THE USE AND ABUSE OF TOBACCO 75 



of him that it owes its introduction into the fashionable 

 world to Jean Nicot. He says, ' Although it be not long 

 since it hath been known in France, notwithstanding, 

 deserveth palm and price, and among all other medicinable 

 herbs it deserveth to stand in the front rank, by reason of 

 its singular virtues, and, as it were, almost to be held in 

 admiration, as hereafter you shall understand . 

 The herb is called Nicotiane, of the name of him that gave 

 the first intelligence thereof into this realm — as many other 

 plants have taken their name from certain Greeks and 

 Romans, who, having been in strange countries for service 

 of their commonweals, have brought into their countries 

 many plants which were before unknown. Some have 

 called it the Queen's herb, because it was first sent to her, 

 as hereafter shall be declared by the gentleman that was 

 the first inventor of it, and since has by her been given to 

 divers people for to sow, whereby it might be planted in 

 the land. Others have named it the Grand Prior's herb, 

 for that he caused it to multiply in France, more than any 

 other, and for the great reverence that he bears to his herb, 

 because of the divine effects therein contained. Not- 

 withstanding, it is better to name it Nicotiane, the name of 

 him that sent it into France, first, to the end that he may 

 have the honour thereof, according to his desert, for that 

 he hath enriched our country with so singular an herb.' 



Jean Nicot, Lord of Villemain, and Master of the Requests 

 of the French King's household, was sent as ambassador to 

 the Portuguese Court in 1559, remaining there until 1561. 

 On the occasion of his visiting the state prisons of Lisbon, 

 the keeper, being a gentleman, as Liebault states, presented 

 him with specimens of a strange herb, which had just 

 arrived in Port from Florida, shipped by a Flemish 

 merchant. Nicot's curiosity was aroused and he took an 



