Chap. 6 1 o. 'Englijh Herbs. 
Skin, which breaks out into long hairy ' Threads , 
othcrwife than in any other Root or Crocus. From 
which Root faring jorth Jirft fame narrow , long , 
green Leaves, and after a while, about the end of 
r\uguft, in September and October, the Flowers 
come forth from among their middle , which are 
mean, or large and fair, according to the goodnefs of 
the Soil , and Climate, in which they grow. Thefe 
Flowers arc etc large as any of the Flowers of the 
Wild Kinds in the following Chapter , compofed of 
Saffron Garden True. 
fix Leaves apiece, of a murry or reddifh purple color , 
having a Jhew of blew in them : m the middle of 
thefe Flowers there are fome f mall yellow Chives 
Handing upright, which are cu unprofitable, as the 
Chives tn any of the other Crocus’* or Wild Saffrons 
in the following Chapter. But befides thefe, each 
Flower has two, three, or four greater and longer 
Chives , hanging down upon, or between the 
Leaves, which are of a fiery red color, which are 
the true Blades of Saffron, which we daily ufed in 
Food and Medicine, and no others. All thefe Blades 
being picit from the fevcral Flowers, are laid toge- 
ther in Cakes, and fo preffed , and then dryed cau- 
tioujly in a Kiln, or Stove, to preferve them, juft as 
you fee the Saffron Sold in the Shops. We never 
Jaw or heard that the Flowers yielded Seed whether 
in England , or any other Country where ever it 
yet grew. 
V. Gerard deferibes this plant after this manner. 
Its Root is fmall, round and bulbous. The Flower 
does firft rife out of the Ground nakedly in Sep- 
tzmhefr , juk confifls of fix fmall blew Leaves, ten- 
ding JS purple , having in its middle many fmall 
yellow Strings or Threads among which are two 
three, or more thick fat Chives , of fomewhat a 
reddifh and fiery color , and of a Jirong Smell when 
they are dryed. Shortly after the Flowers , come forth 
fmall, long, graffy Leave t ; the Flam never bearing 
its Flowers and Leaves at once or together. We 
have here given you two Figures of the True Gar- 
den Saffron, whictodo yet let forth but one and the 
la , me rlanr 5 the firft (hewing it in its prime (fate 
Leave° Werl ” Si the fecond in 1IS long, graffy 
. VI. The Places. It is a Native of England, and 
2 ,°“' ^ and the heft Saffron in the World grows, 
1 he belt Saffron is faid to grow at Saffron Walden 
in Lambridg-fhire , and places adjacent thereto j 
alio molt excellent Saffron grows in feveral places 
in Wales : but befides it grows plentifully in Spain, 
Italy Barbary , Germany , Flanders , trance, and 
feveral other Counrries of Europe. 
ML The Times. The Times of its Flowering 
are at the end of Auguft , and through all the Month 
or September, and fometimes in October if the 
Weather is mild : prefently after the Leaves fpring 
up and remain green all the Winter. It loofes its 
ribres with its Leaves, and may then be taken up, 
and kept dry until Auguft ; but the Roots of this 
yraraen Kind, (which are bigger than of any other 
Lrocus, and are covered with a hairy Skin; and fo 
ealily to be diftinguilhed from all others) are gene- 
rally taken up but once every third Year, which is 
oiten enough ; and then the Ground is to be pre- 
pared again for their replanting. 
yill. The Qualities. It is hot in the fecond, 
and dry in the firft Degree ; a little Aftringent or 
finding, Digeltive , Cardiack, or Cordial, Ana- 
leptick, and Alexipharmick. 
W. The Specification. It is profitable againft 
. nvulhons, Fainting and Swooning F'ts, Palpita- 
tion of the Heart, Meafles, Small Pox, Spotted 
u er ’m ai ]? the Plague or Peftilence , as alfo all 
^Malign and Contagious Diftempers: It is 
laid alio to cure Confumptions , or Ulcers of the 
Lungs, and moft dangerous Afthma’s, the Yellow 
Jaundice, and all Difeafes of the Eyes: It pro- 
vokes Urine and the Terms , facilitates the Birth, 
and brings away the After-birth , and caufes a due 
cleanling. 
X. 2 he Trepanations. You may have there - 
l \.£ Touder of the Saffron. 2. An In- 
Juftonin Wine. 3. An Infufton in Fennel, or Da- 
Water, or Milk Water , in Womens 
Breaft Milk. 4. A Tinflure. 5. Tinftura Croci 
Compofita, A Compound Tintture of Saffron. 6. 
A Spint. 7. A Difti/led Oil. 8. An Ext raff, or • 
Effence, 9. A n Oil by lnfolation , or Infufton. 
The Virtues. 
XI. The Touder. Given from 10 Grains to a 
Scruple m a little Syrup of Citron Peels , or in a 
u 0t Generous Wine , it* is faid to cure the 
Altthma, even the moft dangerous fhortnefs of 
. r . ea ^h? a °d difficulty of Breathing, and that when 
it is faid that Death as it were ftands at the Door. 
It is alfo a fpecial Remedy for Confumptions, or 
Ulcers of the Lungs, taken Morning and Night 
more efpecially if exhibited in a half a Dram, or’ 
°* Bal/a™ of Peru. And given in a Glafs 
of Madera, or other Generous Wine, iris good 
agamft Surfeiting, ConcoUs crude and raw Humors 
of the Stomach, opens ObftruUions of the Lungs 
Liver, Spleeif 2nd Womb, revives the Spirits, and 
chears the Heart. 
XII. The Infufton in Wine. It has all the for- 
mer Virtues ; but is not altogether fo powerful as 
the ! inffure following. And is thus made, Take 
choife Canary a Quart • of the beft Englijh Saffron 
an Ounce ; mix, and Inf life in a cold Dig eft ion for 
40 Days or more , fhaking the Bottle once every 
Play', let it fettle , and decant the clears to the 
Pieces 
1 
