A DEFENCE OF TOBACCO: WITH A FRIENDLY ANSWER TO THE late printed Book called Work for Chimney-sweepers, etc.  
Si iudicas, cognosce: si Rex es, iube  
LONDON, Printed by Richard Field for Thomas man.. 1602.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR HENRY COCK knight, Cofferer to her Majesty: and Master Richard Brown Esquire, Clerk of the Green cloth.  

Much here is said, Tobacco to defend,  
And much was said, tobacco to disgrace:  
Read, mark, and scan: then censure in the end:  
Both you are men, most fit to judge the case.  
Esteem of me, as you in me shall find:  
Crave pardon first I do: and that obtained,  
Know this, that no man shall with better mind,  
Each where declare to you his love unfaind.   

Come what shall come, to this poor Indian toy:  
Unto you both, I wish immortal joy.    

A DEFENCE OF TOBACCO: WITH A FRIENDLY ANSWER TO THE late printed Book called Work for Chimney-sweepers, etc. Si iudicas, cognose: si Rex es, iube.  
THere was published of late, a certain brief Discourse of Tobacco. By whom it was penned, I know not, I protest: no more than I know his name, that did lay the first stone at the building of London bridge. But in my judgement, he seemeth to be a man, well read, and of sufficient learning, and understanding. I am requested by some of my friends, (who rather may command me,) thoroughly to peruse it, and that being done, to give my censure, and opinion, and therewithal, to give such defence as I can, to that poor simple, if the truth of the matter, will any manner of way, seem to bear it.  
Loath I am, I confess, to intermeddle in any such matters: nevertheless, for so much, as modest, and scholarly disputations are to be allowed, and conference between such, as have been civilly brought up in schools, are not to be disliked: for that oftentimes they do much good, and give great contentment to the Reader, if they be done with due regard, of time, place, and person: I have thought it not amiss to yield unto my friend's request: and to say something ●o the matter: more I assure you, to satisfy their desire herein, then otherwise, to seek to offend any. For I do protest, and that truly, that I am no way high minded: or do challenge any whit so much unto myself, as some perchance, rather of good will, no doubt, then of my desert do yield unto me. And among that number of men I do account myself, that rather desireth to learn of others, then to be a teacher, and an instructor of any. But every thing is, as it is taken: and my hope is, that nothing shallbe ill taken there, where all is well meant.  
And before I enter into the matter itself, I hold it not amiss to put down the main point of the Discourse, or the true state of the question, as they call it, and so much the rather, for that the Author seemeth somewhat uncertain herein: sometime inveighing against Tobacco itself, and his manifest qualities: sometime speaking but only against the great abuse thereof. If his meaning be, only to condemn the abuse of Tobacco: in that, I am ready to take his part, and will most willingly join with him hand in hand: but yet so, as I do think, that a good thing should be no more misliked, for the abuse thereof: then I do think: that fire, is therefore utterly to be condemned, because sometime either a town or house, is set a fire therewith, be it by negligence or malice of others: or that good drink is therefore to be dispraised, because some that exceed therein, and lie tippling, and quaffing at it all day long, sometime do lose, both their wealth, and wits and all thereby. Leaving therefore, the abuse of Tobacco: or at the least, touching it, as occasion shall be offered: my meaning is only to deal with Tobacco itself: and therein to show: that, neither of itself, or for itself, it is to be so mightily misliked: or at the least wise, not so much to be misliked for those causes, and reasons, which are by the Author alleged.  
The order that I will observe shall be thus: the eight chief, and capital arguments, which himself hath set down, I will allege verbatim, and in the same order, as he hath placed them. And that being done, I will collect and gather, as briefly as I can, the pith, sum, or substance, of his principal proofs, which he bringeth for the farther strengthening, and confirmation of his said arguments, but yet not rehearsing all the Author's words, for that would be too long, and over tedious: but, in that behalf, I will refer the Reader over to the book that is published in print, for his better satisfaction. And having answered his arguments, then will I briefly deal with such pretty by-points, and questions of learning, which shall be worth the noting, and shall be found here and there sprinkled, and scattered, in all the Chapters of his book following, in order as they lie.  
Touching mine own particular fantasy and affection to Tobacco: I protest, it is no manner of way, tied unto it. For in all my life, either I did never take it at all: or else very seldom: so that, even in that respect also, I may be held▪ as a most indifferent judge for the matter. Not making indeed, any great reckoning or account, on which side the judgement, or sentence shall go: not much unlike to a friends saying of mine, of late: and it was thus: This friend of mine, being not many years ago, a great Courtier, and pleasant conceited Gentleman: but now altogether retired into the country, and a man of very good worth, and quality; had at that time a suit unto his Lord and master, whom he then served: for the saving of a man, that was then condemned to be hanged: and but for a trifle neither, quoth he: What is that, said his Lord? Only said he, for mistaking of a word or two: for whereas he should have bid an honest man, good morrow: he chanced to bid him Deliver his purse. Well said his Lord, smiling, I will do what I can to get his pardon of her Majesty: but yet in good faith tell me, what shalt thou have, for thy pains? if his pardon be gotten. By my troth, quoth he: and I will not lie unto your Lordship, the troth is, I am promised forty pound. But if it please your Honour to make it up ten pound more, and to give me fifty, as God judge me, I care not if he be hanged by and by. And even so in a manner it fareth with me, touching the case of Tobacco now in question. For if upon the matter, he shall be found meet to remain still in request, in some sort, I shall be glad thereof: if otherwise, I shall not greatly be aggrieved.  
But yet, for that this Tobacco, is a poor gentleman, and a stranger; and, as it should seem, of some good account in his country, with the high Priests, and Rulers of the Synagogues there, and can speak no word of our language to defend himself, being so mightily accused as he is: and now standeth upon his trial, at the Bar, I could wish, that for the honour of our country he might be both honourably, and favourably dealt withal, and to be permitted to entertain some one man or other to plead his cause, and to speak for him: were it but in forma pauperis: or rather as my neighbours of P●ticoate-lane, Scold, Chider, and Spend-all, are wont to call it, in form of Papers. And for that it is a deed of charity to succour and help the needy: and for that I am naturally inclined to pity, and to favour poor strangers, I pray you give me leave to say something in his behalf, and to speak that which I have to say, frankly, and freely, without any offence.  

The first Argument, is: That in the use, or custom of Tobacco, no method, or order is observed: diversity, and distinction of persons, times, and seasons considered: no varieties of accidents, and diseases pondered, etc.  
The first reason dependeth wholly upon this point: Because there is no order, or method kept therein: therefore either it, or rather the daily use of it, is to be discommended. And for proof thereof, there is mentioned, the decay of a Commonwealth, for lack of order, and right government: and beside ●hat, a long discourse is brought in, out of Hypocrates, Galen, and other good writers, as also grounded upon good experience: That there must regard be had, of the age, of the time, of the disease, of the sex, of the region and place, of the complexion, etc. or else all is marred: and there can come no good either of it, or of any thing else that is disorderly taken, etc.  
All this is yielded unto, so that there needeth no longer speech at all▪ where th●re is no contradiction. So that briefly to conclude: This Argument seemeth, altogether to drive against the immoderate, and disorderly abuse of Tobacco: and not much against the thing itself: and every artificer and mean trades man, can both see it, and also say as much: that where no order is kept, there the work cannot prosper, or come to good effect. As for example: He were a simple Cook, that thought all meats should be dressed alike: or that a Chine of Beef, should have no greater a fire, nor no longer a time of roasting, than a dousin of Larks. And he hath small knowledge in baked meat, that supposeth that a good fat pasty of Venison, must have no longer a time, either of baking, or of soaking, than an apple Tart. Neither is he to be accounted to have any skill in baking of bread, I trow, that will first thrust in the batch of bread into the Oven, and then make the fire afterward.  
So that to conclude, where all circumstances are not considered, that aught to be regarded: and where any action is to be performed, and where method, order, and proportion is not kept and observed, there all the labour is lost, and whatsoever is taken in hand, is marred for lack of discretion. So fareth it with Tobacco: that where it is immoderately and disorderly used, there I confess some offence perchance, may well enough grow by the abuse thereof: and yet for all that, the poor Simple of itself, and the right use thereof, may justly deserve great commendation. Hitherto then, it seems we agree well enough.  
But here in your farther discourse you say: That we see by experience, that some diseased of the Dropsy, and mois● complexions, and maladies growing of superfluities of humours, have received great help by the frequent use of this Tobacco, etc.  
Tobacco is very much beholding to you for this, I assure you, that yourself hath here confessed by the way: and it is almost as much, as is either to be wished, or looked for, for the great good of Tobacco. For if it be well weighed, it mightily confuteth, all the rest in a manner of your bitter inveighing against it; in other places: namely: that it hindereth digestion, it depriveth nature of nourishment, it destroyeth natural heat, it marreth propagation, it is a dangerous poison: and the like.  
For now in the mean while, ex confessis: Tobacco in this place is held for a thing very good for dropsies you say and moist complexions, and waterish diseases: and in some other placeshereafter, as you affirm, it is good for the scurvy, for weak cold stomachs, for rheumatic fluxes, for gross & foggy bodies, yea: and for expelling of poison in some sort, etc. All which sayings of yours, are in my opinion marvelous great praises for Tobacco: & so great, as no greater praise can well be devised, to be attributed, or given, to any one simple in the garden. What? To be good to cure dropsies, and waterish diseases, and rheums, and scurvies, and cold, and weak stomachs, etc. Why? what would you more? would you have it good for all things? Nay: the honest stranger that praised butter so much, could never bring that to pass in his butter as good as it was: for when that he had said all the good that he could of it, saying, it was good to eat at all times, both morning and evening, and good for all sorts of people both early and late, and good for pies, cakes, and spice-bread, and many other iunketing knacks; and in the end praised it so excessively, that at the last he confirmed it with an oath, that it was the only thing in the world, for it was good for all things: Nay, ho there, said a good fellow, and a slander by, That's not so: for it is not good to stop ovens. Although Tobacco be not good for all things: no, nor for so many things neither, as butter is perchance, yet by my faith: it is well, if it be good for so many things, and so great matters, as dropsies and the like, as you have said: and you shall hardly match him again I warrant you, with his like in all points.  
Marry if your meaning be by this reason, only to reprehend the abuse and disorder thereof: Then this controversy is at an end. But yet as I have already said: The lack of discretion of the party that useth it: is no dispraise to the thing that is abused.  
You still go on, and at the last you find fault with Tobacco, For that by the use of Tobacco, the natual offices and functions of the body are perverted, as namely the mouth, throat, and stomach, are made emunctory cleansing places, and sinks for the filth, and superfluous excrements of the whole body, etc.  
But this objection is very weak, and to little purpose. For who sees not, that those parts which you have named, are in some sort appointed by nature, to serve for the self same purposes, which you have here mentioned: as the mouth to avoid superfluous spittle, by hawking, reaching, and spitting: the nose, by uttering such filth, as descendeth from the brain, and forepart of the head: the throat, by coughing, to rid, & make passage for tough phlegm, from the lungs, and also to cast up and discharge ill matters from the stomach, by the way of vomiting, either procured by art, or otherwise coming voluntarily by nature's motion, when she findeth herself surcharged with an overplus. So that by these doings it should seem, here is either no offence at all done unto nature, neither yet her course perverted: or at the least, nothing so much wronged, & perverted, as is by you supposed. Marry if these excrements which are wont to be brought thither, and to be conveyed away by those places, were left there to remain, it we●e another matter, and there were somewhat to be said▪ but daily experience maketh it manifest, and yourself also confesseth it, that it bringeth no more thither, than it carrieth away from thence. And so upon the reckoning, it should seem it is so far from causing any annoyance or offence, that it rather cleanseth and preserveth those places, by keeping them much better, and sweeter, than otherwise.   

