"First publiquely made and sold in England, by Pasqua Rosee.

"The grain or berry called Coffee, groweth upon little Trees, only in the Deserts of Arabia.

"It is brought from thence, and drunk generally throughout all the Grand Seignior's Dominions.

"It is a simple innocent thing, composed into a Drink, by being dryed in an Oven, and ground to Powder, and boiled up with Spring water, and about half a pint of it to be drunk, fasting an hour before, and not Eating an hour after, and to be taken as hot as possibly can be endured; the which will never fetch the skin of! the mouth, or raise any Blisters, by reason of that Heat.

"The Turks drink at Meals and other times, is usually Water, and their Dyet consists much of Fruit; the Crudities whereof are very much corrected by this Drink.

"The quality of this Drink is Cold and Dry; and though it be a Dryer, yet it neither heats, nor inflames-more than hot Posset.

"It so closeth the Orifice of the Stomack, and fortifies the heat within, that it's very good to help digestion; and therefore of great use to be taken about 3 or 4 o'clock afternoon; as well as in the morning.

"It much quickens the Spirits, and makes the Heart Lightsome.

"It is good against sore Eys, and the better if you hold your Head over it, and take in the Steem that way.

"It suppresseth Fumes exceedingly, and therefore good against the Head-ach, and will very much stop any Defluxion of Rheums that distil from the Head upon the Stomack, and so prevent and help Consumptions, and the Cough of the Lungs.

"It is excellent to prevent and cure the Dropsy, Gout and Scurvy.

"It is known by experience to be better than any other Drying Drink for People in years, or Children that have any running humors upon them, as the Kings Evil, etc.

"It is very good to prevent Mis-carryings in Child-bearing Women.

"It is a most excellent remedy against the Spleen, Hypocondriack Winds, or the like.

"It will prevent Drowsiness, and make one fit for busines, if one have occasion to Watch; and therefore you are not to drink of it after Supper, unless you intend to be watchful, for it will hinder sleep for three or four hours.

"It is observed that in Turkey, where this is generally drunk, that they are not trobled with the Stone, Gout, Dropsie, or Scurvey, and that their Skins are exceeding cleer and white,

"It is neither Laxative nor Restringent..

"Made and Sold in St. Michael's Alley in Cornhill, by Pasqua Rosee, at the Signe of his own Head." That it met with opposition at its introduction, we have already seen in "A Broadside against Coffee;" but Hatton, in his "New View of London," 1708, gives a case of clear persecution. "I find it Recorded that one James Farr, a. barber, who kept the Coffee House which is now the Rainbow, was, in the year 1657, presented by the Inquest of St. Dunstan's in the W. for Making and Selling a sort of Liquor, called Coffee, as a great Nusance and Prejudice of the neighbourhood, etc. And who would then have thought London would ever have had near 3000 such Nusances, and that Coffee should have been, as now, so much Drank by the best of Quality and Physicians." 1

The coffee houses soon became popular, because they filled a social want. There were no clubs, as we know them, although there were limited social gatherings, under the name of club, held at stated periods - and the coffee house provided a convenient place for gossip and news. Here were served alcoholic drinks as well as coffee; here the newspapers might be seen; here, also, men could indulge in a pipe, and its advantages are well summed up by Misson,1 who travelled in England in the reign of William and Mary. "These Houses, which are very numerous in London, are extreamly convenient. You have all Manner of News there; You have a good Fire, which you may sit by as long as you please; You have a dish of Coffee, you meet your Friends for the Transaction of Business, and all for a Penny, if you don't care to spend more."

1 For a list of 500 Coffee Houses, see Appendix to Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, by John Ashton.

1 Memoirs and Observations in his Travels over England, etc.

"The Rules And Orders Of The Coffee-House.1

"Enter Sirs, freely, But first, if you please, Peruse our Civil-orders, which are these.

"First, Gentry, Tradesmen, all are welcome hither, And may, without Affront, sit down Together: Pre-eminence of Place, none here should Mind, But take the next fit Seat that he can find: Nor need any, if Finer Persons come, Rise up for to assigne to them his Room; To limit Men's Expence, we think not fair, But let him forfeit Twelve pence that shall Swear; He that shall any Quarrel here begin, Shall give each Man a Dish t' Atone the Sin; And so shall he, whose Complements extend So far to drink in Coffee to his Friend; Let Noise of loud Disputes be quite forborn, No Maudlin Lovers here in Corners Mourn: But all be Brisk, and Talk, but not too much; On Sacred things, Let none presume to touch, Nor Profane Scripture, or sawcily wrong Affairs of State with an Irreverent Tongue: Let mirth be Innocent, aud each Man see, That all his Jests without Reflection be;

1 A Brief Description of the excellent Vertues of that Sober and Wholesome Drink called Coffee. 1674, s. sh. fol.

To keep the House more Quiet, and from Blame,

We Banish hence Cards, Dice and every Game:

Nor can allow of Wagers, that Exceed

Five Shillings, which, oft-times, much Trouble Breed;

Let all that's Lost or Forfeited be spent

In such Good Liquor as the House doth Vent,

And Customers endeavour to their Powers,

For to observe still seasonable Howers.

