54 TOBACCO USED AS MONEY. 
At this period it appears that tobacco was used as money, 
and as the measure of price and value. The taxes whether 
public, county, or parish, were payable in tobacco. 
Tatham says, “ Even the tavern keepers were compelled to 
exchange a dinner for a few pounds of tobacco.” The law 
for the regulation of payments in tobacco was passed in the 
year 1640. From these facts and incidents connected with 
the culture and commerce of the plant we see how intimately 
it was connected with both Church and State. Jones well 
said “the Establishment is indeed tobacco ;” the salary of 
ministers was payable in it according to the wealth of the 
parish. In most parishes 16000 lbs. was the yearly amount, 
“and in some 20,000 Ibs. of Tobacco; out of which there is a 
deduction for Cask, prizing, collecting, and about which 
allowance there are sometimes disputes, as are also differences 
often about the place, time, and manner of delivering it ; but 
all these things might easily be regulated. Tobacco is more 
commonly at 20s. per cent. than at 10; so that certainly it 
will bring 12 s. 8 d. a hundred, which will make 16000 (the 
least salary) amount to 100£ per Ann. which it must cer- 
tainly clear, allowing for all petty charges, out of the lowness 
of the price stated which is less than the medium between 
ten and twenty shillings; whereas it might be stated above 
the medium, since it is oftener at twenty than: ten shillings. 
Besides the payment of the salary, the surplice fees want a 
better regulation in the payments; for though the allowance 
be sufficient, yet differences often and illwill arise about these 
fees, whether they are to be paid in money or tobacco, and 
when; whereas by a small alteration and addition of a few 
laws in these and the like respects, the clergy might live 
more happy, peaceable, and better beloved; and the people 
would be more easy, and pay never the more dues. 
“Some parts of the country make but mean and poor 
tobacco so that Clergymen don’t care to live in such parishes ; 
but there the payment might be made in money, or in the 
produce of those places, which might be equivalent to the 
tobacco payments; better for the minister, and as pleasing to 
the people.” 
We find further complaints from the London Company of 
the poor quality of the tobacco “sent home,” in a letter 
addressed to the Governor, bearing date 10th June, 1622 i 
“The tobacco sent home by the George for the company’ 