The second reason is, for that It is in quality and complexion, more hot and dry, then may be conveniently used daily of any man: much less of the hot, and choleric constitution.  
True it is that the good temperament, and constitution of our bodies dependeth upon the iust, and due proportion and mixture of the four Elements: not that each body hath a like quantity, or proportion of the said Elements in them, by weight and measure: but according to the rules of justice, and sufficiency for every particular body to have, they be so orderly mingled and proportioned, as is best for the health and strength of that particular body, to make him able to do, and perform, all those functions and actions, which are fittest for the body to do, and perform. For example sake, as that horse is said to have his health best, and to be of a good constitution, which is best able in running, and other actions, to perform those things best, which appertain to a horse, for to do: and as that dog likewise is said, to be best, & soundest, which in hunting, and smelling, etc. with best strength and agility performeth his functions: so is that man said to be in best plight of body and perfect health, which findeth himself best able to perform, and discharge all those actions which are agreeable for his body, and incident to the nature of man: so that, they and we consist of the like elements: but not of the like proportion & mixture of the same elements; but yet of such a sufficient & convenient temperature, as shall be most befitting for the health and good estate of each creature in his degree. And of this due commixtion of these elements, riseth those four compound temperaments, or complexions that are so famous: The Sanguine: the Choleric: the Melancholy: and the Phlegmatic: all agreeing, in having all the Elements in them: yet all disagreeing, in having them proportioned a like in them; and yet every one well pleased in that quantity & proportion, which he hath, and enjoyeth in himself.  
Now, whether these foresaid Elements be in our bodies substantially, and materially, as they be in nature, and essence: or only but the qualities, powers and properties of the same: so placed and conveyed, into the mould of our temperature, as they are able to work, and be get their like effects in us, and our bodies: that is a dark and a tedious question, and hath bred great contention among the learned: but yet, not much material to the purpose of that thing which we have now in hand.  
But this one thing is to be noted by the way, that none of these temperatures, or complexions, are so narrowly scantled, or penned up into such a straight, but that each one of them may in some sort, admit a certain kind either of increase, or decrease, of his principal humour, whereof he carrieth his denomination, and yet retain his natural and perfect constitution still. As for example: The sanguine man may lose some blood, or else alter some part of the same: the choleric man likewise, may either increase, or decrease some part of his choler; and so of the rest: and yet retain his health: and remain of a sanguine, or a choleric constitution still. For as the Base, and Treble in Music have diverse alterations of rising and falling in them, which I think▪ they call keys, and strains, all differing in proportion, yet in sound, and noise, making all a pleasing musical concord: so in like manner have these constitutions, or complexions of ours, a certain decent scope, or latitude (as we call it) to walk in: and yet for all that, each one of them, may be said to keep his first strength, and constitution, with a sweet pleasing proportion and harmony. Thus much being generally spoken: now let us weigh your argument, and the material notes, and proofs, annexed to the same.  
In this place it is said by you: that, the daily use of Tobacco, is not good for any man: much less for the choleric constitution.  
If you mean, by these words, daily use: too much, or immoderate use; I yield unto it: and in that sense, it is not good, for any other complexion: be it never so cold, and Phlegmatic. No more is any thing else, that I do know. But if you mean by daily use, the often and frequent use thereof, and then mean that the frequent and often use is not good for any, as here you say that it is not: than you contradict yourself. For but even now, in a few lines going before in your first Chapter, you said: many moist complexions, have received great help, by the frequent use of Tobacco, etc. which is flat against that, which you do now here affirm.  
But it had been well done of you, here to have put down, which way of taking of Tobacco you do mean, when you thus condemn, the daily use thereof. If you mean the daily taking of it in substance, as a food, etc. I know none, for my part, that useth it so; if you mean, by infusion, or decoction, or otherwise, as a medicine to purge withal, etc. I think likewise none so mad, or so foolish, as to offend that way. But if you mean, by fume, and Pipe, as I think you do: how comes it then to pass, that you stand so greatly in fear of it now, when you confess in another place: that▪ the fume of it is not any matter, of any great importance, or able to make any great impression, too or fro, to do any great good, or ill at all. Me think (as the poor old man said by his patched torn cloak) this gear hardly hangs well together.  
And whereas this misliking of yours, seemeth to rise of his two manifest qualities that be in him: that is to say, ●or his great heat, and dryness: why, you know, and I know, that hotter things than this is▪ and drier too, are daily taken of all sorts, yea and of all complexions; as Ginger, Pepper, Clo●es, ●raines, and Mace, and other good spices, as well with meat, as also in their daily drink, suppinses, and caudles: and yet for any thing, that either you, or I can see; God be thanked, there comes no hurt at all in the world thereby.  
But why it should destroy, and consume natura●● heat and moisture, as you affirm, which are the principals of our life; in truth I understand not, unless, as I said, the takers thereof, should make whole meals thereof, which I am sure no man doth. For then indeed it may be, it would work that effect: and so would all your cordial spices do also: if men should in that disorderly manner feed on them: as to make whole meals thereof. Whereas now being moderately taken: and yet daily too: they be great preservers of health, in most sort of men, or rather in all kind of complexions: as a●l men I am sure, will confess.  
That which is added out of Aristotle; O●ne simile, additum simili, reddit ipsum simile magis simile: maketh lit●e for your purpose. For as yourself confesseth, that; Contraria contrarijs curantur: so I think you are as willing to confess also: that, similia similibus nutriuntur. Now ●ir; if Tobacco be hot and dry, as you put down that it is, and the choleric man hot likewise; and than if ●●ke be increased with like: as Aristotle saith: or if like be nourished, maintained, and preserved with like, as Ph●sitions affirm: then like enough it is, that the choleric man's complexion, is rather preserved by Tobacco, then destroyed: presupposed always, if it be moderately taken. It may be, you will here have a kind of evasion, and a certain starting hole: and I guess well enough what it is, yet nevertheless I will not name it. But for anything that is yet said of you to the contrary, this argument holdeth; and so it shall rest for me.  
Moreover, that Principle of Aristotle: Omne simile, additum simili, etc. must have a nice interpretation, and must be rightly understood: or else it is like enough, I tell you, to breed an error. Like increaseth like, you say. It is true: but yet in quantity it increaseth it, and not in quality: unless that same like, be in a higher, and stronger degree, of quality and likeness. And yet, how it should then rightly be called like, being by reason of a higher degree unlike, for my part, I see not. As for example: hot water, being put to as hot water, maketh not that hot wa●er, hotter than it was, unto the which it is put. It may well increase the substance, and quantity of that hot water: but yet not the heat, and quality thereof. Then, unless Tobacco, be hotter than choler, (which will be very hard to prove) it cannot increase choler in heat, and quality. But if it be colder in power and quality, (as I think it will fall out, that it is) then doth it rather abate, and suppress the heat of choler, then increase it. For warm water, yea though it be good and warm water: yet because it is not so hot, as scalding hot water is, being put to scalding hot water; it doth not increase his heat a whit: but rather cooleth it, I warrant you, try it when you will.  
Touching the great store, of undigested, and crude humours, which are the effects of immoderate heats in us, as you affirm; and so consequently are cause and occasion of hot fevers; I see no cause of any such fear by Tobacco. For if daily experience may serve for a sufficient proof of the contrary: I for my part, have seen none at all: neither hath any man else I am sure known any; or at the least, very few, among so many thousands, that daily take it, that have fallen into agues directly upon the taking of Tobacco: and therefore, even by that experiment also it doth seem unto me, that the taking thereof, especially in fume, (which as yourself granteth, hath very, small force to work any great matter upon our bodies) can cause no such fiery, and extreme heat in the body, as is by you supposed, but rather, if it do give any heat, yet that heat is rather a familiar, and a pleasing heat, than an immoderate, extraordinary, and an aguish distemperature.  
And as for them that affirm, Agues to be cured by Tobacco, as you say; if any unlearned so say: in my judgement, it is an unsavoury speech, & without sense or method, and I leave it to them that so say, to defend it as they can. But it may be, you mistake them. Possible it is, that their saying, yea, and their meaning too, is thus: that in the curing of Agues, Tobacco, may have his good use, if he be rightly used: as well as other purgatives have. And that opinion well understood, is not greatly amiss. For if Purgations, being done in good order, and conveniently given in their due times, and seasons, be one of the especial helps, to rid and cure rotten Agues, as you know it is: than it is like enough▪ that Tobacco, by his purging faculty, may do much good, by taking away the cause of the Ague, as other Purgations do. For if you think it can do no good that way, because it is hot and dry: then by that reason likewise, no Purgatives in a manner, that the old ancient writers did use, can do any good that way. For that they were all, or most of them of the same nature, hot and dry: as for example: Elleborus, Colocinth, Elatery, Esulus, Scammony: which was not only used by them in a manner altogether: but at this day also, is one of the most common, and usuallest things that we have; especially, in our great, and magistral compositions.  
As for the danger that you presuppose▪ is in the often use of Tobacco, to them that be in health, for dissipating, & consuming that wholesome humour, by often vomits, sieges, sweatings, spittings, and coughings, which otherwise would be turned to good blood, and nourishment: and all this to be done to by the fume of Tobacco, (which by and by vanisheth away, as all smokes do.) In my fancy, all this is but a mere imagination: and directly against that which yourself hath said already: affirming that the fume hath no great force to work, any matter of moment in our bodies, as also flat against common and daily experience. For neither I, nor you, nor any man else, in my opinion, ever did see, that the fume (for of that your talk must be, or else you talk to no purpose) which is the thing only that is in daily use, did ever work, any great purge, or vomits, or sweats: or if it did at any time: yet it was by a mere accident and chance; which is nothing to purpose. As for the other humidities, which as you say, it provoketh, from the brain, and other parts of the head: a man may think, that those things may as conveniently be done, and with as little hurt or danger with Tobacco, as we see them daily done by your errhina's, and nasalia's, and Sternutatories, which are usually given in Physic by the nose, to procure sneezing, and clammy filth to come down that way: or by your Mastichatories, which you use to chew and to provoke the passing away of offensive humours by the mouth: or by your expertorating medicines, and procurers of Phleagme to be discharged, and avoided by coughings.  
But if your meaning be, that it consumeth only that humidity, which is laid up in the stomach, as in a storehouse, to serve to good purpose hereafter; even in that point also, you are deceived, considering the great waterishn●sse, and overmuch moisture, of our country, and the people thereof: as shallbe more at large spoken of hereafter: in so much that there is a great deal mor● fear and care to be had, of the offences, that may grow by too much humidity in the stomach; then any whit, to stand in fear, of any great matter, or harm that may ensue, upon the abating of the abundance, of that humidity and moisture.  
