Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke Part 1

Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke.

by Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma.

TO THE GENTRY OF The ENGLISH Nation.

Sirs,

_The ensuing Tract, I, many yeares since Translated out of the Originall _Spanish_, and Dedicated to the Right Honorable _Edward_ Lord _Conway_, &c. by whose n.o.ble Patronage, the Confection whereof it Treats, together with it selfe, were first admitted into the _English_ Court, where they received the Approbation of the most n.o.ble and Iuditious those dayes afforded. Since which time, it hath beene universally sought for, and thirsted after by people of all Degrees (especially those of the Female s.e.x) either for the Pleasure therein Naturally Residing, to Cure, and divert Diseases; Or else to supply some Defects of Nature, wherein it chalenges a speciall Prerogative above all other Medicines whatsoever._

_The Author thereof was one _Antonio Colmenero_ of _Ledesma_, who sometimes lived in the _West Indies_, where it is very much used, and held in great esteeme, untill this day; as also in _Spaine_, _Italy_, and _Flanders_, and admired by the most learned Doctors of all those Nations._

_As for the Name [_Chocolate_] it is an _Indian_ word, compounded of _Ate_ (as some say,) or (as others) _Atle_, which in the _Mexican Language_, signifieth _Water_; And _Choco_, the noise that the Water (wherein the _Chocolate_ is put) maketh, when it is stirred in a Cup, untill it Bubble and rise unto a Froth: And may be called in _English_ A Compounded, or Confectioned drinke._

_The Confection it selfe, consists of severall Ingredients according to the different Const.i.tutions of those that use it: the Princ.i.p.all of which is called _Cacao_, [a kind of Nut, or kernell, bigger then a great Almond, which growes upon a tree called the Tree of _Cacao_]

containing in it the Quality of the Foure Elements, as will appeare in the following Discourse._

_The vertues thereof are no lesse various, then Admirable. For, besides that it preserves Health, and makes such as drink it often, Fat, and Corpulent, faire and Amiable, it vehemently Incites to _Venus_, and causeth Conception in women, hastens and facilitates their Delivery: It is an excellent help to Digestion, it cures Consumptions, and the Cough of the Lungs, the New Disease, or Plague of the Guts, and other Fluxes, the Green Sicknesse, Jaundise, and all manner of Inflamations, Opilations, and Obstructions. It quite takes away the Morphew, Cleanseth the Teeth, and sweetneth the Breath, Provokes Urine, Cures the Stone, and strangury, Expells Poison, and preserves from all infectious Diseases._

_But I shall not a.s.sume to enumerate all the vertues of this Confection: for that were Impossible, every day producing New and Admirable effects in such as drinke it: I shall rather referre to the Testimony of those n.o.ble Personages who are known constantly to use and receive constant and manifold benefits by it, having hereby no other Aime then the Generall good of this Common-wealth (whereof I am a Faithfull Member) and to be esteemed (as really I am)_

_Gentlemen_,

Westminster Your Affectionate Friend _Decemb._ 20. to love and serve you, 1651.

_Don Diego de Vadesforte._

_THE TRANSLATOR_, To every Individuall Man, and Woman, Learn'd, or unlearn'd, Honest, or Dishonest: In the due Praise of Divine _CHOCOLATE_.

_Doctors_ lay by your _Irksome Books_ And all ye Petty-Fogging _Rookes_ Leave _Quacking_; and _Enucleate_ The _vertues_ of our _Chocolate_.

Let th' _Universall Medicine_ (Made up of Dead-mens _Bones_ and _Skin_,) Be henceforth _Illegitimate_, And yeild to _Soveraigne-Chocolate_.

Let _Bawdy-Baths_ be us'd no more; Nor _Smoaky-Stoves_ but by the wh.o.r.e Of _Babilon_: since _Happy-Fate_ Hath _Blessed_ us with _Chocolate_.

Let old _Punctaeus_ Greaze his _shooes_ With his _Mock-Balsome_: and Abuse No more the World: But _Meditate_ The _Excellence_ of _Chocolate_.

Let _Doctor Trigg_ (who so Excells) No longer Trudge to _Westwood-Wells_: For though that water _Expurgate_, 'Tis but the _Dreggs_ of _Chocolate_.

Let all the _Paracelsian_ Crew Who can Extract _Christian_ from _Jew_; Or out of _Monarchy_, A _State_, Breake `all their _Stills_ for _Chocolate_.

