I Haue heard it reported , by men of good iudgment , that there is paid out of England and Ireland , neere the value of two hundred thousand pounds euery yeare for Tobacco ; and that the greatest part thereof is bought for ready money . Sure I am , that when our Englishmen for these seuen or eight yeares last past , traded for it at Trinidado , or in Orenoque , that great store of Gold , Siluer , Coine , and plate was carried hence , and giuen to the Spaniard there in exchange . For so greedy were our English of the Indian Tobacco ; as where in the beginning of our traffique there , some yeares since , the Spaniards ( as in all new plantations ) were prest with all sorts of wants ; & had neither cloathes to couer them , nor shooes to tread on , nor bread to eate ; and did therefore exchange their Tobacco for Fish , Wine , Aqua-vitae , all sorts of lasting food , for woollen stockins , hats , threed , hatchets , & the like : they became in a short time so cloyd with all these commodities , as nothing ( some Silkes , and Cloath of Siluer and Gold excepted ) but ready Money , and Siluer plate could content them .

This Trade therefore , where the Treasure of this land is vented for smoke , cannot but greatly preiudice the Common-weale : which although it were in some sort tollerable , by reason that many shippes and Mariners were employed , and that thereby wee kept our knowledge of the West Indies , and bred many sufficient Marriners : yet seeing the Spaniards haue now vtterly banished our Merchants , and put all to the sword , or to a more cruell death , which they can maister , or betray in those parts : I haue thought good , as well for the keeping within the Land of the Treasure before spoken of , then carried into the Indies , and now into Spaine , as for other respects hereafter remembred ; to instruct those of our Nation how to sow , plant and perfect this drugge .

For besides the ill exchange made for this fantasticall merchandize , and besides , the extreame rate , and price of the Indian Tobacco ; of which the greatest part is sold for ten times the value of pepper , and the best of it , weight for weight , for the finest siluer ; it is hard to find one pound weight in fiue hundred , that is not sophisticate . The blacke colour which it hath , and for which our Shoppe-keepers praise it , is Artificiall : yea all the Tobacco ( the leaues of Hispaniola excepted , which wee call Saint Domingo Tobacco ) is noynted and slubbered ouer with a kinde of iuyce , or syrope , made of Salt-water , of the dregges or filth of Sugar , called Malasses , or blacke honey , Guiana pepper , and leeze of Wine ; to which in some places they adde a red berry called Anotto , and other tawni Berries , with which the Indians paint their bodies , and their beds . This they doe to giue it colour and glosse , to make it the more merchantable , and to giue one and the same countenance to all their rotten , withered , & ground-leaues , which they wrappe vp in the midle of their wreathes , couering them ouer on the outside with one that is good .

Of this Tobacco , painted with vnwholsome Berries , there hath beene great store brought into England of late , in which the rednesse and Art was manifest : so hath there beene vented a kinde of filthy leafe , sold by the Portugalles residing in London , the same beeing made vp in rolles of pounds and halfe pounds .

By these Aditaments is the nature and operation of the Tobacco changed , and the Hearbe made vnhealthfull , and extreame dangerous : for it is well knowne , that how wholsome and medicinable soeuer hunnie it selfe may bee , yet the water of hunnie is starke poyson ; and although Indian Pepper , scumme of Sugar , or the dregges or leeze of Wine , and the rest , may be wholesome enough some way vsed : yet to take them into the head in fume , cannot but bee greatly offensiue and preiudiciall . But this is not the worst : for since the Spaniards haue obserued , that the English respect but two things chiefly in Tobacco , to wit , the colour , and the biting in the nose , they haue added poyson to the painting , and annoynted the leaues of their Tobacco with common sublimate ; by which , though it doe not worke at the instant ; yet may the one halfe of all the Gentlemen of England , and many thousands of others be easily poysoned in one yeare .

For it is knowne to many that there hath been Tobacco brought out of Spaine , with dissolued sublimate , which euery man knowes to bee poyson , and no way so dangerously ministred without suspition , as by fume .

The naturall colour of Tobacco is a deepe yellow , or a light tawnie ▪ and when the Indians themselues sold it vs for Kniues , Hatchets , Beads , Belles , and like merchandise , it had no other complexion , as all the Tobacco at this day hath , which is brought from the coast of Guiana , from Saint Vincents , from Saint Lucia , from Dominica , and other places , where we buy it but of the naturall people ; and all these sorts are cleane , and so is that of St. Domingo , where the Spaniards haue not yet learned the Art of Sophistication .