And now: whereas you affirm, it maketh, the gross, and foggy, to be lean, etc. If this be certain, which by you is put down and avouched, you have given Tobacco, one of the greatest praises, that can be devised. And if there were no other matter, why it should be had in good regard: yet for this only point it deserveth immortal praise. You are not ignorant I am sure, how many learned men, have of long time laboured, and do daily busy themselves from time, to time, how to de●ise remedies, to make the gross, and foggy man, lean, in some reasonable measure, and yet notwithstanding, you see, how few have, or can effect the same. For my part, I would I were indebted to you, in a good round sum of money, that I might be assured, Tobacco, could work that feat. Do you but assure me, that it can do it indeed: and I will be bound to assure you, that no Consumption, or decay, either of natural heat, or radical & substantial moisture, shall follow upon the taking of Tobacco. But to come something close to the point. If Physic have any direct, and ordinary means to pull down a gross and foggy body, as you call it: in my conceit, it must be, by convenient competent evacuations, and drying diets, fit, and agreeable for the purpose. Now sir: if those ordinary remedies which are usual in the common course of Physic, for the abating of overmuch foggy fatness, are, and aught to be of the same quality and condition that Tobacco is: that is to say, hot, and dry: and notwithstanding the daily use of them, yet for all that, we stand no whit in fear, that either consumptions, or decay of natural heat and moisture, will ensue upon the use thereof, when they are ministered: what is the reason then, why we should be so much afeard, of the using of Tobacco, in the like case, having the self same properties, that other medicines either have, or should have, being used to the same effect, and purpose?  
And whereas you imagine it is very unapt, to breed good nourishment (and upon that hangeth the greatest weight, and moment of your reasons:) I see not well, how that can be: except it be, by one of these two means following: that is to say, either because Tobacco itself maketh not good nourishment, if it be taken into the body: or else because Tobacco decayeth and destroyeth, the chiefest instrument, that maketh good nourishment for our bodies, which is the stomach. If we mean, it breedeth no good nourishment of itself, as other good meats do: I yield thereunto, as I said before: and conferee as much now: neither did I ever take Tobacco, to be any good meat at all: neither doth any man use it for food, that I know. But if your meaning be, that therefore it hindereth good nourishment, because it hindereth, and destroyeth the chiefest instrument of good nourishment, I mean our stomach: in my judgement, you are far deceived: for it is rather a principal help in that respect, than any hinderer at all. For if overmuch moisture be a great hinderer of the stomach, by relaxing of it: and by dulling the desire, and appetite of meat: and if great cold be another great enemy, to the same; for that it hindereth, and decayeth good concoction: then Tobacco, as Tobacco having the contrary qualities, that is to say, being hot, and dry, is no such ill means to amend those foresaid defects, and infirmities of the stomach, as you presupposed that it is. I say, Tobacco, as Tobacco: that is, as Tobacco I mean rightly, and moderately used: for too much wood, suddenly, and out of order heaped on, choketh, and putteth out the fire: and too much good wine, being immoderately and excessively swilled in, though of his own nature it be warm, and comfortable, yet, so taken, it killeth and extinguisheth natural heat: and so in this, as in other things, the common saying is fulfilled: Too much of any thing, is good for nothing.  
Your discourse of smells, is for the most part true and pretty, and very well to be liked: but yet in all parts, but weak, and faint, to prove the matter in hand. The Aristotelians, and the Galenists, are at a jar about the nature of smells: and some of the old writers; as also some of the latter to, yea, and those of the best sort, and greatest fame: have much a do about this point: to prove that sweet swells do nourish, and are mightily puzzled in it. But yet to be brief, in this point, for my part, I do ●ssen● unto you, and am of opinion, as you are, that sweet smells do nourish. But yet the principal point in question remaineth still in doubt: which is this: whether Tobacco stink, or no? Then, whether it do stink in that high degree, that it doth breed such great offence to nature, as it must needs be abhorred so much, as you do bear us in hand it must. And by the way: if it do stink: is it therefore to be thought utterly unprofitable, to be used, in Physic? For the deciding of this question, whether it stink, or no: I know no better way, or director course, then to appeal to the multitude of indifferent voices.  
True it is, that as all noses are not alike in shape, and making but some are long noses, some short: some thin, and sharp, as they say shrews be: some great and botteld, as I know whose is: so is there great variety of judgement in their smells, and that which pleaseth one much displeaseth another: as appeared by the merry tale of the Collier, that passing through Bucklersbury, fell into a kind of trance, with the sweet smells of that street, and was revived again with the smell of, you wot what, if all Caunterbury tales be true. But yet thus much I do know, and I think yourself also will not deny; That men of great learning and judgement, men of right good bringing up, men of fine, and dainty diet, men of good worth, and worship, yea men, of right honourable estate, and calling; do like of the smell of Tobacco well enough. Why then should it be so mightily condemned by you, for such an horrible stinker? If it were possible to have, so great an assembly, of so indifferent, and worthy judges for this matter, as there is now, a most honourable meeting, at this very instant in the high Parliament for other greater matters, & if it might be put to their judgement, assure yourself, it would go against you, and you would quite be overthrown: and for one voice of your side, there would be twenty, at the least on the other; and all for Tobacco. For I can tell you, that this is held for an infallible rule, and to be one of the most perfectest signs of good Tobacco; that it be sweet, and yield a kind of pleasing, fragrant, aromatical smell. But by the way of admittance, let it be said, that it hath a kind of rank, or unpleasant savour. What then? shall it therefore be banished out of the use of Physic? or if it bring, a greater commodity with it, shall it therefore, for a little rank smell, be rejected? Smell me to the simple, called Vuluaria: or to your Castoreum: or to your Assa foetida, called of some Stercus Diaboli, or to your great composition of Mithridat, the glory of Physic, and the wonder of the world: and such other, which are no small fools in the course of Physic: and I believe, when you have but once handled some of them; you would thank him, that would bring you a little good Tobacco, to help to put away those smells, and to sweeten yourself again. If men did commend Tobacco, to make Pomanders withal: or for lipsalve, or for fine perfumes, and sweet smells, for Lady's chambers, it were another matter: and might perchance have been justly misliked.  
Your story of Ambrose Pary, is far fetched, and to no purpose in all the world. What needed you to have fetched your proofs out of France, to persuade that ill smells do offend? Every dunghill in England, and something else too, can testify that well enough.  
And here I must needs tell you by the way, that your speeches, be a little too much exceeding, and as I might term them, too far transcendent, and your comparisons too unequal, when you inveigh against poor Tobacco. For when you talk of his manifest qualities, which are hot, and dry, and yet that to not excessive: but in some measurable manner, yet you term him to be, fi●ry, hellish, burning, scorching, out of Pluto's forge, and the like: whereas indeed, there is no such matter: and ye● upon that hyperbolical ground, as I may say, are most 〈◊〉 your arguments builded. As if a man should reason thus: Because too great a fire, and therewithal standing too near unto it, doth burn a man: therefore, a moderate fire, with a reasonable distance standing from it, were not fit to warm a man pleasingly, and with delight. Or because scalding hot water, is fitter to scald a pig, then to trim a man's beard: therefore lukewarm water▪ is not good to be used in Barber's basins: for even much a like hang these your arguments together▪  
And now, in like manner, what a comparison have you picked out▪ between Tobacco, and that most hateful thing, the plag●●● He that knoweth not of what a monstruous deep, filthy, corrupt, stinking putrefaction, the plague proceedeth, being able not only to infect another: but also to beget in a second person, in a third, yea and in a fourth man, another monstruous, stinking, contagious seminary as he calleth it (a Seminary Priest if ye will) like to himself; let him but read that learned Fracastorius upon that point in his books De morbis contagiosis; and he shall be satisfied. And now alas, what comparison is there between the smell of such a monster, and poor Tobacco: whose smell is deemed no worse of such as love him, and are men of good account, and of a dainty sense, then to have a certain, drying, odoriferous, aromatical savour: and of such as hate him, yet if they do him right, and be not too partial, can be thought to be but something hot in smell, and as it were a little rank at the most.  
Touching the story of D. T. it dieth of itself: and is to as little purpose, as the other of Ambrose Pary. Yea, and if it be well scanned, it is directly against yourself. For you confess, he would not for a hundredth pounds, but that he had used it: and why? himself answereth: for thereby saith: he found great ease, of his cold, and rheumatic stomach. So that upon this man's confession: Tobacco is nothing so ill a thing, or such a terrible bug, as you have made him, to hinder nourishment, or to destroy and overthrow concoction. For, as you see, it mended his stomach, which was weak, and feeble before. And whereas he says, he cannot, now leave it: even in that also, he seemeth by implication as it were, to confess: That there is no such horrible ill smell in it, as you preten● there is. For if D. T. be he, whom I do think, you mean: then do I know the man well, and know him also to be a very learned gentleman: and of a fine grain, as also to be a moderate, sweet, civil gentleman, in all his whole carriage of his life: and if the stink were so offensive, as you would make it to be, assure yourself, a man of his gentlemanly course of life, and dainty nature, would have the discretion in common sense, to shun, and abhor it. As for the saying of the Noble man; it must be taken, and regarded, as a particular speech, of an honourable person, that could not abide Tobacco, and as the testimony only of one; and for that one, you shall have a dozen, of the same order, and degree, to think, and to say the contrary.   

The third reason, is, for that It is experimented and tried, to be a most strong, and violent purgation: and for proof of this: you appeal: To the often scour, vomits, sweats, and other immoderate evacuations incident into this simple.  
Tobacco to be a purgative, or to have a purging faculty, is no dispraise in all the world, that I know. No, nor yet to be a strong, and violent purgative, deserveth any whit more discommendation, than other purgatives do, being of the same nature and degree, & which for all that, are held in such high price, and great estimation in Physic, as yourself knoweth. For what is more violent, then Elleborus, Colocinth, Elatery, Euphorb, Scammony: and such like; and yet what daily use there is of them, and with what good effect, and safety also, being carefully, and artificially handled, and prepared, who seeth not? A good rider had rather have, a strong, hot, stirring, ready running horse, than a weak, lame, sluggish jade, as I take it. And give me a sharp fine edged, cutting knife, to eat my meat withal, rather than a dull penny whittle, fit to cut butter withal, when it is warm, as the common Proverb is. But here perchance you will say, a mean between both, is best; and so perchance say I, to. But yet for all that, the strength of your argument is broken. For, as neither a strong, stirring horse, nor a sharp knife, is to be misliked, in themselves, or for themselves; but if any offence grow by them, it is either by the unskilfulness, or by the negligence of the one or the other: so fareth it with the secrets, and mysteries of Physic.  
Again, yourself confesseth, and I likewise do confess, that this is true, that you have said: that is to say: If a Purgation do not purge, that humour which should be purged, but lieth drowned in the body without any working: then the Purgation increaseth that humour which should have been purged, and thereby doth rather much harm, than any good at all. So that hereby it is to be gathered, that the danger is rather in weak, and sluggish Purgations, then in such, as are quick, nimble, and active; if they be handled skilfully, and according to art. Let the Physician be learned, and know how to direct, correct, and bridle him, and you may turn him lose. So that even in this respect also, Tobacco deserveth great commendation, if it be well, and skilfully used. I would no● have any man to mistake me here, and to think, that my meaning is, in these speeches, to condemn, or dispraise, our mild, and gentle Purgatives, which are now so much in use, and are called: Benedicta medicament●: most holy, and blessed medicines. For that is no part of my meaning, neither doth any man more use them, in all his practice, than myself doth. But all my speech tendeth to this end: that whereas it is most manifest, that there is, and may be good use, and profit made of both medicines, as well of that which is strong, and violent, as of that which is a gentle, and a mild Purgative, if they be rightly used: therefore I think it great pity, and against reason too, that where both I say, may be well used, there any one of them, should be condemned, or misliked.  
