1 6 The Soverane Herbe 



of the virtues thereof, of which the relation would 

 require a volume by itself. The use of it by so 

 many of late, men and women, of great calling as 

 else, and some learned physitions also, is sufficient 

 witness.' 



This is the first English description of the Indian 

 practice of smoking, and from Harlot's language it is 

 evident that the use of tobacco in England was of 

 quite recent origin — that it had grown up in the two 

 years' interval between Lane's return from Virginia, 

 in 1586, and Hariot's account of that colony in 1588. 

 Camden also supports Lane's claim to be the man 

 who introduced tobacco into England. Aubrey, 

 indeed, writing in 1681, says that Sir Walter Raleigh 

 ' was the first that brought tobacco into England, and 

 into fashion ' ; but the claim of Raleigh rests upon 

 the last clause. He was undoubtedly the first noted 

 smoker in England, and gave the practice a good 

 standing in society and at Court. 



James L, in his ' Counterblaste,' wrathfully says of 

 the discovery of Virginia : ' With the report of a great 

 discovery for a conquest some two or three savage 

 men were brought in, together [into England] with 

 this savage custom [i.e., smoking]. But the pity of 

 it is that the poor, wild, barbarous men died, but that 

 vile barbarous custom is yet alive, yea, in fresh vigour.' 

 This statement places the question of the introduc- 

 tion of tobacco into England almost beyond dispute. 

 James here states that the discovery of Virginia and 

 the introduction of tobacco into this country were 

 contemporary, the latter the outcome of the former 

 event. Virginia was discovered by Captains Amidas 