There is also a sort of Caraccas Tobacco , which the Indians make vp , and sell to the Spaniards , which is wholesome enough ; but there comes little of it into England

Now besides these harmefull mixtures , if our English which delight in Indian Tobacco , had seene how the Spanish slaues make it vp , how they dresse their sores , and pockie vlcers , with the same vnwasht hands with which they slubber and annoynt the Tobacco , and call it sauce Per los perros Luteranos , for Lutheran dogges ; they would not so often draw it into their heads and through their noses as they doe : yea many a filthy sauour should they find therein , did not the smell of the hunny maister it ; which smell euery man may plainly perceiue that takes of the blacke role Tabacco , brought from Orenoque , Trinidado , and else-where .

To the end therefore , as I haue already said , that the treasures exchanged for Tobacco , may be kept within the Land ; that those that delight therin may haue it at a better rate , and to auoyd the danger of the Spanish mixtures , I haue hereunder set downe certaine obseruations , by the helpe of which all that are disposed to plant Tobacco in England , may assuredly bring the same to strength and perfection : yea to strength exceeding all that is brought from the Indies .

Now the first thing that you are to take care for , must be the soyle : of which the ground naturally fertile , is the best , and that which hath not borne any other but grasse : for if you sow your seede in ground enriched with dung , except you stay two yeare at least , til the dung and the vapour therof be consumed , your Tobacco will retaine the sauour of it .

If you sow it where Cabbage and Turnips haue beene lately sowne ; those rootes will also infect your Tobacco with their smell . Nay you must take care that your ground be not ouer-far : for the fattest grounds bring forth so thicke and so rugged a leafe , and so fild with moysture , as it will neuer be brought to any colour , neuer to any strength , nor neuer burne well in the pipe : A good soyle , neither too rich nor too poore , is the best , and the best helpe to better the barren , is dung of sheepe .

The seedes which you are to sowe , are of two kindes , the male and female ; the male is the lesser leafe , and beares a yellow flower ; of which kinde is that of Brasill , which the people of the land call Petun .

The female brings a very large leafe , and farre larger and longer in England , and in France , then in the Indies ; by reason of their sandy grounds , and want of raine there ; and it beares a pale incarnate flower . If this latter kinde would ripen in England , in certainty it would yeeld farre more profite to the planters , it requireth lesse labour in the gathering , withering , and making vp : and being ripe , it will come to a perfect tawny colour , without any other Art then the stouing : but the lesser leafe is generally the stronger , and subiect to lesse hazard then the greater .

In all the months betweene September and Aprill you may cast your seed into the ground : for as that seed which falleth of it selfe in the end of September , and lyeth as it falleth vncouered , doth grow and thriue as well as that which is sowne in Ianuary , February , or March : so doth the last sowing in Aprill prosper as well , and grow as soone ripe as any of the rest . When it is sowne it must bee couered but thinly with earth : for if you rake too much earth ouer it , it will come vp too late to ripen for that yeare .

If the Spring bee dry , you must water it often to bring it out of the ground : your water must be riuer or pond water ; for that of welles is too cold , except you set it all the day in the Sunne .

After your seedes are growne vp to a stalke of three inches high , you must take them vp and replant them , leauing two foot betweene each plant of the lesser kinde , and three foo●● betweene each plant of the greater . If you leaue your plants so long on the ground ere you set them abroad , that the stalke haue sixe inches in length , then must you either bury in the ground foure of the sixe inches , or else they will hang the head , and be long ere they recouer : and hauing set them in so deepe you bury that part of the stalke which would bring out your fairest and strongest leaues : you must therefore replant as soone as you haue a stalke able to be set abrode .

You must also take care to water your plants once a day : in the morning , if the Spring bee cold ; in the euening if it bee warme ; otherwise they will wither , or stand long ere they recouer .

After they are growne a foote high , or somewhat more , they will offer to knob , and cast out little buttons for seede ; which they will doe the sooner if you sowe them in the increase of the Moone , which you must auoyd . These knobbes you must euery day nippe off , so must you doe all the by-branches that it casteth out , and all the stalkes but one that shoots out of the same root : you must leaue but one stalke , and vpon it not aboue 8 or 10 leaues . This pruning must be continued from the time that your Tobacco begins to yeeld shuttes and buttons for seed , euen to the time that you gather it : which if you shall neglect , coueting to haue many stalkes , because many leaues , your Tobacco will be weake and worth nothing .

Your next and greatest care must bee , your patience to attend the ripening : for if you gather your leaues before they change colour on the stalke , they will be good for nothing . Your corne and all other fruits and graines may teach you this , that nothing hath any great vertue where nature is preuented . When your leaues be toward ripening , they will bee full of yellow spottes , which you shal best discerne if you hold a leafe betweene you and the light .

