Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke. Antonio Colmenero de Ledesma

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,

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      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.

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      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.

The Testimoniall of John de Mena, Doctor and Physitian to the King of Spaine.

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      I John de Mena, Physitian to his Majesty, and one of the Counsell Generall of the Inquisition, have seene this Treatise of Chocolate (composed by Doctor Antonio Colmenero of Ledesma) by command of the Supreame Royall Court of Justice: which containeth nothing contrary to good Manners, and the Subject if very learnedly handled, and with great Iudgement; and no doubt, but it will give much pleasure and content to all those, who are affected to Chocolate; and therefore may be printed: And in confirmation of this truth, I have hereto subscribed my Name the 17. of Septemb. 1631.

      John de Mena Doctor in Physicke.