But this fault, that you do find by his purging property, toucheth nothing the taking of him, by Pipe, or fume: for it is well known, that, by that way, it worketh none of those effects, that you talk of. And yet it should ●eeme that the chiefest thing, that you shoot at, to condemn Tobacco for: is only for the great harms and discommodities, that use to come by the smoke, or fume thereof, as yourself termeth it. And for that cause, it should appear, you have entitled your Book: Work for the Chimney-sweepers, etc. And as for this smoke, which is the usual thing, that is so much inveighed against: upon my credit, there is no such dangerous purge or evacuations to be feared to come that way, as you talk of. Some little deal of waterish, cold, superfluous, Phlegmatic matter perchance, is avoided that way by Tobacco, as is well known: not much otherwise, then is avoided by chewing of Mastic, and Mastichatories, by the mouth; but yet Tobacco doth it much better than they: or else is discharged, and avoided by sneezing medicines, and cleansings, stuffing up into the nose: but yet Tobacco performeth that also, much more plentifully, and much more easily, than all they: and yet as safely too, as every man doth see.  
And whereas you conclude, that hereby it is apparent, that: (in regard of the harms, that do depend upon his violent quality in purging) it can therefore neither in health, nor sickness, be so vulgarly, and commonly used: all this is to be granted, so far foorth, as you mean to condemn thereby, the over rash, and inconsiderate use thereof; which, I do think, yourself doth mean, by those words which you have put down, when you say: So vulgarly and commonly used. And in this point, I do agree with you. But yet for all that, I say it proveth no more against Tobacco, than it doth against all other Purgatives used in Physic. For if they likewise, be daily, and rashly used: and out of season: then are they also, in like manner, for the self same reasons, and for the great mischiefs, that may come thereby, to be as well rejected, and condemned, as Tobacco. And as for all those authorities, which you have cited out of Hypocrates: they are good rules, and good sayings I grant: but yet they tend to no other end, but only to put us in mind what we have to do: and to give us a friendly Caveat, as it were, to take heed that we abuse them not. And therefore yourself said very well, a little before: that no Purge, be he familiar, and gentle: or otherwise strong and violent, aught to be familiarly, or daily used. This position is most true, being spoken of all Purgatives; and reacheth to Tobacco also, if Tobacco be used daily as a Purgative. But for my part, I know no man, that useth it as a Purgative daily, be it, either in infusion, or decoction, or in a Syrup, or Electuary made for that purpose, or in the way o● an extract, or any other way else, to that use and service. If any man do it, let him do it, at his own peril. For he that will have the Pig, or Goose roasted, after his own fashion, as they are wont to say in my country, and will not use the help, and advice of the skilful Cook therein, then if any thing chance to be amiss in the roasting, yet let the poor Pig, and the poor Goose go scotfree. For the Goose you know, may be a good Goose, (as the goodwife said to her goodman: (goose) let him do as he will:) but yet let the blame light, a God's name, where it is; that is, upon the oversight, and indiscretion of the party, that would needs have it so dressed, according to his own mind, and fashion. So, if they will be busy, and fall a purging, without the advice, of the honest, and learned Physician, let them take their pleasure, in the name of God: but if they chance to catch copper, by the way, let them thank themselves.   

The fourth Reason is; for that It withereth, and drieth natural moisture in our bodies: thereby causing sterility, and barrenness: in which respect, it seemeth an enemy to the propagation of mankind, etc.  
For better strengthening of this assertion: you affirm, that it depriveth the body of nourishment, and food. And to prove this last point, you affirm, that it spendeth and evacuateth, out of us by spitting, and sweats, and otherwise, much of that matter, that in time would prove in us, good blood, and good food for our bodies.  
I grant, that there is in every man's body for the most part a certain kind of superfluous Phlegmatic humour: as also one other excrement, which shall be nameless, which though it be an excrement, yet, it is called by the name of a Profitable excrement, and may serve, and doth serve sometime, to supply the place of nourishment, and food: and therefore may well bear the name, of Nutrimentum futurum, as some do term it. Albeit, there is another use also of that said humidity, which is laid up in the storehouse of our body: as that learned Huernius, hath well noted, comparing the body of man to the frame of the world; having the great Ocean sea so placed in it as it is, that by his sufficient moisture, and humidity, he might still temper the great excessive heat of the Sun, which otherwise, if that were not, would go near happily, with his continual hot beams, to set the whole world a fire. The like use, saith he, hath that same moisture, and humidity in our bodies, etc. But that this good matter for nourishment, should be exhausted, and consumed, in that excessive manner, by the use of poor Tobacco, being taken in smoke, (for so you mean I think, or else, you say nothing to the purpose) there need no fear at all in all the world to be had of any such matter. Nay, rather in my opinion, if it be well examined, it will be found a great helper, and maintainer, of that true natural good humidity, which in time would become good nourishment, as you say; rather than a hinderer of the same: as hath already partly been showed before in your second Chapter, and shall hereafter more at large be declared. And for proof thereof let this reason be something regarded, which followeth. This our country, and native soil of England, is an Island, and the most famous Island in Christendom, as all the world knoweth. And be it, but for that we are Islanders, yet, even in that respect, for the very situation of our country, we are by nature subject, to overmuch moisture, and rheumatic matter. Now, add unto this, that English men commonly are great eaters, nay rather great surfetters, and do delight much, and a great deal more, than any Nation else, in variety, and number of sundry meats, and dishes, whereof the Proverb came, Tam satur, quam Anglus. And yet go farther. Englishmen, are now become excessive great ●rinkers, not only of Beer, and Ale, but also, of all kind of wine, no Nation in the world, more. And moreover beside all this: we English men, offend as much in idleness, in careless sit up, and watchings, and distempering of our bodies, in royotous sports and pastimes, and in looseness of living, as any people under the Sun, whatsoever. By all which inordinate means: that same good and necessary moisture, which nature provideth, and layeth up in store to do us good withal, is commonly so far surcharged, and choked, with another unprofitable crude humidity, that she seemeth daily to make her moan, and to call for help, to have that superfluous and cumbersome enemy removed, and consumed: which otherwise would be an impediment, to the remainder of that other good, & natural moisture, which nature would willingly provide, for the supply of nourishment, and other good uses. For as Conduits, if they had not vents for to spend their waste water, would in time, either break, or else become unprofitable: so in our bodies, this unnatural, and over great increase of unnecessary humidities and moistures, being made by those means which I mentioned before, would breed great annoyances, if they were not lessened and wasted, by some device, or other.  
Now, here perchance, you will say unto me: Why? How did men in times past, before Tobacco was known? what helps had they then? or how lived they in those days? All this is nothing to the purpose: and is as soon answered by me, as objected by you. For admit they lived more orderly then, than we do now, and so perchance, had no need at all, of other helps: (which for all that I hardly believe) or rather ●ay thus: (which indeed is the liker of the two) that they had other helps, and devices, to serve their turns; which in their opinion, was as good as Tobacco: yet all this doth not prove, that Tobacco is not good for the same purpose now; as well as those former things were then, whatsoever they were. Well it may prove, that Tobacco, is a thing later devised and found out: but yet it proveth nothing at all, that because it was found out & devised but of late to speak of, therefore it hath no force, & virtue at all to do good, but rather to hurt, as you would have it. Let Tobacco, be a later device than the rest; if ye will: but at my request: I pray you let it be a better: for any thing that I see.  
For farther strengthening of this argument of yours, you allege, that the great heat, and unmeasurable dryness of Tobacco, dissipateth natural heat, whereby concoction is hindered, & by that means, many raw humours increased, etc.  
In which saying in my opinion, you do far miss the cushion. And this is the very point, that in all your discourse, is the chiefest cause and occasion of all your errors, as I have said already before. For you do reason still, as though there were such a fiery heat in Tobacco, and such an exceeding extreme dryness, as nothing might well be devised hotter, or drier. You know the old schoole-saying: uno impossibili dato, sequitur quodlibet. Grant you but that false Principle once, and then any thing indeed will follow. It is not unknown to you, and the learned, that superexcelling objects, weaken and destroy the senses, be they never so perfect: for example sake; the exceeding brightness, and the clear shining of the Sun, overcometh our sight, insomuch, that the more firmly & attentively, you do gaze upon it (as many tried it but even this last day, when it was eclipsed) the ●linder you are. What then? and shall it therefore follow, ●hat his moderate, and comfortable shining, shall put out our eyesight? Who sees not, that the extreme hot burning fire, presently killeth, and destroyeth that body, that is cast into it? and yet for all that, I hope the moderate, and pleasing warmth of the same fire, when we stand by it, yieldeth no offence at all: but rather is a great comfort unto us: if Tobacco had that superexcelling heat, or such an exceeding dryness, as you seem to attribute unto it; it were another matter. But it is neither so, nor so. I never yet heard in all my life, that moderate heat, or things that be hot in some measurable mean and degree as Tobacco is, either did, or could dissipate, or decay natural heat. If that were so, them are they, in a good pickle, that cherish their stomachs with spices, and warm drinks. Vsquabah, and D. Steeuens water, Rosa solis, and Aqua vitae, green Ginger, preserved Nutmegs, and the three Peppers, and the like, might go a begging. What stronger men have you or more active, than our Irish people? I hope they never came to that strength at the first, or maintained it, now they have it, with drinking of snow water. And if Tobacco be not by many odds, and degrees beneath all these things that I have talked of, in heat, and dryness, then let me lose my credit.  
And yet for farther proof of your argument, you allege that by the same extreme heat of Tobacco: blood being undigested and crude, becometh unfit for the sperm and seed of man, & thereby is hindered the propagation of mankind by this hellish smoke, out of Pluto's forge. This reason wholly dependeth upon the same foundation that the other did, and therefore may well receive the same answer, that the other had. So that in a matter unnecessary, there needeth not any necessary speech to be had.  
But whereas you do confidently affirm: that Tobacco cureth the disease called gonorrhea: and there upon would seem to infer, that therefore it hindereth propagation: good Lord, how are you deceived therein? and yet in so saying, what an excellent gift, and virtue have you found out in Tobacco? and what a singular praise, have you put down, on tobacco's side? I for my part, have as much laboured, in the curing of that disease, as perchance, most men have, of our profession: and I hope to, with as good success. But if I had thought, in all the time of my practice, that Tobacco, had been such a fellow, and had had any such prerogative, in the cure of that disease; assure yourself, I would have been better acquainted with him than I am; & I would have given him right good entertainment. I will not use many words in this matter for divers good, & honest respects: neither enter into any discourse, to rip up, the diverse kinds, natures, and differences, of that loathsome disease; or once seem to mention the causes, & occasions thereof, or to deal with any part of his remedies. But let this only suffice, for an infallible principle, & a thing to be maintained, against all gain sayers: That whatsoever is good to cure that sickness: that self same thing is singular good, to help and farther propagation; if it be orderly administered, and rightly understood. For what thing in the world is there, that is a greater enemy to generation, than that disease is? Tum quia corrumpi● totum nostrum corpus, & reddit ipsum semen languidum, & effoetum: tum quia ipsa generandi etiam instrumenta, nimis flaccida facit, & ad cocundum prorsus inepta. Sed hoc in loco, parcè, timideque loquendum est. Novi enim quam sint malè morata haec nostra tempora, & in quam audax oewm, a● dissolutam aetatem inciderimus: Quocirca, ut & decentiae, & pudoris, ac verecundiae justa, & honesta ratio habeatur, arbitramur multò meliùs esse, hìc consistere, quam longiùs progredi.   