Lastly, Let each Man what he calls for Pay, And so you're welcome to come every Day."

To know of coffee-houses in their prime, we must turn to the pages of Addison and Steele, to the Guardian the Spectator, the Tatler, etc., but they are well epitomised in the following poem, which bears date 1667:

"News From The Coffee-House - "In which is shewn their several sorts of Passions, Containing Newes from all our Neighbour Nations.

"A Poem.

"You that delight in Wit and Mirth,

And long to hear such News, As comes from all Parts of the Earth,

Dutch, Danes, and Turks, and Jews, I'le send yee to a Rendezvouz,

Where it is smoaking new; Go, hear it at a Coffee-house,

It cannot but be true.

There Battles and Sea-fights are Fought,

And bloudy Plots display'd; They know more things than 'ere was thought

Or ever was betray'd: No Money in the Minting House

Is halfe so Bright and New"; And, comming from a Coffee-house

It cannot but be true.

Before the Navyes fall to Work,

They know who shall be Winner; They there can tell ye what the Turk

Last Sunday had to Dinner; Who last did cut Du Ruitter's Corns,

Amongst his jovial Crew; Or Who first gave the Devil Horns.

Which cannot but be true.

A Fisherman did boldly tell,

And strongly did avouch, He Caught a Shoal of Mackarel,

That Parley'd all in Dutch, And cry'd out, Yaw, yaw, yaw, Myne Here;

But as the Draught they Drew, They Struck for fear that Monck was there,

Which cannot but be true.

Another Swears by both his Ears,

Mounsieur will cut our Throats; The French King will a Girdle bring,

Made of Flat-bottom'd Boats; Shall compas England round about,

Which must not be a few, To give our Englishmen the Rout;

This sounds as if 'twere true.

There's nothing done in all the World,

From Monarch to the Mouse, But every Day or Night 'tis hurl'd

Into the Coffee-house. What Lillie or what Booker can

By Art, not bring about At Coffee-house you'l find a Man,

Can quickly find it out.

They'l tell ye there, what Lady-ware, Of late is grown too light;

What Wise-man shall from Favour Fall, What Fool shall be a Knight;

They'l tell ye when our Fayling Trade Shall Rise again, and Flourish,

Or when Jack Adams shall be made Church-warden of the Parish.

They know who shall in Times to come,

Be either made or undone, From great St. Peter's-street in Rome,

To Turnbull-street in London. And likewise tell, in Clerkenwell,

What w------hath greatest Gain,

And in that place, what Brazen-face

Doth wear a Golden Chain.

At Sea their knowledge is so much,

They know all Rocks and Shelves, They know all Councils of the Dutch,

More than they know Themselves. Who 'tis shall get the best at last,

They perfectly can shew At Coffee-house, when they are plac'd

You'd scarce believe it true.

They know all that is Good, or Hurt,

To Dam ye, or to Save ye; There is the Colledge and the Court,

The Country, Camp, and Navie; So great a Vniversitie

I think there ne're was any; In which you may a Schoolar be

For spending of a Penny.

A Merchant's Prentice there shall show

You all and every thing, What hath been done, and is to do,

'twix Holland and the King;

What Articles of Peace will bee

He can precisely show, What will be good for Them or Wee,

He perfectly doth know.

Here Men do talk of every Thing,

With large and liberal Lungs, Like Women at a Gossiping,

With double tyre of Tongues; They'l give a Broad-side presently,

Soon as you are in view, With Stories that you'l wonder at,

Which they will swear are true.

The Drinking there of Chockolat,

Can make a Fool a Sophie, 'tis thought the Turkish Mahomet

Was first Inspir'd with Coffee: By which his Powers did Over-flow

The Land of Palestine; Then let us to the Coffee-house go,

'tis Cheaper farr than Wine.

You shall know there, what Fashions are;

How Perrywiggs are Curl'd; And for a Penny you shall heare

All Novells in the World. Both Old and Young, and Great and Small,

And Rich and Poore, you'll see; Therefore let's to the Coffee all,

Come All away with Mee. Finis."