The Places and Times.
Fuchsius saith, that heretofore the best Saffron, grew upon the Mountaine Co∣rycus in Cicilia, and the next to that upon Olympus a Mountaine in Lycia; but since the profit that ariseth from this commodity hath been discovered, it hath beene planted in Germany, and likewise in England, in divers places, but especi∣ally in Cambrigeshire, about Walden, which is therefore called Saffron-VValden, where there be divers feilds full of it. It beginneth to Flower in September, and presently after the Leaves Spring up and remaine green all the Winter-long, dy∣ing againe in April, when it commonly putteth forth another Crop of Flowers, which must be gathered assoon as it is blown, or else the Chives in the middle, which are the Commodity, will perish; so that it is allowed to be gathered on the Sabbath day, by that strict Sabbatarian Mr. Greenham in his Treatise on that subject, because it is conceived that God who hath made the Saffron so to Flo∣wer, would not that a thing so usefull for mans health, should be lost for want of gathering. This information I had from my learned friend Mr. Hudson, Mi∣nister of Putney, the place of my abode at the writing hereof. The Wild Sorts were brought some out of Italy, and some out of Spaine, and are growing in di∣vers of our London Gardens: they Flower for the most part in Jannuary and Fe∣bruary; but that with Flowers, groweth upon certaine craggy Rocks, in Portugall, not far from the Sea side, which hath been brought over into England also, and flowreth in September.