THE Nature, Quality, and Most Excellent virtues OF COFFEE.  
IT is a Berry that groweth upon little Trees or Shrubs onely in the deserts of Arabia, and is carried from thence throughout all the Grand signors Dominions, which they make into a drink with water( after it is dried and powdered) of which they drink at all times, as well at meals as at other times, as hot as possible it can be endured, &c.  
The Nature and Quality of the Drink called Coffee, though it be commonly reported to be of a could and dry quality, and by those who pretend to have much knowledge thereof: yet I question not, when you have well considered what I have here presented you withall, but that you will see their knowledge to be ignorance; for I shall prove it to be moderately hot and dry; yet suppose I should grant, that the Berries when they are raw, or before they are dried or parched, to be could; yet when it is dried or parched, that could moisture is vanished away. As for example: our Barley, which is the coldest of all our Grains, yet when it is maulted it becometh hot; and Chalk, when it is burned and made into Lime, be●●●●● exceeding hot;( and many more of the like examples I could acquaint you with, but this is sufficient.) The same may be said of Coffee: the reason is, because the mercurial substance, which is the moist and airy parts( as the chemists so term it) to be evaporated away. Again, they say Coffee doth help Digestion, and the Gout, Scurvy, and hypochondriac Winds; which are very true: but if it were could, it would be so far from curing those Diseases, that it were even enough to breed them: for the Diseases are could, and experience teacheth us that could things hinder digestion: likewise could things causeth sleep( as you may witness in fevers) but this hinders sleep; liewise I affirm it to be hot and dry, because Opium, which is could and moist, is taken when they have drank plentifully of Coffee, for they are contrary or opposite one to the other, for could things dulls the brain, hot things quickeneth it; could things hurt the stomach and Liver, moderate hot and dry things strenghthens them &c.  

Its virtues.  
IT being drank at any time, drieth up moist and waterish humours, and expelleth wind; that's the reason why those people that are troubled with those humours in their bowels, are by it provoked to stool; it very much strengtheneth the Liver, and is as true an Hepatical Medicine as any is, it being moderately binding and cleansing; it helpeth those that have the dropsy by its drying quality; it helpeth the Jaundice, Scirrh of the Liver, and obstructions of the same, by its cleansing quality; its also good against the Itch, Scabs, and corruption of blood; it mightily refresheth the Heart and Vitals; it is a true Cordial; it helpeth swooning, palpitation, and weakness of the heart. In the stomach, it helpeth want of Appetite, Concoction, Pains in the stomach, called Dolor ventriculis, and the Disease called Cholera. In fine, it exceedingly strengtheneth the stomach in the Brain, it helpeth all could, moist, and drowsy distempers, as the Coma, Lethargii, C●●●●●, and apoplexy, Catalepsis, palsy, Convulsion, ●●●ling-Sickness, Trembling, Melanchioly, Catarrhe, or Defluxion and pains in the head: The Steem is good for rheums in the Eyes, and for Pains and Noise in the Ears, and for dullness of Hearing; it is good for the falling down of the palate, and for the Squinzie, if from a could rheum; it is good for difficulty of breathing, the Consumption, phthisic, and all rheums falling upon the Lungs. Note, if the Matter or phlegm be thick, then sweeten it with Sugar-Candy to humect it. Its good against all hypochondriac Winds; for the Scurvy; and for pains of the Spleen. It gently purgeth by Urine; a good Drink for those that are troubled with the ston in the Reins or Bladder; also for stoppage of Urine, and the Strangury, and for the Chlorosis, White fever, White Jaundice, commonly called the Green-sickness. Its excellent good to prevent Miscarriage; it is good against the Gout, Sciatica, and for all rheums and rheumatic Pains in the whole body; it is good against the colic, iliac Passion, and for Fluxes; good against the Worms; art thou surfeited with Gluttonny or Drunkenness, then let this be thy common Drink; do you eat much Fruit, then drink much of this. In the Spring when Humours do increase, then make good use of this. In Summer, when thy Appetite is small, and thy Digestion weak, then of Coffee mayest thou partake. This Drink may best agree with our Constitutions onely in the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter; and as to the time of the day, at any time till within two or three hours of your going to bed, for its operation will not last above two or three hours. You may not fear any hurt by the due and moderate use of it.   

THEE, or TEA.  
IT is an Herb that groweth in China and Japonia it is moderately hot and binding; this wholesome Herb preserveth in perfect health till very old age; it maketh the Body active and lusty; it helpeth headache and heaviness thereof, Lippitude, Distillations, and difficulty of breathing, weakness of the Ventricle, Pains of the Bowels, Lassitude; it is also good for the ston, and for any sharp rheums whatsoever, &c.   


To raise our Coffee in a Verse or two,  
Is more then all the peopled World can do;  
Whose rare transcendent virtues so extend,  
It cannot be within a Poem penned.  
Let this suffice( though many it displeases)  
Our wholesome liquour helpeth most Diseases.   By Robert Morton.