The fifth reason is: for that It decayeth, and dissipateth natural heat, that kindly warmth in us; and thereby is cause of crudities, and rheums, occasion of infinite maladies, etc.  
These objections, are much like unto those that went before: and are already sufficiently answered. But yet for farther satisfaction: let this yet, be remembered by the way: That in another place before; yourself hath confessed: That in cold, rheumatic, hydropical bodies, etc. Tobacco may do much good. And now is it become, the cause of increase, of these rheums, and cold waterish humours in our bodies? here is a great alteration indeed, upon a sudden.  
Likewise in another place, you said, it cured D. T. ofhis cold rheumatic stomach. And as I take it, that was done: by giving of it some increase of good heat, with a sufficient dryness: for otherwise I know, he could not have been cured. For this is flat, and plain, that contraria, contrarijs curantur. And I am sure, yourself also, is of that opinion. And is Tobacco, now found out to be a decayer, and dissipator, of that natural kindly heat, which heretofore, it did give, and procure to others? by your own confession? By my faith: the reconciling of these, and the like speeches (whereof, there be diverse in your book) will put a wiser man than I am, or yourself either, to cast about, and to seek the bottom of his wits, how it may be brought to pass. But for that the proof of this your fifth reason, hangeth upon the proof of your fourth argument, as yourself saith, and for that cause, yourself also is willing to refer us over, to that fourth part of your Discourse: even so will I do to: and so here rest a while.  
And in the mean time, if it will please you to give me leave to enter into the consideration, of some of your pretty odd conceits, which you have here set down in this chapter, I will thank you. The troth is, I fear me, I am not very well able to conceive your meaning thoroughly, by reason, that, to my thinking, in the delivering of them, you do use, diverse kinds of windings, in, and out, and as it were certain turnings to, and fro; that are not altogether void of obscurity: but it may be, it is my weakness in understanding, and not your darkness in penning. And therefore in truth, I crave pardon, if I chance to make an offence in mistaking, etc.  
One of your conceits is this: That much hardness, and dryness is the occasion, that moisture, cannot enter. If you mean by these words: hard, and dry: an excessive, and an extreme hardness, and dryness in the highest degree: than it may be yielded unto. As, for example: A hard flint, or a marble stone: or a hot, hard, dry gad of steel, will admit no moisture into it, I confess: though you power never so much water upon them. But what is this to Tobacco? or what analogy, or proportion, is there between our bodies, and these things? though old bodies be dry, and hard too: yet are they never so dry, and hard, but they can admit moisture well enough: like as when the earth is very dry, in so much, that it is thereby full of chaps, and chinks, because it is a porous body, as we call it, and in some sort spongeous, it is therefore apt, & able to receive great moisture, and to drink in mighty showers of rain, as daily experience showeth: albeit, as it should seem, you are of a contrary opinion. And even so, fareth it with our bodies.  
Another conceit of yours is this: That dryness, doth not only hinder the receiving of moisture: but also by that means, it is an enemy to nourishment, as you infer upon it. First, to answer you merrily: and so I pray you to take it; all the suckgrouts in London, and all the whole company of tipplers, of which society, I tell you, there is not the least number, will be all upon you with open voice, and come all against you in this: to testify: That dryness never hindered as yet, the receiving, and imbibing in of any good liquor. But in good sadness, I think you speak and mean this, of an exceeding great dryness, and in the highest degree, and such as cannot be found in our bodies: for so it must needs be that you mean, and no otherwise. And in that sense, I assure you overmuch wet also, is as great an enemy to nourishment; as by this familiar example may soon appear. Admit a very good meadow, be overmuch glutted with water: and altogether overwhelmed as it were, with continual rain: and you shall see, what wise hay, and what trim grass, you shall have of that meadow. So that upon the reckoning, lay but the hare-worts, against the goose-giblets, as we are wont to say: and for my part, I see not, but that Tobacco, may work as much good to us, in the avoiding of too much moisture, as it is like to bring harm, in the procuring of too much dryness.  
Touching your painting out of old age, with his stiff, and dry sinews, and with many other of his infirmities, and imperfections; I confess them all to be true, and wish with all my heart, that I were able to remedy them: were it but to amend, some crooked conditions in myself▪ and some thing else. But yet I see no reason, why that great cold, should not be as great an occasion of the increase of all these harms, and imperfections in old age, as any thing else that can be named. For he that thinketh not, that cold hath a mighty strength, to work a wonderful hardness, and dryness: let him but remember this last great frost in November last passed, or if he hath been in some of these great cold countries, such as Russia, (where in very deed I never was, although not very far from it, when it was) he can then tell, that the ground is so hard and dry, and all by the reason of cold only, for one half year, or thereabout, that they are enforced to leave their dead bodies unburied during all that time, being not able with any instrument in the world, to enter into the earth, and to break it up; until the Sun be come about again to relent, and mollify the same. So that thus I conclude: whether we take Tobacco: or take no Tobacco: yet seeing all those infirmities, and imperfections, which you have reckoned up, do follow old age even by the course of nature, much like as the shadow waiteth upon our bodies: and seeing that great cold, either is, or may be, as great, an increaser, and hastiner of those infirmities, as any one thing else is, that can be named in all the world: and seeing our poor friend Tobacco, hath a good and a special property, to resist, that professed great enemy, the cold: me ●hinke, it were a reasonable suit, to entreat, that Tobacco, might rather be esteemed as a friend, than a foe, even to old age also: whose heat in this case no doubt, is rather a pleasure, than any offence at all unto old men.  
And yet you have one other conceit more, which maintaineth one of the strangest opinions, that ever I heard of in all my life, as old as I am: and that is this: That by reason of hot and dry Summers in harvest time, the greatest waters, and land floods are most wont to appear, etc. This in very truth, is a point beyond Eela: and I am not able to reach unto it, or to understand it. It was my chance to stand by, when it was; when that a Noble man in this land, was in an exceeding great rage, with a certain gentleman, an acquaintance of mine, a very proper man, and a stout. The Noble man grew into such choler with him, that at the length, he all to be knaved the gentleman: and often times repeated these words: I tell thee, thou art a knave: nay I tell thee troth, thou art a very knave. The gentleman, stood long mute, and said never a word, but at the length, he could hold no longer, but burst out into these words: As God judge me, my Lord: If your Lordship, should tell me never so oft, that I am a knave, yet you shall pardon me: for, by God, I will never believe it, and said not one word more. The like answer I must be bold to make unto you: for if you tell me never so oft, that dry summers, make great water floods: yet in very truth, I will never believe it. And what your meaning is in so saying, I protest I know not: but this I wot well, & I am sure of: that upon this last great drought that we had, as well in the Summer time, as also in the fall this year, the river of the Thamis, was become so shallow, and dry as it were: that the poor Western barges complained much of their hard passages down the river, to serve her Majesty, and her majesties city of London, while she lay at Richmond: and now since her Majesty i● come to Whitehall, to: I know, diverse good farmers, that are enforced to drive their cattle two miles, and more, to water them: who were wont to have great store and plenty of water, even at their own doors, before this hot, and dry weather came to dry up their springs. And therefore to think that dry summers, is cause of great waters, in my opinion, is nothing else, but to dream of a dry Summer.   

The sixth reason is, for that This herb, or rather weed: seemeth not void of venom, and thereby seemeth an enemy, to the life of man, etc.  
I marry, this is a matter of some importance indeed, and would be well looked unto. But by the way, this discourse, of venoms or poisons, would rather be tripped over, then much dwelled upon, for diverse good respects. The times being so dangerous, as they are; I thinks it not convenient to meddle with any such matters, and such gaps as these be, would not, so rashly, and unadvisedly be opened, to the common people. I knew a Preacher once, and a very honest learned man, who meant no harm, I dare swear for him, yet inveighing in his Sermon earnestly, against the wickedness of this age, and telling of the bad dealing, that lewd Ostlers used, about the greasing of their horse teeth, and the like unhonest tricks, that bailiffs used, about the altering, and changing, of cows horns, that were missing, and strayed abroad: did more harm in repeating these deceitful sleights, than all the rest of his Sermon could do good to his auditory. And you also in this place, by your leave, might, in my opinion, have been something better advised, then to have used, so liberal, or rather so lavishing a kind of talk, both of poisons, and of purgative medicines: still coupling of them together, in such an odious hateful manner, as you do. Whereas, in very deed, there is no such matter, if things be rightly understood, as hereafter shall better appear.  
In the mean time, yet happy it is, that God himself, hath pronounced by himself, that he is the author of Physic, and hath therefore commanded, the Physician, to be had in some good regard and reverence for his knowledge sake. Otherwise, if such tales as you have told of poisons, and of purgatives, should be believed: (as indeed, God be thanked, they are not to be credited) Physicians might say they have spun a fine thread, and brought their hogs to a fair market: and Physic herself might have great cause to rejoice, for bringing up, so dutiful, and so good a child, as you are. What? hath Physic, hitherto been counted the most excellent gift of the Highest, and been called by the ancient writers, the hand, and finger of God, for his wonderful effects, and operations: and is it now in your judgement nothing else but a hodge-podge, and a mingle mangle of poisons? If this be so: than it is more than high time, for her Majesty and this most honourable Parliament, to take some order for Physic, and Physicians too. For albeit you have brought in Tobacco, as a Rowland, upon the stage, to make sport withal, and to be laughed at: yet, as far as I see, poor Oliver, which is Physic itself, bears away all the blows, unto whom you have given the longest part, and the worst part in all the Play. But now, to come to the purpose: I will not meddle, as I said, with any curious, or solemn discourse of poisons, for such reasons as I have partly alleged: neither will I stand upon the strict points of his definition, or enter into his manifold parts, and branches by the way of division, neither unfold the divers ways, means, and fashions, of his hateful operations. But bluntly, and briefly, to answer to so much as you have laid down: Then thus I say: touching your tripartite division: (you might have added the fourth branch too, if it had pleased you,) I leave it to yourself; as a good matter, or argument, for a man to show, his wit, learning, and reading upon: but I esteem of it as no direct proof at all: neither yet to be any whit in the world more able to blemish, and hurt Tobacco, than it is to disgrace other parts of Physic, which have deserved better, at your hands, than this comes unto.  
