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Of True Saffron, and the Wilde or Spring Saffron

The Description.

HIs floure doth first rise out of the ground nakedly in September, and his long smal grassie leaves shortly after the floure, never bearing floure and leafe at once. The floure consisteth of six small blew leaves tending to purple, having in the middle many small yellow strings or threds; among which are two, three, or more thicke fat chives of a fierie colour somewhat reddish, of a strong smell when they be dried, which doth stuffe and trouble the head. The Place.

Common or best knowne Saffron groweth plentifully in Cambridge-shire, Saffron-Waldon, and other places thereabout, as corne in the fields. The Time.

Saffron beginneth to floure in September, and presently after spring up the leaves, and remaine greene all the Winter long.

The Names.

Saffron is called in Latine, Crocus: in Mauritania, Saffaran: in Spanish, Acafron: in English, Saffron: in the Arabicke tongue, Zahafaran. The Vertues.

Avicen affirmeth, That it causeth head-ache, and is hurtfull to the braine, which it cannot do by taking it now and then, but by too much using of it; for the too much using of it cutteth off sleep, through want whereof the head and sences are out of frame. But the moderat use thereof is good for the head, and maketh the sences more quicke and lively, shaketh off heavy and drowsie sleepe, and maketh a man merry.

Also Saffron strengthneth the heart, concocteth crude and raw humors of the chest, opens the lungs, and removeth obstructions.

It is also such a speciall remedie for those that have consumption of the lungs, and are, as wee terme it, at deaths doore, and almost past breathing, that it bringeth breath again, and prolongeth life for certaine dayes, if ten or twenty graines at the most be given with new or sweet Wine. For we have found by often experience, that being taken in that sort, it presently and in a moment removeth away difficulty of breathing, which most dangerously and suddenly hapneth.

Dioscorides teacheth, That being given in the same sort it is also good against a surfet.

It is with good successe put into compositions for infirmities of the eares. The eyes being anointed with the same dissolved in milke or fennel or rose water, are preserved from being hurt by the small pox or measels, and are defended thereby from humors that would fal into them. The chives steeped in water serve to illumine or (as we say) limne pictures and imagerie, as also to colour sundry meats and confections. The weight of ten grains of Saffron, the kernels of Walnuts two ounces, Figs two ounces, Mithridate one dram, and a few Sage leaves stamped together with a sufficient quantitie of Pimpernel water, and made into a masse or lumpe, and kept in a glasse for your use, and thereof 12 graines given in the morning fasting, preserveth from the pestilence, and expelleth it from those that are infected.

The Place.

All the wilde Saffrons we have growing in our London gardens. Those which doe floure in Autumne do grow upon certaine craggy rocks in Portugall, not farre from the sea side. The other have been sent over unto us, some out of Italy, and some out of Spaine, by the labour and diligence of that notable learned Herbarist Carolus Clusius; out of whose Observations, and partly by seeing them in our owne gardens, we have set downe their description. That pleasant plant that bringeth forth yellow floures was sent unto me from Robinus of Paris, that painfull and most curious searcher of Simples. The Time.

They floure for the most part in Januarie and Februarie; that of the mountain excepted, which floureth in September.

The Names.

All these Saffrons are unprofitable, and therefore they be truly said to be Croci sylvestres, or wild Saffrons: in English, Spring Saffrons, and vernall Saffrons.

The Nature and Vertues.

Of the faculties of these we have nothing to set downe, for that as yet there is no knowne use of them in Physicke.