WHEN SAFFRON CAME TO ENGLAND 93 



blown coasts of Cornwall, grows quite contentedly 

 either in the Herb or any other garden. It is the 

 bulb that furnishes the medicine with which most 

 of us are familiar. People generally enjoy the 

 pretty colour of the blossoms, and forget to be 

 grateful to the plant for its physic. 



The Saffron Crocus, Crocus sativus, in the Herb- 

 borders of modern days may be allowed a place 

 merely on sufferance, but the old Herbalists held 

 it in the highest esteem. We find it mentioned in 

 Tusser's list of ' Seeds and Herbs for the Kitchen.' 

 He wrote in the year 1557. 



This True Saffron is a native of the East, but 

 has been cultivated in Great Britain ever since 

 King Edward III. s time. Saffron Hill, Holborn, 

 was once a garden full of these useful flowers. 

 It is said that a pilgrim brought the plant to 

 England, concealed in a hollow staff and at the 

 peril of his life. He planted it at Saffron Walden, 

 in Essex, whence the place derived its name. The 

 city arms of Walden bears three Saffron plants, as 

 given by a charter of Edward VI. Saffron used to 

 be presented in silver cups by the Corporation to 

 some of our sovereigns w ho visited Walden for the 

 ceremony. Five guineas were paid for the pound of 

 Saffron which was purchased for Queen Elizabeth, 



