Chapter Four

Appears in
Fool's Gold: A History of British Saffron
Fool's Gold

By Sam Bilton

Published 2022

  • About
  • 1 Pliny (1951), p. 261. There was a theory that uterus could ‘wander’ around the body and attach itself to different organs thereby causing a number of female complaints including hysteria. In 1603, English Physician and Chemist Edward Jorden published an entire pamphlet on the subject called The Suffocation of the Mother (the ‘mother’ was another name for the womb). Jorden argued that the fits suffered by women accused of witchcraft were a result of a medical condition rather than an affiliation with the devil.
  • 2 Dioscorides (2000), p. 30.
  • 3 Jouanna (2012), p. 338.
  • 4 Elmer (2004), pp. 2-7.
  • 5 Elmer (2004), pp. 8-9; Culpeper (2007), pp. 399, 374. Johannitius (809-873), a Nestorian Christian from southern Iraq, described the external factors (i.e. those things that are not natural to the human body) that affect the body as the six non naturals.
  • 6 Grant (2000), p. 15.
  • 7 Bradwell (1636), p. 17-28.
  • 8 Martin (1994), p. 37.
  • 9 Kleineke (2015), pp. 511-24. To put the Duchess’s debt into context, during the same period a craftsman or labourer could expect to earn between 3d and 8d a day.
  • 10 Francis & Ramandi (2021), p. 1-4, 67-68 Herdodt was of the opinion that too much saffron could also cause pallor, food aversions and dim vision.
  • 11 Nagy (1988), pp. 44-7.
  • 12 Tallamy (1735) f.17.
  • 13 Blencowe (1925), pp. 41-60.
  • 14 Leong (2008), p. 161.
  • 15 Anselment (2001), pp. 187-8. Lady Norton was Elizabeth Freke’s younger sister, Frances and hungary water is a distillate of rosemary flowers and wine.
  • 16 Leong (2008), pp. 157-8.
  • 17 Leong (2008), pp. 160-2.
  • 18 Wilson (2006), p. 180.
  • 19 Pollock (1993), pp. 132-3.
  • 20 Wilson (2006), pp. 189-191.
  • 21 Leong (2008), p. 154.
  • 22 Duffy (1675), title page.
  • 23 Wilson (2006), p. 208-210; Gosse (1886), pp. 167-8; p. 175.
  • 24 Le Fèvre (1664), p. 6; pp. 37-8. There are various spellings of the alchemist’s name including Nicasius le Febure, Nicolas le Febure or Nicasius le Fevre.
  • 25 Digby (1668), p. 115, pp. 57-9, p. 244. ‘An Excellent Remedy to procure Conception’ on pp. 239-40 involved combining a variety of seeds, syrups, preserved roots, dates, pistachios and spices (including saffron) to make an electuary. It concluded with the following advice: ‘Take of this Electuary the quantity of a good Nutmeg in a little Glass-full of White-wine, in the morning fasting, and at four of the clock in the afternoon, and as much at night going to bed; but be sure not to do any violent exercise.’
  • 26 Digby (1668), pp. 223-5.
  • 27 Kleineke (2015), pp. 519-520; Pepys (1986), p. 506.
  • 28 Grey (1653), pp. 132-4.
  • 29 Pliny (1963), p. 299; Wilson (2006), p. 181; Francatelli (1846), p. 50.
  • 30 Pollock (1993), p. 136.
  • 31 Anselment (2001), p. 330.
  • 32 Anselment (2001), p. 329-330.
  • 33 Anon, ‘London, April 15’, Newcastle Courant, Wednesday, 16 April 1712, p. 3. Elizabeth Freke mentions Gott’s death in her diary but appears to believe that he hung himself. According to Anselment the Norwich Gazette reported that Gott had taken laudanum and then ‘tyed the Tail of his Shirt about his Neck’ (see Anselment, 2001, footnote 224).
  • 34 Pollock (1993), p. 110.
  • 35 Wilson (2006), pp. 234-241; Raffald (1794), p. 318; p. 336.