"As for your way of taking both Cophie and Tobacco, 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 coffee, I will add his prescription for making
"electuary of cophy," which is, I believe, 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
Instrument as oft as you please, but never doe this upon an empty
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 more of the said Electuary of Cophie, &c., into your mouth;
{70} then take drink to drive it down; then eat and drink, and walk,
and use the Instrument as before." p. 19.
Should any reader wish to test the efficacy of the learned Judge's
prescription, I am afraid he must make an "instrument" for himself, or get
one made for him; though when the _Organon Salutis_ was published, they
were "commonly sold in London, and especially at the long shops in
Westminster Hall."
As to the book, and the name of the author, I may add (with reference to
Wood's _Athen._), that in the copy before me, which is, like that referred
to by Dr. Bliss, of the first edition (not the second mentioned by Aubrey
as published in 1659), the author's name does not appear on the
_title-page_ at all. There we find only "By W. R. of Gray's Inne, Esq.
Experto credo" [sic]; and really one seems as if one could believe any
thing from a man who had habitually used such medicines, for I have said
nothing of his infusion of tobacco, for which you must--
"Take a quarter of a pound of Tobacco, and a quart of Ale, White-wine,
or Sider, and three or four spoonfulls of Hony, and two pennyworth of
Mace; And infuse these by a soft fire, in a close earthen pot, to the
consumption of almost the one-half, and then you may take from two
spoonfulls to twelve [no tea-spoons in those days], and drink it in a
cup with Ale or Beer."
One could, I say, believe almost any thing from a gentleman who under such
a course of discipline was approaching the age of fourscore; but though the
title-page has only his initials, the Dedication to the Marquess of
Dorchester, and the letter to Sir Henry Blount, are both signed "Will.
Rumsey."