And yet you must not so loue your owne as to take it greene : for if when you cut it and dry it , how strong soeuer it proue in the taking of it , the greatnesse shewes that either it wants ripenesse or fermentation ; it must looke yellow at the least , otherwise it may proue equally harmefull with that which is sophisticate . I must also aduise you , not to slubber your English with Mel rosarum , and other trumpery , as many of our owne Artificers do , therby to bring it to the Indian colour : it is an impious practise to play with the health of men , and to make profite by their destruction . Your English Tobacco if you giue it time to ripen , and time to ferment , will change colour , and cast off all her naughty and vnwholsome moysture , and change her greene garment for that which is perfect yellow or tawny , without any art or addition .

When you haue gathered the ripe leaues ; for all will not be ripe at once , you may lay them in the Sunne for two or three houres , otherwise they will be so brickle , as they will breake in the stringing : and if the weather bee cloudy , then you may leaue them in your baskets two or three dayes , and then string them vpon threed , and so hang them in a close roome , where no winde entreth , or lay them on a cleane boorded floore , till they wither and become yellowish , which they will do in 10 , 12 , or 14 dayes , but you may not ouer-dry them ; for then they will not sweat and change colour .

When they are thus withered , but not dried to crumble , you must stoue them in heapes , in a heat somewhat stronger then a hot-house , and like vnto the heate of an Ouen after the bread drawne : for if your heate bee too great , it will burne , if too little , it will require a long time in their sweating , or fermentation , ere they bee brought to perfection . But if you suffer your leaues to be perfect ripe ere you gather them , then they will ferment in a short time , and obtaine a perfect Indian colour , I meane the naturall Indian colour , though not the artificiall and blacke . He that weares cloath to the end it was inuented for , to wit , to defend him from cold , and wet , cares more for the goodnesse then the colour : howsoeuer it is better to accept of our owne with some little fault , then to vse the India with a great deale of filthinesse .

In the meane time , and vntill we haue store of our owne , I aduise my Countrey-men to take the leafe of Saint Domingo , or the leaues of Dominica , and of the Ilands adioyning , or those Indian leaues that are of a deep yellow , or slight tawny , which colours are naturall , and forbeare the blacke which is foule , the dyed Tobacco , which is red , and the leafe brought in by the Portugalles , and the like slubbered stuffe .

The Tobacco which comes from the Barmuda is cast away either by neglecting to prune it , or else because they nourish ouer-many leaues on one stalke , which they do either out of Ignorance , or for that they couer to haue the greater quantity , or otherwise ; because , as I heare , they imitate the Spaniards in iuicing it : that place would otherwise giue vs that which is excellent , and so would Virginia .

For the rest , after you haue taken your Tobacco out of your stoue , you must layit abrode some three or foure dayes : for if you make it vp too moist , it will grow mouldy .

For conclusion , because there hath beene much dispute about this hearbe , whether it bee wholsome or harmfull : I will let my Countreymen know , what by long experience , and conference with others , I finde .

It is taken in all America , euen from Canada to the straights of Magellan , in all Affrica vpon the coast , from Barbary to the Cape of good hope , and so till you come to the mouth of the red sea ; it is also vsed in most of all the kingdomes of the East Indies .

