June 29. 1850.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



69 



in general as an original sketch. I find, however, 

 in a volume entitled Gratice Ludentes : Jests from 

 the Utiiversitie, by H. L., Oxen, [sic], London, 

 1638, the following, which may have been in But- 

 ler's mind : — 



" One that wore but one Spvrre, 

 " A scholler being jeer'd on the way for wearing but 

 one Spiirre, said, tliat if one side of his horse went on, 

 it was not likely that the other would stay behinde." 



As compilers of jest-books do nothing but copy 

 from their predecessors, it is likely that this joke 

 may be found elsewhere, though I have not met 

 with it in any other collection. At all events, the 

 date of the vol. from which 1 quote is in favour of 

 Butler's intimacy with its contents ; and as it is 

 interesting, even in so trivial a matter, to trace 

 the resources of our popular authors, you may 

 perhaps think it worlh while to include the above 

 in a number of the " Notes." Desconocido. 



COFFEE, BLACK BROTH. 



The idea has been su^crested in the " Notes 

 AND Queries," but I do not know how to refer 

 to the places*, or recollect what authorities were 

 given. Probably tliat of Howell was not, as it 

 occurs in a very scarce volume ; and, on the 

 chance of its not having been met with by your 

 readers, I send it. it is contained in a letter 

 addressed "To his highly esteemed Friend and 

 Compatriot, Judge Rumsey, upon his Provang, or 

 rare pectorall Instrument, and his rare experi- 

 ments of Cophie and Tobacco." This letter is 

 prefixed to the learned Judire's Organon Salutis : 

 an Instrument to cleanse the Stomach, as also divers 

 New Experiments of the Vii-tue of Tobacco and 

 Coffee, ^c. London, 16o7, 8vo. 



Howell says : — 



" Touching coffee, I concurre with them in opinion, 

 who hold it to be that black-brotli which was us'd of 

 old in Lacedemon, whereof the Poets sing ; Surely it 

 tnust needs be salutiferous, because so many sagacious, 

 and the wittiest sort of Nations use it so much ; as they 

 who have conversed with Shashes and Turbants doe 

 well know. But, besides the exsiccant quality it hath 

 to dry up the crudities of the Stomach, as also to com- 

 fort the Brain, to fortifie the sight with its steem, 

 and prevent Dropsies, Gouts, the .Scurvie, together 

 with the Spleen and Hypocondriacall windes (all 

 which it doth without any violence or distemper at 

 all), I say. besides all these qualities, 'tis found already, 

 that this CoH'ee-drink hath causid a greater sobriety 

 among the nations : For whereas formerly Appren- 

 tices and Clerks with otliers, used to take their morn- 

 ings' draught in Ale, Beer, or Wine, which by the 

 dizziness they cause in the Hrain, make many unfit for 

 busincsse, they use now to play the Good-fellows in this 

 wakefull and civill drink : Therefore that worthy 



• See Vol. i. pp. 124. 139. 156. 242. 300. and a99. 



Gentleman, Mr. Mudiford, who introduced the prac- 

 tice hereof first to London, deserves much respect of 

 the whole Nation." 



Of Judge Rumsey and his Provang (which was 

 a flexible whalebone from two to three feet long, 

 with a small linen or silk button at the end, which 

 was to be introduced into the stomach to produce 

 the eifect of an emetic), the reader may find some 

 account in Wood's Aihen. (Bliss's edit., vol. iii. 

 p. 509.), and this is not the place to speak of them 

 except as they had to do with cotfee ; on that 

 point a few more words may be allowed. 



Besides the letter of Howell already quoted, two 

 others are prefixed to the book ; one from the 

 author to Sir Henry Blount, the other Sir Henry's 

 reply. In the former the Judge says, — 



" I lately understood that your discovery, in your 

 excellent book of travels, hath brought the use of the 

 Turkes Physick, of Cophie, in great request in England, 

 whereof I have made use, in another form than is used 

 by boyling of it in Turkic, and being less loathsome 

 and troublesome," &c. 



And Sir Henry, after a fervent panegyric on 

 coffee, replies : — 



" As for your way of taking both Cophie and To- 

 bacco, the rarity of the invention consists in leaving the 

 old way : For the water of the one and the smoke of 

 the other may be of inconvenience to many ; but your 

 way in both takes in the virtue of the Simples without 

 any additionall mischief." 



As this may excite the reader's curiosity to 

 know what was the Judge's new and superior 

 " way " of using cofftje, I will add his prescription 

 for making " electuary of cophy," which is, I be- 

 lieve, the only preparation of it which he used or 

 recommended : — 



" Take equall quantity of Butter and Sallet-oyle, 

 melt them well together, but not boyle them : Then 

 stirre them well that they may incorporate together : 

 Then melt therewith three times as much Honey, and 

 stirre it well together: Then add thereunto Powder 

 of Turkish Cophie, to make it a thick Electuary." 

 p. 5. 



A very little consideration may convince one 

 that this electuary was likely to effect the purpose 

 for which it was recommended. 



" Whether," says the Judge, " it be in time of health 

 or sickness, whensoever you find any evill disposition 

 in the stomach, eat a convenient meal of what meat 

 and drink you please, then walk a little while after it: 

 Then set down your body bending, and thrust the said 

 Whalebone Instrument into your stomach, stirring it 

 very gently, which will make you vomit ; then drink 

 a good draught of drink, and so use the Instrimicnt as 

 oft as you please, but never doe this upon an entjity 

 stomach. To make the stomach more apt to vomit, 

 and to prepare the humours thereunto before you eat 

 and drink, Take the bigness of a Nutmeg or inore of 

 the said Electuary of Cophie, &c., iiUo your mouth ; 