And as for those particular places, and authorities which you have cited out of Galen, and others: either they do answer themselves, if they be well marked, and rightly understood: or else this one general answer, may be sufficient for them all: and that is this: wheresoever you do read, or hear in Physic: purging medicines, or purging remedies, to be termed, or rather mistearmed by the name of Venena, or Deleteria: or the like, in Galen: or any other good writer: there is always added one word, or other, to mollify, and mitigate the harshness of that speech withal. Or if any such word, chance to be left out, as perchance sometime it is: yet the circumstances of that place being well weighed and considered, it will evidently fall out, that some one such mild word or other ought there to be understood. As for example: they commonly use to call them: quasi Delet●ria▪ or, ●anquam venena: or else more mild than that, they will say: that they have in them, quiddam venenosum: or else yet more mild than that too: as to say they have in them; quiddam noxium; or, quiddam inimicum human nature: or the like. In so much that the great Lawyer Ca●●s himself, who was much bend against Physic: yet when he called Pharmacum: venenum: yet he added and concluded, it ought not so to be called absolutely, but that you should always add this word, (bonum) unto it: and so still with that addition, it must be called; bonum venenum said he. Now sir, think you, that there is no difference, or odds in these speeches? I know not sir: whether you be married, or no: but if you be, and have a shrew to your wife: (as if you have not, I would you had, for now indeed, I am angry with you) is there no difference, think you, in calling your wife, shrew: and calling of her; good shrew: or profitable shrew: or pretty shrew: or the like? Yes I warrant you, try it when ye will.  
But Galen, the only man for Physic that ever wrote: at the very first jump, putteth down, a very learned, and a notable difference; between Medicamentum, and Alimentum: The one (saith he) increaseth Molem & substantiam corporis: & vincitur, or alteratur à natura: the other, minuit eam, & vincit. The one agit in corpus: the other patitur à corpore, etc. These, and the like speeches are used of him, and are pretty speeches, and good speeches, and true speeches. But all these speeches import no more but thus much: that purging medicines, are not fit for nourishments: and because they are not fit, to nourish, and feed a man: therefore in that respect, that they do yield no food, or nourishment unto us, the● may be termed after a sort things hurtful to man, or enemy to man, or things against man's nature, and therefore, in a kind of large signification, as a man would say, they may be called as it were, in a certain manner, a poison to man: because they nourish not the nature of man. And after this manner, and sort of speaking, and in this large signification, calling all those things, as it were poisons that do not nourish us: you may well call a stone a poison, as that learned Fallopius noteth: and as I say too, so may you call, a lump of gold, a poison also, because there is small nourishment in it: but yet such a kind of poison: I think, as I do know a great sort of good fellows, that would not stick to venture the poisoning of themselves, in swallowing down their throats, great gobbets of it, so they might have them for their labour.  
But, how ever it is: These medicines, are far from the nature of that poison, which is so hateful a thing, and called venenum indeed. For of that sort of Venom's, a very little quantity, being taken into the body, overthroweth us, and corrupteth nature, because it is enemy to nature, totâ substantiâ, as we term it, and therefore can never be turned to good: but as a little rottenness in an apple, can never become sound, and good again, but will corrupt and perish the rest, unless it be separated from the rest, and cut away; even so it fareth with venims in our bodies, passing through, the whole body, and mass of our temperature, in like manner, as a little Saffron, mingled in a quantity of liquor, giveth a tincture to all the water, or as a little Garlic being eaten, maketh both the urine and the spittle, and the breath of the eater to smell thereof: even such a kind, of infection, and working in our body, is procured by venimes, unless with all speed, they be either by vomit, avoided: or otherwise miraculously mastered. But now good sir, if you were but examined upon your knowledge, how many you have known in all your life, to have been poisoned with Tobacco: I think you would be put very much unto your shifts, to find out but so many as poor one, notwithstanding it is so commonly, and so daily taken, as it is: and yet nothing taken against it neither, either to avoid it, or else to correct it. Then I hope it standeth clear, that poor Tobacco, is none of those dangerous poisons: unless you call him so, in that large signification, which we have spoken of, calling all those things, which do not nourish, or feed us, after a sort venoms, or poisons: for that they are in some manner, contrary to man's narure, for that they are not apt, either to increase, or preserve the substance of man: and in that sort, as I have told you, a stone, or a piece of gold is a goodly poison too.  
The rest of your speech: as that it is a violent Purgation, and therefore needeth good correctives, etc. proveth no more Tobacco, to be ill, and dangerous, than other things to be even so too, that are used in Physic. But yet it proveth very well indeed, all them to be fools, that will use it, or any thing else unadvisedly, to purge withal. And thereto I agree with you, as I have already, at large signified, and declared before.  
You build much upon the accidents, and symptoms, that sometime do follow the large taking thereof: namely, as violent vomits, many, and infinite stools, great gnawings, and torments of the guts, defect of feeling, and understanding, loss of sight, and giddiness of head, profound, and deep sleeps, etc. And hereupon you think you have a great hand of the matter, and have said much to prove Tobacco, to be a great, and a dangerous poison, etc. If you may make your own account, it were hard I perceive, if you did lose by the reckoning. But if you were but friendly examined, but upon this point: how many you had ever seen, or known, to be in this pickle, upon the taking of Tobacco: I think (to speak within my compass) it will be very hard for you, to give the instance of five thousand in all your life: and yet I think too, that, even that were as easy for you to do: as to give the instance but of five. And farther, admit that it hath wrought any of these effects, upon any some, at any time, as upon some great, and some unreasonable disorder perchance it hath: yet what of that? I am sure, that I have seen for your one, that you can name that way, an hundred at the least, upon immoderate taking and pouring in of good wine, that have been in the same pickle, and worse too: and yet I hope, it shall not follow thereof, that good wine, is no otherwise to be accounted of then a poison: if it were, it were high time to look to our Vintner's I can tell you.  
But yet you still go on: and urge farther: and say that it is the more dangerous poison: because that it hath contrary qualities in it: for it hath also, say you, a stupefying, and a benumbing property, or quality, which is in the extremest degree of cold, as yourself affirmeth.  
Here is good stuff indeed. What? hath Tobacco hitherto been accounted so dangerous a thing, and all for his extreme heat, and therefore called by you, the fiery, hellish, scorchingfume, out of Pluto's forge, and hath it now such a great cooler joined with it? I hope you know, and will confess, that two extremes, cannot consist, and dwell together, in one, and the self same substance, in equal degrees, and at one time: no more then dark midnight, and clear shining noon day, can be at one instant, in one and the self same place: or that any one thing can be as hot as fire, and the self same to be as cold as ice, at one instant. Here you attribute unto Tobacco, a cold quality in the highest degree: and heretofore you have ascribed unto him, a heat more than ordinary, nay, almost rather in the like extremity, if your words be thoroughly scanned: which is impossible to hang together. But upon this error dependeth the greatest force of your former arguments. And this principle being once overthrown▪ which is this: That the heat of Tobacco is so exceeding hot, that it is able to inflame, and destroy natural heat, etc. (which is nothing so indeed, as I perceive by your own confession here that it is not, having such a cooling card joined with him, as you say it hath: and as also partly hath been well proved before in many other places.) Then I say, all your former reasons brought against the kill, and destroying of our natural heat, by the great heat of Tobacco, and thereby, the procuring of so many crudities, and ill digestions in our bodies, and all procured by the great inflaming heat▪ of Tobacco, as you say: all these reasons I say, are quashed, & not worth a button.  
Well, this is not enough: but yet still you proceed: and make answer to a secret objection; which is this: Many (say you) in England do take the fume of Tobacco, without hurt or inconvenience: and yourself giveth the reason, by and by. Because (say you) the custom of taking of it, in that manner, which we do vs●, that is to say, by receiving of it, at the mouth, or snuffing it up by the nostrils, can neither profit nor hurt much, etc. If this be so: why, then have you so much inveighed against it all this while, as you have? yea, and against that manner of taking of it too? For even of that only action, it seemeth unto me: that your book beareth that title that it doth: of Chimny-sweeping, as hath been already said. But let us go on: and mark but that reason: which yourself hath made, and in the same chapter, afterward immediately followeth: and you shall see, that it doth wonderfully clear Tobacco; and he is exceeding much beholding to you for it. For thus you say: You are not ignorant that many perilous, and deadly poisons, are sometimes taken into the body without offence, and danger: but then they are ever in very small quantity, or else so repressed, and corrected with other cordials, as that they cannot offend, etc. Let this speech of yours be well marked, and remembered. For if this be so, (as I for my part, take it to be so) then there cannot in all the world, a better tale, & in fewer words be told for Tobacco, than this is. For if poisons, cannot be taken, without great, and present hurt and danger, except they be taken in a very small quantity, and with many correctives too, to resist, and bridle them: then chose; seeing that Tobacco, is daily taken, and that in great abundant quantities too, yea and that also without any corrective in all the world, and yet for all that, God be thanked, it poisoneth no body: what greater testimony or proof, can there either be had, or brought, for the clearing, and quitting of this poor gentleman, both from being a poison● as also from the very suspicion of any poison to be in it, than this is, that yourself hath said? In good faith, in my fancy, I need say no more, then is confessed, and written by yourself.  
But yet, come what come will, you will still plod on: and needs you will have it to be a poison, even to the very Indians, had not custom prevailed to the contrary as you say. And here you do labour tooth and nail with a long discourse, to set out, the nature, and force of custom, and to tell what great acts, she can do, and bring to pass: all which we do yield unto. But yet, this is nothing to the chief point in question. And for a brief answer to all, that is, or may be said in that behalf: I am not of opinion that the Indians long using of it, hath made it no poison to them: but chose, because of itself, and in his own nature, it was not a poison, nor any hurtful thing, therefore with them it grew into custom. For it is most likely, in all common sense, and reason, that; things, must first either be found, or known, or at the least thought to be good, and wholesome; before, they can be drawn into any use, and custom. Some little trial, and experience I confess, must be had of them: to know, and find out, the true nature of every thing, whether they be good, or no: but yet that little trial, would never bring it to a daily custom, or long use, but would by and by be checked, and controlled: if the thing itself, were not found good, and wholesome; upon the first proof, and trial thereof. So that, as I have said already: i● is much more probable, that the goodness of a thing, is the cause of the custom thereof, and not the custom, cause of the goodness. As for those particular instances, of the people that Virgil maketh mention of: and of the woman, and maid, that fed upon poisons, and killed others with her breath, and yet lived herself; let them either be true stories, or but reports from mouth to mouth, let them I say be what they will: yet I account them▪ but as pretty, and rare observations, of certain secret Sympathies, and inward workings of nature: more to be wondered at, for the strangeness thereof: then to be of any force, to prove any thing against Tobacco: or to be answered, for any great matter of moment in this case. But yet, if it so please you: let all this be granted: That use, and custom, doth make, a thing good in time: and yet what have you got by this then? For then all the Tabacconists, have that, that they would have. For, if custom, say they, made it good to the Indians: why may it not do the like to the English, in time? If custom be the matter: and all in all, then let us alone; for we will bring it into as great use, and custom, as ever aniething was.  
In that you grant it to have such a prerogative, for the Scorbute, commonly called the Scurvy, and for other the like diseases incident to that kind of people: herein also, you have said very much, in his commendation. For there is no disease, that is more loathsome than that is: neither is there any that deserveth greater reward for the cure, then that doth. I am sure it is not unknown to you, what a notable treatise is written by that worthy old man Wyerus, about the curing of this Scurvy, as they call it; and how much he hath written in the praise of one poor herb, called Coclearia: in respect that it is so wholesome, for the cure of that disease. And if Tobacco, have this singular gift also for that disease: then I hold him in great regard, and estimation: and account of him, as of an excellent simple, that deserveth rather to be worthily written of, then to be so bitterly inveighed against.  
