"Touching coffee, I concurre with them in opinion, who hold it to be
that black-broth which was us'd of old in Lacedemon, whereof the Poets
sing; Surely it must 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 comfort 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 Coffee-drink hath caused a greater sobriety among
the nations: For whereas formerly Apprentices and Clerks with others,
used to take their mornings' draught in Ale, Beer, or Wine, which by
the dizziness they cause in the Brain, make many unfit for businesse,
they use now to play the Good-fellows in this wakefull and civill
drink: Therefore that worthy Gentleman, Mr. Mudiford, who introduced
the practice 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 effect of an emetic), the
reader may find some account in Wood's _Athen_. (Bliss's edit., vol. iii.
p. 509.), and this is not the place to speak of them except as they had to
do with coffee; 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 Turkie, and being less loathsome and
troublesome," &c.