A Poetic view of Chocolate in 1652

An extract from:

CHOCOLATE:

OR,

An Indian Drinke.
By the wise and Moderate use whereof, Health is preserved, Sicknesse Diverted, and Cured, especially the Plague of the Guts; vulgarly called The New Disease; Fluxes, Consumptions, & Coughs of the Lungs, with sundry other desperate Diseases. By italso, Conception is Caused, the Birth Hastened and facilitated, Beauty Gain’d and continued.
Written Originally in Spanish, by Antonio Colmenero of Ledesma, Doctor in Physicke, and faithfully rendred in the English,
By Capt. James Wadsworth.
LONDON,

Printed by J. G. for Iohn Dakins, dwelling neare the Vine Taverne in Holborne, where this Tract, together with the Chocolate it selfe, may be had at reasonable rates. 1652

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 Noble 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 Noble 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 sex) 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 Constitutions of those that use it: the Principall 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 assume 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 Noble 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,
Your Affectionate Friendto love and serve you,
Don Diego de Vadesforte.
Westminster Decemb. 20.1651.

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 whore

Of Babilon: since Happy-Fate

Hath Blessed us with Chocolate.

Let old Punctæus 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 àll 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-Lasses 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 assur’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.