SOURCE: “A Counterblaste to Tobacco,” in Minor Prose Works of King James VI and I, edited by James Craigie and prepared for the press by Alexander Law, Scottish Text Society, 1981, pp. 87-99.

In the following essay, originally written in 1604, King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) condemns tobacco use as a “vile and stinking” habit that that is corrupting the inhabitants of England both morally and physically. He considers it degrading for his subjects to “imitate the barbarous and beastly manners of the wilde, godlesse, and slauish Indians” by smoking.

That the manifolde abuses of this vile custome of Tobacco taking, may the better be espied, it is fit, that first you enter into consideration both of the first originall thereof, and likewise of the reasons of the first entry thereof into this Countrey. For certainely as such customes, that haue their...