The Spaniards and Indians of the West giue vs three principall reasons why they vse it : the first is because it opens the body , and le ts out the heate by the pores which is praeter naturam within them : the second is , the consumption and auoyding of superfluous moysture wherewith they are filled by eating of fruits abundantly , by drinking of water , and in all the In-land Countries for want of salt : the third is , because it staies both hunger and thirst , and doth refresh them after great trauaile and toyle : these be the general vertues and knowne to all : but the Spanish Physitians , their Priests , and others that are learned , finde somewhat else , and of more importance in this hearbe : for they vse a confection of Tobacco in all Callentures or burning feuers , and they take it in smoke to defend them in long nauigations from the scuruy , and they cure with it all sores and vlcers : yea it is certaine , that the iuice of Tobacco , mixt with a little sea-water , doth resist the venome of poysoned arrowes , wherewith the Spaniards ( how slight soeuer the hurt bee ) are without such a help wounded to death . The Brasilians say that it is cordiall , and they also take it to stay hunger and thirst when they trauel and want sustenance . The people of the South-parts of Virginia esteeme it exceedingly , and so doe the rest : they say that God in the creation did first make a woman , then a man , thirdly great maize , or Indian wheat , and fourthly , Tobacco : they vse it for the curing of wounds , and in smoke as we doe ; and they are superstitiously led to beleeue that when they are in danger of drowning , in foule wether , that if they cast Tobacco into the water , that the billow will fall , L. 1. Simplicium medicament . ex nouo orbe dilatorum . and grow lesse . Monardus the Spaniard commends it in all pains of the head , growing by defluctions or windy vapors , in the tooth-ake occasioned by cold rume , in all diseases of the breast , old coughes , asmaticall passions , and the like , in all paines of the ioynts , and swellings , if the leaues roasted vnder imbers be often applied ; which the Indian women administer to their children for the coldnesse of their stomacke , and windinesse . The same Author affirmeth , that in the suffocation of the matrix , it is a present remedie , if the leaues made warme be applied to the nauell or bottome of the belly ; in all greene woundes and vlcers , and in the gangrene he prizeth it aboue all other vegetables : yea hee affirmeth that an experience was made in the presence of King Philip the second of Spaine , vpon a dogge poysoned . These be Monardus his words , as I finde them in Clusius , Rex ipse Catholicus , eius vires experiri volens , Cani vulnus infligi iussit in gutture , & toxico quo ven●●atores vtuntur , illini ; & paulo post foliorum Tobacci succum satis copiose instillari , & ipsa folia trita super vulnus ligari : liberatus est canis non sine omnium admiratione . The Catholicke King willing to make triall of the vertue of it , caused a dogge to haue a wound made in his throat , and to be anointed with poyson which the hunters vse ; and a while after he made the iuyce of Tobacco to bee plentifully powred into it , and the brused leaues to be bound vpon the wound , and the dogge was healed , to the no smal admiration of all that were present . The same Author commends this hearbe for the cure of the Polypus , and doth avow that he himselfe hath cured it with the iuice of Tobacco .

Clusius in his experience affirmeth , Fol. 310. that in all old vlcers putride , and of a maligne quality , in the gangren , in the scabbes , clouds in the eyes , &c. he hath vsed the vnguent of Tobacco with happy successe .

Mr Gerald in his history of plants , or great herball , tels vs , that the dropsie hath been cured with the iuice of Tobacco ; and in the same book , Fol. 288. he teacheth the composition of an vnguent made with the lesser or male Tobacco : which booke , because the poorer sort are not able to buy , & that the said Gerald doth so highly commend the vse of this hearbe , I thought good to take it out word for word , for the common good of all poore people needing such a remedy , and these be his words . I do make hereof an excellent balsame to cure deepe wounds and punctures , &c. which balsame doth bring vp the flesh from the bottome very speedily , & also heale simple cuts in the flesh , according to the first intention , that is , to glew or soder the lips of the wound together , not procuring matter or corruption vnto it , as is commonly seene in the healing of wounds . Take ( saith he ) oyle of roses , oyle of Saint Iohns wort , of either one pint , the leaues of Tobacco , stamped smal in a stone morter , two pound , boyle them together to the consumption of the iuice , straine it , and put it to the fire againe , adding thereunto of Venice Turpentine two ounces , of Olibanum and Mastic , of either halfe an ounce in most fine and subtill powder , which may at all times make it into an vnguent or salue , by putting therunto wax and rosin , to giue vnto it a stiffe body . He further saith , that the iuice or distilled water of the lesser leafe is very good against catharres , the dizinesse of the head , and rhumes that fall down to the eyes , against the paine called the Migrame , if either you apply it to the temples , or take one or two greene leaues , or the drye leafe moystened in wine , and warmed on Imbers , and apply it . Many notable medicines are made hereof against the old and inueterate cough , a-against asthmatical and pectorall griefes , which if I should set downe at large , would require a peculiar volume . So farre Gerald.

For the taking of it in smoke , if the Tobacco be cleane , and not poysoned with iuices , and other Art , I know that it is an excellent remedy for the head-ake , for the vertigo & dizines of the head , for moist & watery stomakes , it preuaileth against the rumes & defluctions , & all the pains of the ioynts therby occasioned , and against all affections of the head , watering of the eyes , and tooth-ake , that it keepes off the gout and sciatica , and taketh away the rednesse of the face , that at sea it preserueth those that take it both from the Calenture or burning Feuer , and from the Scuruie , that it openeth obstructions , and is exceeding profitable in the falling sickenesse . The syrope is a good vomite , and so is a draught of white or renish wine , wherein so much of the leafe as weigheth sixe pence hath beene steeped all night : the oyle that droppeth out of a foule pipe , killeth Tetters , and all of that kinde .

The Hearbalists and other Physitians make diuers kindes or species of this Tobacco ; they commend that which beareth the great leafe , and pale incarnate flower , and call it the true Tobacco , a second sort they call Petum , and a third Nicosian .

