MORE POETRY 



them joined in the use and spread of the custom. It has 

 been said with much truth : 



" History proves that persecution never triumphs in its 

 attempted eradications. Tobacco was so generally liked that 

 no legislative measures could prevent its use." 



At first the use of tobacco was confined to fops and the 

 hangers on at ale houses and taverns but afterwards by the 

 " chief men of the realm." Soon after the importation of 

 the "durned weed" from Virginia the tobacco muse gave 

 forth many a lay concerning the custom. The following 

 verses describe the method of smoking then in vogue: 



Nor did that time know- 

 To puff and to blow 

 In a peece of white clay, 

 As they do at this day 

 With fier and coole, 

 And a leafe in a hole ; 

 As my ghost hath late seen, 

 As I walked betwene 

 Westminister Hall 

 And the church of St. Paul, 

 And so thorow the citie 

 Where I saw and did pitty 



My country men's cases, i 



With fiery- smoke faces, 

 Sucking and drinking 

 A filthie weede stinking, 

 Was ne'r known before 

 Till the devil and the More 

 In th' Indies did meete, 

 And each other there greete 

 With a health they desire, 

 Of stinke, smoke and fier. 

 But who e're doth abhorre it. 

 The citie smookes for it ; 

 Now full of fier shop, 

 And fowle spitttng chop, 

 So sneezing and coughing, 

 That my ghost fell to scofilng. 

 And to myself said : 

 Here's filthie fumes made ; 

 Good phisicke of force 

 To cure a sicke horse." 