To conclude, at the last, when you have ended all your talk of the Scurvy, then yet you labour to prove Tobacco, to be a poison forsooth this way: Because say you, when it is taken of an infected body, it draweth out the poison, like to himself. Your own words are these, or to this effect: That Tobacco doth the like to other poisons: which when they find any of their own quality and nature in man's body, etc. they draw forth the same (the like coveting his like) and yet leave the sound, and healthy humours clear, and unspotted. Blessed God, I never heard of such a reason, in all my life. For in my poor opinion, in saying this that you have said, you have mightily freed Tobacco, even from the very suspicion of all poison: or else, I am wonderfully deceived.  
In this place, there is some occasion offered, to speak somewhat of the nature, and manner of purgatives in Physic. Namely to tell by what means, this act of purging is performed: and what be the true causes, of this attraction, or drawing, or purging of humours in a man's body. He that shall enter into this question, shall find a large field to plough. For there be many opinions, about it, and all earnestly defended: some saying it is, à manifesta qualitate: others, ab occulta aliqua vi, & coelesti virtute: others some: ab ipsa forma specifica, as they term it. And some again, à violento quodam motu, & contrarietate substantiae: but the most famous for learning, say it is, à similitudine naturae, and that is Galens opinion; albeit, he is mightily gainsaid, and sore taxed for the same; by that learned, and famous man Valariola.  
And therefore knowing that this discourse, would be rather tedious then profitable, in so short a Treatise, as this is: I will leave that point for this time: and rather seek to answer, your words, as they lie in order.  
Two things, you do attribute unto Tobacco: the one is, that from infected bodies, it draweth out all the ill humours: the other is, that it leaves all the other humours in the body, clear and unspotted, as you say. Two notable properties, I assure you: and such as would rather make a man in love with Tobacco; then cause him to hate it, as a poison. What? does Tobacco draw out of an infected body corrupt venomous humours, because it is a corrupt venom itself? and is like to those venomous humours, that are drawn out by it and expelle●? Me think in common sense that should not be so. As I told you even now: so I say again, I will not stand upon the examining and sifting out, of the causes, and the means, of this said attraction, and expulsion of humours: for there be many opinions of that point, as hath been already said, and all of them probable, and defensible. But thus much, both you, and I do confess, and we see it also to be so: that ill humours be purged, or expelled, or tumbled out of the body. Marry, how they do come out: and by what means, that cannot I tell: but that they do come ou●: that is flat, and plain, and every man sees it, by these said purgatives. And now Sir, to leave all school questions aside, and plainly, and bluntly, to come to the point: let me ask you but this familiar question: Doth one friend use to drive out another friend, out of his house, when he findeth him there, who is like to himself: in nature, good will, and conditions? or rather doth he thrust out and expel, a thief, if he find him there: or an enemy: or such a one, as loves him not: but is contrary to him in all his actions and meanings? Me think the case, is too plain, and needeth no farther dispute. But yet; like, finding his like: it expelleth that like: say you still: and this is the faburden of your song. And is it, even so indeed? and does like, expel his like with you now: who have borne us in hand, all this while, that like, added to like, did delight, and joy in that like: and increase that like in our bodies? For if it doth all this, than belike, it expelleth it not: nor one venom doth not thrust out another as you affirm, now? For if this reason of yours be true: then he that hath taken a strong poison: should be healed, either by taking more, of that poison: or else by taking of a stronger poison, then that is. But try that when ye will: and give ratsbane, to him, that is poisoned with ratsbane already, and you shall see, what a wise cure, you shall have of it. So that, to conclude, as far as I can see, you are as far off, from proving Tobacco, to be a poison: as both by reason, and your own words to: he is rather found to be an enemy unto poison, and an expeller, and a conqueror of the same: yea, and more than so to: for by your own report, it leaveth the other good humours (which is a wonder I can tell you) clear, and unspotted, as your own words do testify. Now then: this great storm, we see is past, and overblown: and this terrible accusation, is much like to a Sampsons' post, thwited to a pudding prick, as the Proverb is. Well now: what more? We must not yet so go away. Then let us hear your seventh reason in the name of God.   

The seventh reason is: for that The first author, and finder thereof was the devil: and the first practisers of the same, were the devils Priests, and therefore not to be used, of us Christians.  
I must needs think, that you were very near driven to go to the hedge for a stake, when you picked out this argument. And must it needs be devised, and invented by the devil? and must it needs be used by the devils Priests, and servants, and by none other? and must not Chrstian men use it, in any case, because Infidels, the devils servants, have used it? what remedy? But yet my mind giveth me: it should not be so. And yet all this while, why it should come from the devil, I hear no other reason made by you, as yet: but only because Monardus the Spaniard affirms it: nay rather for that he imagineth it to be so. And my answer forsooth is this, for that he doth but barely affirm it only; and for that his assertion is but conjectural▪ I see no reason but that it may be as safely, and as easily rejected, as believed. But yet if the circumstances be well considered, that Monardus himself putteth down, me think it were a more charitable motion, to think that it came from God, who is the author of all good gifts, then from the devil. This one thing I am most sure of, that even this self same Monardus: whom you here bring against him, as your greatest proof; hath written as much good of Tobacco, as can be: affirming him not only to be very good, against infinite diseases in a manner: but also to have a singular gift, to refresh men of their great, and intolerable wearisomeness in their journeying. Yea, & to be such a wonderful preserver, & curer of poisons: yea, and of that great, & admirable poison too, called Bague (how soever it hath pleased you, to slander him in your last Chapter before this) and in conclusion knitteth up, the whole Treatise of him with these words: That for his excellent virtues, Tobacco, is had amongst the Indians, in wonderful estimation, etc. Now Sir, how such, an excellent thing as this is, by his own report, should now be said by him to come from the devil; that would be known. Touching the taking of it by their Priests, and by and by falling asleep thereupon, etc. Mark me but that whole discourse well: and ye shall see, it is taken & reported quite amiss: for indeed it maketh all for Tobacco. For take but Monardus his own tale: and by him it should seem; that in the taking of Tobacco: they were drawn up: and separated from all gross, and earthly cogitations, and as it were carried up to a more pure and clear region, of fine conceits & actions of the mind, in so much, as they were able thereby to see visions, as you say: & able likewise to make wise & sharp answers, much like as those men are wont to do, who being cast into trances, and exstasies, as we are wont to call it, have the power and gift thereby, to see more wonders, and high mystical matters, than all they can do, whose brains, & cogitations, are oppressed with the thick and foggy vapours, of gross, and earthy substances. Marry, if in their trances, & sudden fall, they had become nasty, & beastly fellows▪ or had in most loathsome manner, fallen a spewing, and vomiting, as drunkards are wont to do: then indeed it might well have been counted a devilish matter: and been worthy reprehension. But being used to clear the brains, and thereby making the mind more able, to come to herself, and the better to exercise her heavenly gifts, and virtues; me think, as I have said, I see more cause why we should think it to be a rare gift imparted unto man, by the goodness of God, then to be any invention of the devil. And if that their Priests, as you call them, do abuse at any time, this good gift, to deceive thereby the people, with subtle, and doubtful speeches in their answers: that was the Priest's fault, and to be ascribed unto them: and no whit to be imputed to the thing.  
Now sir, by the way: whether those Priests, do serve the devil, or no, and be his servants as you say they are, that I do leave to you, and others to judge. I am of Cicero the Ethnics opinion in this: That there is no people, or nation so rude, or barbarous in the world: but that they have some sense, and feeling of God: and that thereby they do ordain and appoint to themselves, some one kind or other of divine worship, and service of that immortal, and omnipotent deity, and most blessed everlasting power: albeit, they understand him not aright, as we Christians do. And albeit, neither these Indians, nor yet those Philosophers, whom all ages have hitherto so much reverenced: and by whom we have received so many helps, of learning, as we have, never knew Christ aright, for that perchance they never heard of him: and therefore like enough that they do all err in their religion, or rather superstition: yet, in my fancy, it were a hard thing to pronounce them all to be the devils servants, and his instruments: being otherwise good men of life, and conversation, & blameless in the ●ight of the world. But for that this question, appertaineth not unto this place, neither yet cometh within the compass of your handling or mine: I leave it to our reverend Divines: to whom it belongeth to decide such matters. Hoping for all that, it shall not seem to be repugnant to the rules of Christianity, to judge the best, even of those Infidels: and to think, that as God is omnipotent and wonderful in all his doings: so, by that his omnipotency, joined with his infinite mercies, he hath also many ways, and means (though to us, and our weakness unknown) how to raise up, plant, and preserve, some numbers amongst them: of such as shall be accounted, and reckoned among the fellowship of those his true servants, that shall be saved. And if this opinion of mine shall be thought awry, and erroneous: yet I hope, it shall be taken, and accounted, as pius error: and so I leave for this matter: submitting myself to the censure and judgement of them, to whom it doth appertain.  
But let us imagine, the worst: be it, that they be the devils servants: and that the use of this Tobacco, came wholly from them: shall it therefore be thought either impious or inconvenient, or unlawful, for Christians to use it? For my part I am not of that mind. For I think, that religion forbids it not: and I am sure, honest policy doth not prohibit it. Touching religion: Omnia munda, mundis: Take me yet here I pray you, as I mean it, that is: as spoken, and meant of such matters, as are not otherwise precisely ordered, & overruled by Scripture, but are counted indifferent, & stand only upon their right use, or abuse, to be either good, or bad: and have no express rule, example, or commandment to the contrary. As for honest policy; I refer you over, to the daily practice of all good Christian Princes. Imagine those Indians be as ill, as ill may be: yet I know, that the Turks are as ill as they: who are the professed enemies, of Christ, and of his sacred Gospel: and yet, I am sure there are many things both invented and devised by them: or else by as ill as they: and also, that are daily used by them: which are held in great price, and estimation, with all Christians, at this day, and by all Christian Princes put in practise every where. Wherefore, in condemning Tobacco, and the Tabacconists so eagerly in this point, as you do: in my opinion you do in a manner condemn all Christendom for some one thing or other used by them: which was either in●ented at the first: or else is now daily used by the Infidels.   

The eighth and last reason is: for that It is a great augmentor of Melancholy in our bodies, which humour, is the cause of many great diseases, and hurtful impressions in our bodies, etc.  
