CENTURY VII. 389 



in oak-apples: for the constitution of the air appear- 

 eth more subtilly in any of these things, than to the 

 sense of man. 



Experiment solitary touching the prognostics of hard 



winters. 



737. It is an observation amongst country people, 

 that years of store of haws and hips do commonly 

 portend cold winters; and they ascribe it to God s 

 providence, that, as the Scripture saith, reacheth even 

 to the falling of a sparrow ; and much more is like to 

 reach to the preservation of birds in such seasons. The 

 natural cause also may be the want of heat, and 

 abundance of moisture, in the summer precedent ; 

 which putteth forth those fruits, and must needs 

 leave great quantity of cold vapours not dissipated ; 

 which causeth the cold of the winter following. 



Experiment solitary, touching medicines that condense 

 and relieve the spirits. 



738. They have in Turkey a drink called coffee, 

 made of a berry of the same name, as black as soot, 

 and of a strong scent, but not aromatical ; which they 

 take, beaten into powder, in water, as hot as they can 

 drink it : and they take it, and sit at it in their coffee 

 houses, which are like our taverns. This drink com- 

 forteth the brain and heart, and helpeth digestion. 

 Certainly this berry coffee, the root and leaf beetle, 

 the leaf tobacco, and the tear of poppy, opium, of 

 which the Turks are great takers, supposing it expel- 

 leth all fear, do all condense the spirits, and make 



