7 6 . TOBACCO IN EUROPE. 



are still taking of tobacco. What a number are there 

 besides, that doe keepe houses, set open shoppes, that 

 have no other trade to live by, but by the selling of 

 tobacco. 



"I have heard it told, that now very lately there 

 hath been a catalogue of all those new erected houses 

 that have sett up that trade of selling tobacco in 

 London, and neare about London ; and if a man may 

 believe what is confidently reported, there are found to 

 be upward of seven thousand houses that cloth live by 

 that trade. I cannot say whether they number apothe- 

 caries' shops, grocers' shops, and chandlers' shops, in 

 the computation, but let it bee that these were thrust 

 in to make up the number : let us now look a little 

 into the vidimus of the matter, and let us cast upp but 

 a sleight account what the expense might be that is 

 consumed in smoakie vapour. 



" If it be true that there be seven thousand shops in 

 and about London, that doth vent tobacco, as it is 

 credibly reported that there be over and above that 

 number, it may well be supposed to be but an ill- 

 customed shop, that taketh not five shillings a day, 

 one day with another, throughout the whole year; 

 or, if one cloth take lesse, two other may take more : 

 but let us make our account, but after two shillings 

 sixpence a day, for he that taketh lesse than that would 

 be ill able to pay his rent, or to keepe open his shop- 

 windows ; neither would tobacco houses make such a 

 muster as they do, and that almost in every lane, and 

 in every by-corner round about London. 



