however, I cannot but own with those that understand anything of
antiquity, that the Christians very early assumed some rites of
the heathens; and probably it might be done with this
design,--that the nations, seeing a religion which in its
outward shape was something like their own, might be the sooner
pursuaded to embrace it. To be free, sir, with you, I am apt to
believe, for the honour of that society of which I was once an
unworthy member, that the annual custom of salting alludes to
that saying of our Saviour to His disciples, '_Ye are the salt
of the earth_;' for as salt draws up all that matter that tends
to putrefaction, so it is a symbol of our doing the like in a
spiritual state, by taking away all natural corruption.... If
this will not please, why may it not denote that wit and
knowledge by which boys dedicated to learning ought to
distinguish themselves. You know what _sal_ sometimes signifies
among the best Roman authors: _Publius Scipio omnes sale
facetiisque superabat_, Cic.; and Terent, _Qui habet salem qui
in te est_."

The Editor has a note on this letter:--

"There have been various conjectures relative to the origin of
this custom. Some have supposed that it arose from an ancient
practice among the friars of selling consecrated salt and
others, with more probability, from the ceremony of the _bairn_
or _boy_-bishop, as it is said to have been formerly a part of
the Montem-celebration for prayers to be read by a boy dressed
in the clerical habit."

A letter from Dr. Tanner to Mr. Hearne on _Barne_ or _Boy-bishops_, is