Tobacco in English Social Life 59 



and medicine, all in this one leaf. For stanching 

 wounds there's naught to equal it, and of rheum and 

 fever it purgeth you wholly. Try it, Master Williams; 

 'twill rid ye of your palsy.' 



The aged man draws back in novelty's distrust. 

 The pungent smoke already filling the room supports 

 the disinclination. Whether it be a trap of the devil 

 or no is not decided. To see for itself comes the 

 whole village, and from the neighbouring hamlets, 

 hearing of this strange eating of fire, trudge the curious 

 and horrified. The vicar, even, is drawn to see Jack 

 Tarman's smoking feat, and doubts not whether it be 

 an invention of the Spaniards. The squire is another 

 spectator. ' Sir Walter Raleigh, I have heard,' he 

 says, ' greatly and constantly practiseth the use of 

 tobacco.' The village apothecary quotes the medi- 

 cinal use of the herb ; his urban cousin has already 

 huge demand for it. 



But when the sight of the sturdy tar devouring and 

 puffing forth clouds of smoke, always the centre of a 

 crowd drawn by the strange practice, has become 

 more familiar, Master Williams, urged on by his com- 

 panions, themselves curious to see one of their own 

 company take it, is at length persuaded by the sailor's 

 glowing account of the weed's virtues, and takes the 

 handed pipe. The company crush and crane to see 

 old Master Williams' experiment. Jack instructs the 

 master how to draw in and puff out the smoke. He 

 takes the smouldering tube cautiously, half fearfully 

 breathes in the smoke, attempts in vain to eject it 

 through his nose, but bursts into a fit of coughing 

 and spluttering. ' 'Tis simple,' says the sailor, care- 



