2 20 The Soverane Herbe 



' Whenas my purse cannot afford my stomach flesh or beer, 

 I sup with smoke, and feed as well and fat as one can wish ;' 



proceeding to assert : 



' Much victuals serve for gluttony to fatten men like swine, 

 But he's a frugal man indeed that with a leaf can dine, 

 And needs no napkins for his hands, his fingers' ends to wipe, 

 But keeps his kitchen in a box, and roast meat in a pipe.' 



In his ' Counterblaste to Tobacco ' James I. 

 appeared in his twofold character of Vicegerent of 

 heaven and master of human knowledge. His tract 

 forms curious reading, exhibiting to the full its 

 author's pedantry of mind and meanness of soul. 

 It is worth perusal, if only for the sidelights it 

 throws on the practice of smoking : 



' I am now, therefore, heartily to pray you to con- 

 sider, first upon what false and erroneous grounds 

 you have first built the general good liking thereof ; 

 and, next, what sins towards God, foolish vanities 

 before the world, you commit in the detestable use of 

 it.' After demolishing the four principal reasons 

 advanced for smoking, ' two of them founded upon 

 the Theorick of a deceivable appearance of Reason, 

 and two upon the mistaken Practick of general 

 Experience,' James asks : ' Have you not reason then 

 to be ashamed, and to forbear this filthy novelty, so 

 basely grounded, so foolishly received, and so grossly 

 mistaken in the right use thereof? In your abuse 

 thereof sinning against God, harming yourselves in 

 persons and goods, and taking also thereby (Look to 

 it, you that take snuff in profusion !) the marks and 