In this chapter there be many things, very well, and learnedly put down: As, the nature, and description of Melancholy: The difference between the natural melancholy, and that melancholy which cometh, by adustion, and accidentally: the strange effects, and properties, that it breedeth, and bringeth forth in our bodies: the help and virtue that it hath in it to make men wise: and how that proposition, which avoucheth melancholy men, to be the wisest men, is rightly to be understood, etc. All these things have very good matter in them I confess. And though some of them, by some men, both are, and may be contradicted, by the way of argument, and scholarly disputation: yet for my part, I mind not to gainsay any one of them: for it were nothing to the purpose, for that matter which we have now in hand. But when all is said, that you can say, and when all those odd ends are brought together, of those matters, which you have laid down, and scattered in your discourse; the upshot of all your talk in this matter: is, and must be this: that Tobacco increaseth melancholy humour in our body, and increaseth it so abundantly, that it manifestly destroyeth the temperature of our body, disordering and overthrowing, the good actions of the same: and so consequently is a breeder, and an occasion of many diseases in melancholy persons especially. And this is the mark, I am sure that you shoot at. Well sir, then to leave your long discourse, and to come to handy gripes, and to make short with you▪ than thus I say: if Tobacco do these things which you affirm it doth: that is: if it increase the humour of melancholy, and breed black vapours in our body, as you do say, it doth: then surely sir, it must needs do it, either by his fume, and smoke, or else by his purging faculty. For there be no more ways, I trow, how he should do it: for by the way of food, I think you mean it not: for that is already resolved upon, and put down as a principle: That no man feedeth on Tobacco, as to make his meals thereof. Well then, as touching the fume of Tobacco, here in this chapter, you plainly, and precisely affirm, that by the smoke, or fume of Tobacco, all sorts of melancholy are augmented, and increased, etc. But in another place, you have as plainly affirmed likewise, that no impression of any matter, either to do hurt, or good, can be made by the smoke or fume of Tobacco. Of these two contradictions, I know not I promise you, what to make: they appear unto me, much like to the Egyptians fast and loose: so that a man cannot tell where to have you. For to do no hurt at all: as you say: and to do so great a harm, as to increase all sorts of melancholy, being a matter of so great moment, etc. which also, you do say: it doth so puzzle my wits to reconcile them well: as in truth, I know not what to make of it. If you can reconcile them, I pray you then do it; for in truth I cannot.  
As for the reason that you bring, to prove Tobacco, to leave in our brain, a black, swarfe, sootish tincture, because it doth all to be-blacke the Pipe wherein it is taken: o Lord, it is a very weak reason. For between your dead, and senseless Pipes, made of earth or otherwise; and the lively cavities, passages, and pipes of ou● breathing and living bodies, there is no likelihood or comparison to be made.  
And for proof hereof, let us not stand now upon making of school syllogisms: but let us fall to a flat demonstration: and one demonstration you know very well, is worth five syllogisms. My demonstration then at a word is this: look me but into the throats, and nostrils, of all the great Tobacco takers: view them well, I say, and pry into their noses, as much as ye please, and I will lay what wager you will, that you shall find them as fair nosed gentlemen, and as clean mouthed, and throated, as any men alive, I will warrant you. Again to go a little farther, and to prove that the smoke of a thing, worketh no such operation, or increaseth not melancholy, as you presuppose that it doth, let me give you another instance, by another plain demonstration. Behold your poor ploughmen, that live continually in smoky houses: and your black Smiths, that are still moiling in sea-coal fire, all the day long: and Grim the collier, that is all his life time almost, in continual smoke, in somuch, as in a manner he feeds upon it: and tell me, if you find many melancholy men among them. All to besmeared perchance you shall have them, with smoke, and soot, on the outside, and with foul black, quarry, scorched hands: but yet you shall see them as merry, and as mad knaves, with as white teeth, and as good complexions, as any men alive: and as little touched with sadness, or melancholy; as he that is least subject to that disease. Unless it be sometime now and then, when the poor Colier is set upon the Pillory for false measuring his coals: then perchance he may be somewhat sad, and melancholy for the time, while his fools head stands peeping out, at the Pillory hole. But assoon as he hath given them the slip, and gotten his head once from the Pillory; and is gone but some two or three miles out of London, he is as merry again as a Cricket: and all to be-knaves the Marshal for his labour, and bids him come now, and he dare, to fetch him to the Pillory again. What? must poor smoke, being so light a thing, and so soon vapoured away, and so, and so taken: as yourself hath described, and by and by let out again; must smoke I say needs have so great a force, as to increase such a sad sour humour as melancholy? Is no possibly, as Domingo was wont to say. Marry, if the smoke, were a matter of solid substance, so that it might be chewed, as other meats are, and swallowed down, and concocted, and digested, and then distributed, and conveyed by the veins, to the particular parts of the body, to feed and cherish them: then perchance upon this long abode, in the trunk of our body, and upon the through fermenting, and working of itself, into the whole mass, or lump of our blood, that giveth us nourishment: if all this, I say were done, or might be done: then perchance, you had somewhat to say, and to warn good Students, to take heed, how they did meddle with Tobacco: for fear of increase of melancholy. Otherwise, in my judgement, this needless fear of yours, doth somewhat savour of melancholy in yourself. For you know: that melancholy men, be sad, and fearful, & non timenda, timent: which is one of the chiefest properties of a melancholy person. And thus much briefly; touching the smoke of Tobacco.  
But now sir, it may be your opinion is also, that Tobacco increaseth melancholy, and worketh this great danger and offence, by his purging faculty: and this perchance is that, which you seem to glance at by the way, when you say: that, it avoideth that liquid Phlegmatic matter, which would be good nourishment, and that which otherwise should be mingled with the rest of our blood, and give a moisture to the dryness of melancholy, and so keep all things in good tune, and temper, etc.  
If this be your opinion, that b●cause the smoke of Tobacco maketh the takers thereof to spit a little, and to avoid by the mouth some waterish matter, that therefore I say when it is used in purging, it will purge the like matter also, as it seems you do make your chiefest argument upon that point: then I say, that even in this point also, either you are; or you may be deceived. For there be many things, that will provoke a man to spit much, and yet they will not purge at all. As for example, take but Mastic, and chew it up and down in your mouth: and you shall spit for life: and yet it is no purgative. The like may be said, of an unripe, sharp, sour apple, or the like: for it will not only do so to the eater thereof: but also provoke the slander by sometime to spit, and spittle as much and more too, as I have seen. And thereof I think comes this English Proverb: That a man's teeth doth water, at this, or at that, etc. And here is to be noted by the way, (and it is worth the noting too, and hath been remembered already in another place before) that, of that same liquid moist matter, which you so much talk of, and make it so necessary, and precious a thing, as you do in all your discourse: there is I say such store and plenty of it in our bodies for the most part, and it is at all times, so ready at hand to come at a call, that there need be no fear at all, of spending of that moisture by the use of Tobacco, especially to us, that are English men, and Islanders, as hath been declared already before.  
But here, you come upon me, and say: Yea sir, but Tobacco is a Purgative, there is no question of that: and because it is a Purgative; therefore, it must needs purge the like matter, by the belly, which it doth avoid by the mouth: and that is Phlegm, and other liquid matter, and humidity: and in purging of that, it maketh melancholy the drier▪ and so consequently, it maketh it the worse, etc. No, not so good sir, and to answer this objection fully: I doubt not, but that you do know right wel● that as touching purgative medicines, there be two opinions of antiquity. The one affirmeth, that they do purge by election: and are called El●ctiuè purgantia: which is as much to say, as that they do purge, with a kind of choice, or judgement, either this, or that humour alone, or else some one humour more than any other. And yet those Electiuè purgantia, do not so make special choice, of that only one humour alone: as a Deer is wont to be singled out, from the rest of the heard, and so had in chase by himself alone without any other: but their meaning is, that those Purgatives do expel and avoid some one humour more than the rest indeed, which they do most fancy, and have a liking unto: but yet with that principal humour, some one or other humour too, may in part, be expelled and avoided, at the same instant: as you, and I do know, many of those elective Purgatives, which do purge some one: yea some two: nay, some three humours, all at one time, though not all those humours indifferently at one time, but they shall not be named by me, of purpose, because I think it not meet, to acquaint the vulgar sort, with any such secrets.  
The other opinion is (and those be jolly fellows too, I can tell you, that be the authors of it:) That there are no purgatives at all by election or choi●e, which are called Electiuè purgantia, as I have told you: but that all purgatives do purge promiscuè; or as a man would say, a like: or indifferently: or at a venture, so that nature▪ being once set a work by a purgation: and having as it were her sluices, or conduits, now open: look what humour she findeth herself most aggrieved withal, or that lieth aptest and readiest in the way to be avoided, that she tumbleth out, having now the help of art, to assist her in her action.  
So that make your choice of these two opinions, which you will; yet I see no reason why Tobacco, should be so much feared, and misliked in the purging of melancholy. For if you say with this latter crew of Physicians: that all purgatives do purge promiscuè: than the case is clear: for than he may aswell purge melancholy, as any other humour; or at the least he may purge melancholy with another humour, when nature is once set a work to purge and avoid that which offendeth. But if you do say with the other sect of Physicians: That all purgatives do work Electiuè: or by choice, and a kind of judgement, than thus I say, that neither I, nor you, nor any man else can give any reason, why Tobacco, should not aswell, as any other purgative, purge away melancholy, either alone, or principally, or at the least with some other humours, as well, as we see other purgatives do: notwithstanding that his smoke doth seem to keep such a stir, with a little spittering, and spattering by the mouth, as is already said.  
But it may be Sir: that you are of another opinion, than all this cometh unto, and that you do think, that in melancholy matters, there should no purgatives at all be used, and would have no other course to be taken in the cure thereof: but only Alterantia, and Commoderantia, as we term them, to be used: that is, you would have them use such things as might alter, temper, and mitigate the harshness of that melancholy humour, and so in time at the length alter the whole state of the body, without any more a do, etc. If this I say be your opinion: then is all at an end: and I have no more to say, either to it, or to you, at this time, but only this: God speed you well: but therewithal yet still this I say: That if you will not seem to serve, from the steps of the learned ancient writers, who used in the cure of melancholy, as round, and as strong medicines, as Tobacco is, and such to, as were in their manifest qualities, as ho●e, and dry as Tobacco is, also: Then it shall be no discredit for you, to suffer Tobacco, to have his place among those ancient allowed purgatives, and to alter your opinion of this poor stranger, and hereafter to give him no worse speeches, then upon good proof he shall deserve.  
And thus having made, a wise foolish speech, or a foolish wise speech in the behalf of this poor Tobacco: now it is not much amiss, to have a word or two for myself. It is like enough, that in this brag-speaking age, there will not want some store of those, that will be ready to start up, and make haste to carp, and reprehend▪ all that ever is, or that can be said, either in this matter, or any other, whatsoever.  
And mark it when ye will, and you shall see, that none will be so ready thereunto, as they: who either for lack of wit, are least able to judge and understand what is well said: or else for lack of learning, are most unable, to amend that which is amiss. But making small reckoning, or account of any such: my chief and only desire is: that this sporting exercise of mine, may no whit displease, any of those learned sweet conceited gentlemen (in regard of whose favour only, I have undertaken it) in whom there is neither scornful, nor wayward▪ nor any such sullen sour humour, but that they can be contented to hear, a Philosophical probleame, somewhat scholarlike handled: to pass the time these Christmas holy days. Moreover, it may be, that some also, will muse to see any time at all to be spent, in so trifling an argument as this is; in their conceit, and opinion: but yet, for their better satisfaction, let this be said: Seeing that as famous men, as ever have been, either in our age, or in our forefather's days, have not disdained to write of meaner matters than these: as namely, some of baldness, others in the commendation of folly: yea, and other some, of far base matters to: as of a gnat, a fly, & a flea: and yet nevertheless, they have thought no part of their credit either touched, or impeached thereby: then I hope, it may be permitted to him, that is no hater of learning, to attempt the like, in a matter not far unlike: and so much the more for that I was provoked, or rather in some sort much urged thereunto, (I protest) for that to my thinking, I did perceive, the credit of that most excellent knowledge of Physic, not a little touched and stained thereby, under his pretence of inveighing against Tobacco. And albeit his meaning perchance, was far otherwise (as like enough it was) yet I thought it not amiss, that such an overslip as that was, should in some good sort, either be met withal: or else, at the least, be better understood.   
FINIS.