Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
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tobacco
1.Any of various plants of the genus Nicotiana, especially N. tabacum, native to tropical America and widely cultivated for their leaves, which are used primarily for smoking. 2. The leaves of these plants, dried and processed chiefly for use in cigarettes, cigars, or snuff or for smoking in pipes. 3. Products made from these plants. 4. The habit of smoking tobacco: I gave up tobacco. 5. A crop of tobacco.
ETYMOLOGY: Spanish tabaco, possibly of Caribbean origin.
The American Heritage
King James I wrote a (very short) book…
“And surely in my opinion, there cannot be a more base, and yet hurtfull corruption in a Countrey, then is the vile vse (or other abuse) of taking Tobacco in this Kingdome, which hath moued me, shortly to discouer the abuses thereof in this following little Pamphlet.”
“A Covnter-Blaste To Tobacco”, by King James I, 1604.
Full HTML version online:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17008/17008-h/17008-h.htm
Nice piece, took 400 years to be heard. James I. be wise un, they told him his income be short if they listened to his wise words.
“King James I bans domestic cultivation of tobacco ?’ There were many attemps to grow this delightful weed, for it doth grow well in UK., but the problem be in drying it before a nice mold would rot it away.
Hops be easier.