#OnThisDay

On June 29, 1620 James VI & I issued a proclamation “for restraint of the disordered trading for Tobacco”. James’ dislike of the use of tobacco was no surprise following the publication of A Counterblaste to Tobacco published in 1604 and the proclamation of 1620 can be viewed as a way for James to check its consumption. James called tobacco “a Weed of no necessaire Use” and rallied against its “Corruption both of Men’s Bodies and Manners”. The proclamation banned the planting of tobacco “within this Realm” in order to not “abuse and misimploy the Soile of this fruitful Kingdome”.

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