Others ( and thinke they speake learnedly ) call our English of the lesser leafe , yellow Henbane , or Hoscyamus Luteus , and the greater Hoscyamus Peruuianus ; yea they make a difference between the Tobacco of Paria and Trinidado , and that of Peru ; although I am well assured , that there was neuer any one pound of Peru Tobacco seene in England or in Europe . But if the hearb which we call Sage , differ in kind from the same hearbe , because the French cal it Searge , and the Latines Saluia , and so all other hearbs , which diuers nations call diuersly : then doth the Petum , the Nicosian , and the Tobacco differ ; otherwise there is nothing between them : But the greatnesse & littlenesse which we distinguish by male and female , as in many other hearbs we doe the like : for the Spaniards which first found this plant in the Isle Tobaque , did therfore call it after the name of that Island : and it is true , that because there is no better soile in the world , and that it hath raine & heat sufficient , the Tobacco there growing is very large . Of this very kinde ( found euery where in America ) it was that Iohn Nicot , Clusius & Seres Theuet . Cos. gen. born in Nismes in Languedoc , & Embassador in Portugall for Henry the 2d of France , sent of the seed to Queen Katherine of Medicis , after called , Queene Mother of France , wherevpon it was by some called , Queen Mothers hearbe , by others it was and is still called Nycosian , and yet Theuet vaunts that he sent it into France 10 years before Nicots Embassage . Now as the Brasilians call this Tobacco , Petum ; so in the West Indies it is cald Vicielt , saith Monardus : and Ouiedus . lib. 11 c. 5. saith , that in Hispaniola it is cald Perebecenut , Simp. Medicam . the Guianians call it Tamoi , other Nations Tekel , & the Virginians Opoak , & it is euery where , and in England it selfe , greater , according to the soyle : yea it diffe●s in taste , thickenesse , largenesse , and goodnesse almost in euery Garden wherein it is planted .

True it is , notwithstanding that there are found manifest differences in the male and female , or in the greater or the lesse , both in flower & largenesse , though both of one kinde , the same being found in many Hearbes , Plants , and Trees besides .

Now for those that make Tobacco a kinde of Hoscryamus , because it stupifieth as Hoscryamus , or Henbane doth , they may as wel say that Opium is also a kinde of Tobacco , or Tobacco a kinde of Opium , or that Stramonium is of that species which benummeth more then either Tobacco or Opium . For the rest , this is true , that as it is vsually taken in England , it hath more of the ill then of the good . For those that take Tobacco with wine , do absolutely alter the propertie of it , & make it the Artificer of many ill accidents and diseases , I meane all those that drinke wine betweene meales , and presently after the taking of it . For where God hath giuen this hearbe for a remedy to those poore people that want both wine , spice , and salt , that doe often swim riuers , and diue vnder water , that goe naked , and are beaten with showres , that feed aboundantly vppon fruits , that suffer hunger and thirst , that liue in a region violently hot : we in this part of the world vse Wine of all sorts , and all sorts of Spices , we eate salt with our meat , and powder our flesh and fish with it , and thereby drye vp , and sucke out the corrupt and harmefull moysture that it hath : we that , besides Wine , haue strong Beere , & strong Ale , that couer our bodies with garments , and are prest with cold for three parts of the yeare , do not need any such drying fume at all .

It is true that those that haue decaying bodies , those that are of yeares , and opprest with moysture and fleame , those that are subiect to rhumes and the cough , that haue cold stomackes , and are inclined to the gout , or haue it , or that are subiect to any of the imperfections before named , for those it is a singular remedy . But it destroies all our youth that take it without cause , and euery houre of the day , it makes them tender and not able to endure the aire , it makes them dull and sleepy , brings them to the rhume and tooth-ake , marres their teeth , except they cleanse them often , begets in them a drouth , and consequently a desire to drinke : yea and an entrance to drunkennesse it selfe : for many of them finding some little sickenesse in their stomackes when they take strong Tobacco , do presently drinke of the strongest Wines : the Tobacco opens the body , and makes way , by which the wine inuadeth the liuer , and drieth it vp : yea taken in that manner with strong drinkes it consumes the radicall moysture , and hastneth on old age : the Indians doe therefore forbid it the children , till they haue taken wiues and haue had children , as wee in England were wont to forbid maides and yong men the vse of Wine : for though Tobacco stirre the appetite , yet is it no friend to generation , vsed with wine as before remembred . He that desireth further knowledge of this Hearbe , let him reade Oliuer de Serres , L. of Pradel in his Agriculture , and Car. Stephanus vpon the same subiect , lib. 2. c. 76.