A Counter-Blaste to Tobacco | Page 4

by the hatefull
smell thereof doeth well appeare. For the nose being the proper Organ
and convoy of the sense of smelling to the braines, which are the onely
fountaine of that sense, doeth euer serue vs for an infallible witnesse,
whether that Odour which we smell, be healthfull or hurtfull to the
braine (except when it fals out that the sense it selfe is corrupted and
abused through some infirmitie, and distemper in the braine.) And that
the suffumigation thereof cannot haue a drying qualitie, it needes no
further probation, then that it is a smoake, all smoake and vapour, being
of it selfe humide, as drawing neere to the nature of the ayre, and easie
to be resolued againe into water, whereof there needes no other proofe
but the meteors, which being bred of nothing else but of the vapours
and exhalations sucked vp by the Sunne out of the earth, the Sea, and

waters, yet are the same smoakie vapours turned, and transformed into
Raynes, Snowes, Dewes, hoare Frostes, and such like waterie Meteors,
as by the contrarie the raynie cloudes are often transformed and
euaporated in blustering winds.
The second Argument grounded on a show of reason is, That this filthie
smoake, as well through the heat and strength thereof, as by a naturall
force and qualitie, is able and fit to purge both the head and stomacke
of Rhewmes and distillations, as experience teacheth, by the spitting
and auoyding fleame, immeadiately after the taking of it. But the
fallacie of this Argument may easily appeare, by my late preceding
description of the Meteors. For euen as the smoakie vapours sucked vp
by the Sunne, and staied in the lowest and colde Region of the ayre, are
there contracted into Cloudes and turned into raine and such other
watery Meteors: So this stinking smoake being sucked vp by the Nose,
and imprisoned in the colde and moyst braines, is by their colde and
wett facultie, turned and cast foorth againe in waterie distillations, and
so are you made free and purged of nothing, but that wherewith you
wilfully burdened yourselues: and therefore are you no wiser in taking
Tobacco for purging you of distillations, then if for preuenting the
Cholike you would take all kinde of windie meates and drinkes, and for
preuenting the Stone, you would take all kinde of meates and drinkes,
that would breede grauell in the Kidneys, and then when you were
forced to auoyde much winde out of your stomacke, and much grauell
in your Vrine, that you should attribute the thanke thereof to such
nourishments as bred those within you, that behoued either to be
expelled by the force of nature, or you to haue burst at the broad side,
as the Prouerbe is.
As for the other two reasons founded vpon experience. The first of
which is that the whole people would not haue taken so generall a good
liking thereof, if they had not by experience found it verie soueraigne,
and good for them: For answere thereunto how easily the mindes of any
people, wherewith God hath replenished this world, may be drawen to
the foolish affectation of any noueltie, I leaue it to the discreet
iudgement of any man that is reasonable.

Doe we not dayly see, that a man can no sooner bring ouer from
beyond the Seas any new forme of apparell, but that hee cannot bee
thought a man of spirit, that would not presently imitate the same? And
so from hand to hand it spreades, till it be practised by all, not for any
commoditie that is in it, but only because it is come to be the fashion.
For such is the force of that naturall Selfe-loue in euery one of vs, and
such is the corruption of enuie bred in the brest of euery one, as we
cannot be content vnlesse we imitate euerything that our fellowes doe,
and so prooue our selues capable of euerything whereof they are
capable, like Apes, counterfeiting the maners of others, to our owne
destruction.[E] For let one or two of the greatest Masters of
Mathematickes in any of the two famous Vniuersities, but constantly
affirme any cleare day, that they see some strange apparition in the
skies: they will I warrant you be seconded by the greatest part of the
Students in that profession: So loath will they be, to bee thought
inferiour to their fellowes, either in depth of knowledge or sharpnesse
of sight: And therefore the generall good liking and imbracing of this
foolish custome, doeth but onely proceede from that affectation of
noueltie, and popular errour, whereof I haue already spoken.[F]
The other argument drawen from a mistaken experience, is but the
more particular probation of this generall, because it is alleaged to