Bartholomew the Englishman

On Sulfur

Introduction by Juris Lidaka

Bartholomew says: "Sulfur is a vein of earth, having in its composition much airiness and fieriness, and is, according to Isidore, called sulfur for the reason that it burns earth. That it is said to be of fire since its power is fiery is seen from boiling water. For a channel of water, making its way through veins of sulfur, brings along with it heat and warmth from the fiery power of the sulfur itself, and also its taste, powers, and odor. Therefore hot springs often bubble up from the interior of the earth, and bring the qualities of the vein of sulfur with them, for nothing burns as quickly as sulfur. It originates in the Aeolian islands between Sicily and Italy, islands which they say burn, and is also found excavated in other places, as Isidore says."

Original Latin