King  James  himself  took  a  leading  part  in  the  battle
over  tobacco.  His  Counterblaste  to  Tobacco  is  a  piece  of
invective  against  the  users  of  the  herb  that  seems  to  have
difficulty  in  finding  words  strong  enough.  It  winds  up:
"  A  custome  loathsome  to  the  eye,  hatefull  to  the  Nose,
harmefull  to  the  braine,  dangerous  to  the  Lungs,  and  in
the  blacke  stinking  fume  thereof,  neerest  resembling  the
horrible  Stigian  smoke  of  the  pit  that  is  bottomlesse."

Yet  in  spite  of  the  kingly  displeasure  which  did  not
even  stop  at  words  but  proclaimed  fines  and  "  corporal!
Punishments  "  for  the  disobedient,  it  is  astonishing  to  see
how  rapidly  the  practice  of  smoking  grew.  "  Barnabee
Rych  Gentleman,  Servant  to  the  Kings  most  Excellent
Maiestie,"  says  in  16 14:


Dr.  Thomas  Linacre

First  president  of  the  R.iyal  College  of  Physicians
From  an  engraving  by  H.  Cook


THE  DOCTORS  OF  SHAKSPERE'S  TIME     199

"  I  have  heard  It  tolde  that  now  very  lately,  there  hath
bin  a  Cathalogue  taken  of  all  those  new  erected  houses  that
have  set  uppe  that  Trade  of  selling  Tobacco,  in  London
and  neare  about  London  :  and  if  a  man  may  beleeve  what
is  confidently  reported,  there  are  found  to  be  upward  of
7000.  houses  that  doth  live  by  that  trade."  He  goes  on
presently  :  "  It  may  well  bee  supposed  to  be  but  an  ill
customed  shoppe,  that  taketh  not  five  shillings  a  day,  one
day  with  another,  throughout  the  whole  yeare,  or  if  one
doth  take  lesse,  two  other  may  take  more :  but  let  us
make  our  account,  but  after  1  shillings  sixe  pence  a  day,  for
he  that  taketh  lesse  than  that,  would  be  ill  able  to  pay  his
rent,  or  to  keepe  open  his  Shop  Windowes,  neither  would
Tobacco  houses  make  such  a  muster  as  they  doe,  and  that
almost  in  every   .   .   .   by-corner  round  about  London.
