403 years later, a Counterblaste to Tobacco
England introduces a smoking ban in all enclosed 'public' places today, and I have a special post for the occassion. Here's 'A Counterblaste to Tobacco', authored by James VI of Scotland and I of England in 1604:
Have you not reason then to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noveltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly received and so grossely mistaken in the right use thereof? In your abuse thereof sinning against God, harming your selves both in persons and goods, and raking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie upon you: by the custome thereof making your selves to be wondered at by all forraine civil Nations, and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse.
For those of you looking for something more current, here's some smoking statistics from the BBC.
