66 The Soverane Herbe 



the latest scandal, slowly expels the smoke down his 

 nostrils or in a sequence of rings from his mouth, ' for 

 these are complishments which gain gentlemen no 

 mean respect.' The exhalation of smoke from the 

 nostrils was practically the only known and certainly 

 most fashionable mode, and recommended by doctors 

 as discharging the head of ' rheums and great de- 

 fluxions.' One of the company, a youth from the 

 country, is asked if he will not take tobacco. 

 ' S'death !' sneers one, ' he cannot put it through his 

 nose.' No severer or more cutting reflection can be 

 cast upon a gentleman. High words follow, and as 

 likely as not the company adjourn to the tilt-yard to 

 witness the settlement of the dispute with swords. 



Meeting a friend, the gallant's first question is : 

 ' Will you not take a pipe of tobacco ?' In the tilt- 

 yard of the ordinary our hero asks an acquaintance : 



' Please you to impart your smoke }' 



'Very willingly, sir,' he replies, handing him his 

 pipe. After a whiff or two the borrower exclaims : 



' I' good faith, a pipe of excellent vapour.' 



' Yes, 'tis the best the house yields,' 



' What !' exclaims the other in contempt of inns ; 

 ' had you it in this house ? I thought it had been 

 your own. 'Tis not so good now as I took it for.' 



Linkboys had then a daily as well as nightly occupa- 

 tion in lighting the pipes of smokers with burning 

 coals. James I. complained that ' you are not able 

 to ride or walk the journey of a Jew's sabbath but 

 you must have a reeky coal brought ' to light your 

 pipe. Ladies entertained no squeamish objection 

 to tobacco. ' The mistress,' says the royal Misco- 



