282 The Soverane Herbe 



horses in cathedrals were accomplished by the 

 Roundheads to the smoke of tobacco — horresco 

 referens. 



In 1615 the Vice-Chancellor of the University of 

 Cambridge issued a notice enjoining that ' Noe 

 graduate, scholler or student of this Universitie pre- 

 sume to take tobacco in Saint Marie's Church uppon 

 paine of final expellinge the universitie.' The 

 custom of smoking during worship seems to have 

 been fairly common until the last century. In 

 Dutch churches this was the case. In Lima 

 Cathedral spittoons are provided in the stalls of 

 deans and dignitaries. 



Scott, in 'The Heart of Midlothian,' describes 

 how Duncan of Knockunder, bailiff of the Duke of 

 Argyle, smoked his pipe during the sermon, which 

 lasted an hour and a quarter. ' When the discourse 

 was finished he knocked the ashes out of his pipe, 

 replaced it in his sporran, returned the tobacco-pouch 

 to its owner, and joined in the prayer with decency 

 and attention.' 



When Vicar of Hatton, in Warwickshire, Dr. Parr 

 smoked regularly in the vestry while the congregation 

 were singing the hymn before the sermon. As he 

 remarked, ' My people like long hymns, but I prefer 

 a long pipe.' Fairholt records the similar practice of 

 a clerical friend of his only forty years ago. Many 

 of the clergy naturally regarded this habit with dis- 

 like and disgust. Archbishop Blackbourn of York 

 was severely reprimanded by the Vicar of St. Mary's, 

 Nottingham, for smoking in the vestry after con- 

 ducting a Confirmation Service. This was in 1773 ; 



