth that those that grow along the shore of the Red-sea, are there procreated & nourished with the slime which the flouds carry thither, and fall therein; which he might have spoken more properly of the greater sea, otherwise called _Pontus Euxinus_. And _Plinie_ _lib._ 18. _cha._ 22. that the herbs which grow within the water are nourished with rains: but it would follow, that if so, they should procreate in all other places where it rains indifferently.