It hath been much promoted by Stories of incombustible napkins and textures which endure the fire, whose materials are called by the name of Salamanders wool. Which many too literally apprehending, conceive some investing part, or tegument of the Salamander: wherein beside that they mistake the condition of this Animal (which is a kind of Lizard, a quadruped corticated and depilous, that is, without wool, fur, or hair) they observe not the method and general rule of nature; whereby all Quadrupeds oviparous, as Lizards, Frogs, Tortois, Chamelions, Crocodiles, are without hair, and have no covering part or hairy investment at all. And if they conceive that from the skin of the Salamander, these incremable pieces are composed; beside the experiments made upon the living, that of _Brassavolus_ will step in, who in the search of this truth, did burn the skin of one dead.
Nor is this Salamanders wooll desumed from any Animal, but a Mineral substance Metaphorically so called from this received opinion. For beside _Germanicus_ his heart, [SN: Suetonius.] and _Pyrrhus_ his great Toe, [SN: Plutarch.] which would not burn with the rest of their bodies, there are in the number of Minerals some bodies incombustible; more remarkably that which the ancients named _Asbeston_, and _Pancirollus_ treats of in the Chapter of _Linum vivum_. Whereof by art were weaved Napkins, Shirts, and Coats, inconsumable by fire; and wherein in ancient times to preserve their ashes pure, and without commixture, they burnt the bodies of Kings. A Napkin hereof _Pliny_ reports that _Nero_ had, and the like saith _Paulus Venetus_ the Emperour of _Tartary_ sent unto Pope _Alexander_; and also affirms that in some part of _Tartary_ there were Mines of Iron whose filaments were weaved into incombustible cloth. Which rare Manufacture, although delivered for lost by _Pancirollus_, yet _Salmuth_ his Commentator affirmeth, that one _Podocaterus_ a Cyprian, had shewed the same at _Venice_; and his materials were from _Cyprus_, where indeed _Dioscorides_ placeth them; the same is also ocularly confirmed by _Vives_ upon _Austin_, and _Maiolus_ in his Colloquies. And thus in our days do men practise to make long-lasting Snasts for Lamps out of Alumen plumosum; and by the same we read in _Pausanius_, that there always burnt a Lamp before the Image of _Minerva_.