Tell us no more of _Weapon-Salve_, But rather Doome us to a _Grave_: For sure our wounds will _Ulcerate_, Unlesse they're _wash'd_ with _Chocolate_.

The _Thriving Saint_, who will not come Within a _Sack-Shop_'s Bowzing-Roome (His _Spirit_ to _Exhilerate_) Drinkes _Bowles_ (at home) of _Chocolate_.

His _Spouse_ when she (_Brimfull_ of _Sense_) Doth want _her due Benevolence_, And _Babes_ of _Grace_ would _Propagate_, Is alwayes Sipping _Chocolate_.

The _Roaring-Crew_ of _Gallant-Ones_ Whose _Marrow_ Rotts within their _Bones_: Their _Bodyes_ quickly _Regulate_, If once but _Sous'd_ in _Chocolate_.

Young _Heires_ that have more _Land_ then Wit, When once they doe but _Tast_ of it, Will rather spend their whole _Estate_, Then _weaned_ be from _Chocolate_.

The _Nut-Browne-La.s.ses_ of the Land Whom _Nature_ vayl'd in _Face_ and _Hand_, Are quickly _Beauties_ of _High-Rate_, By one small _Draught_ of _Chocolate_.

Besides, it saves the _Moneys_ lost Each day in _Patches_, which did cost Them deare, untill of Late They found this _Heavenly Chocolate_.

Nor need the _Women_ longer _grieve_ Who _spend_ their _Oyle_, yet not _conceive_, For 'tis a _Helpe-Immediate_, If such but _Lick_ of _Chocolate_.

_Consumptions_ too (be well a.s.sur'd) Are no lesse _soone_ then _soundly_ cur'd: (Excepting such as doe Relate Unto the _Purse_) by _Chocolate_.

Nay more: It's _vertue_ is so much, That if a _Lady_ get a _Touch_, Her griefe it will _Extenuate_, If she but _smell_ of _Chocolate_.

The _Feeble-Man_, whom _Nature_ Tyes To doe his Mistresse's _Drudgeries_; O how it will _his minde Elate_, If _shee_ allow him _Chocolate_!

'Twill make Old women _Young_ and _Fresh_; Create _New-Motions_ of the _Flesh_, And cause them _long for you know what_, If they but _Tast_ of _Chocolate_.

There's ne're a _Common Counsell-Man_, Whose _Life_ would Reach unto a _Span_, Should he not _Well-Affect_ the _State_, And _First_ and _Last_ Drinke _Chocolate_.

Nor e're a _Citizen_'s Chast wife, That ever shall prolong her _Life_, (Whilst _open_ stands _Her Posterne-Gate_) Unlesse she _drinke_ of _Chocolate_.

Nor dost the _Levite_ any Harme, It keepeth his _Devotion_ warme, And eke the _Hayre_ upon his _Pate_, So long as he drinkes _Chocolate_.

Both _High_ and _Low_, both _Rich_ and _Poore_ My _Lord_, my _Lady_, and his _--_ With all the _Folkes_ at _Billingsgate_, _Bow_, _Bow_ your _Hamms_ to _Chocolate_.

Don Diego de Vadesforte.

To the Author,

Great Don, Grandee of _Spaine_, Illostrissimo of _Venice_, High and mighty King of _Candie_, Great Bashaw of _Babilon_, Prince of the Moone, Lord of the Seven Starres, Governour of the Castle of _Comfort_, Sole Admirall of the Floating _Caravan_, Author of Th'

_Europian_ Mercury, Chiefe Generall and Admirall of the Invisible Fleet and Army of _Terra Incognita_,

Cap. James Wadsworth.

_The Allowance of _Melchor De Lara_, Physitian Generall for the Kingdome of _Spaine_._

I Doctor _Melchor de Lara_ Physitian Generall for the Kingdom of _Spaine_, at the command of _Don John de Velasco_, and _Asebedo_, Vicar Generall of _Madrid_, have seene this Treatise of _Chocolate_, composed by _Antonio Colmenero_ of _Ledesma_; which is very learned, and curious, and therefore it ought to be Licensed for the Presse; it containing nothing contrary to good manners; and cannot but be very pleasing to those, who are affected to _Chocolate_. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my Name, in _Madrid_ the 23. day of _August_. 1631.

_Melchor de Lara._