A further witness to the prevalence of smoking and to the enormous number of tobacco-sellers’ shops is Camden, the antiquary.  In his “Annales,” 1625, he remarks with curious detail that since its introduction—­“that Indian plant called Tobacco, or Nicotiana, is growne so frequent in use and of such price, that many, nay, the most part, with an insatiable desire doe take of it, drawing into their mouth the smoke thereof, which is of a strong scent, through a pipe made of earth, and venting of it againe through their nose; some for wantownesse, or rather fashion sake, and other for health sake, insomuch that Tobacco shops are set up in greater number than either Alehouses or Tavernes.”

One result of the herb’s popularity was found in frequent attempts by tradesmen of various kinds to sell it without being duly licensed to do so.  Mr. W.G.  Bell, in his valuable book on “Fleet Street in Seven Centuries,” mentions the arrest of a Fleet Street grocer by the Star Chamber for unlicensed trading in tobacco.  He also quotes from the St. Dunstan’s Wardmote Register of 1630 several cases of complaint against unlicensed traders and others.  Four men were presented “for selling ale and tobacco unlicensed, and for annoying the Judges of Serjeants Inn whose chambers are near adjoyning.”  Two other men, one of them hailing from the notorious Ram Alley, were presented “for annoying the Judges at Serjeants Inn with the stench and smell of their tobacco,” which looks as if the Judges were of King James’s mind about smoking.  The same Register of 1630 records the presentment of two men of the same family name—­Thomas Bouringe and Philip Bouringe—­“for keeping open their shops and selling tobacco at unlawful hours, and having disorderly people in their house to the great disturbance of all the inhabitants and neighbours near adjoining.”  The Ram Alley, Fleet Street, mentioned above, was notorious in sundry ways.  Mr. Bell mentions that in 1618 the wardmote laid complaint against Timothy Louse and John Barker, of Ram Alley, “for keeping their tobacco-shoppes open all night and fyers in the same without any chimney and suffering hot waters [spirits] and selling also without licence, to the great disquietness and annoyance of that neighbourhood.”  There were sad goings on of many kinds in Ram Alley.

It is uncertain when licences were first issued for the sale of tobacco.  Probably they were issued in London some time before it was considered necessary to license dealers in other parts of the country.  Among the Municipal Records of Exeter is the following note:  “358.  Whitehall, 31 August 1633.  The Lords of the Council to the Chamber.  ’Whereas his Ma^tie to prevent the excesse of the use of Tobacco, and to set an order to those that regrate and sell or utter it by retayle, who observe noe reasonable rates or prizes [prices], nor take care that it be wholsome for men’s bodyes that shall use it,’ has caused letters to be sent to the chief Officers of Citties and towns requiring them to certify ’in what places it might be fitt to suffer ye retayleing of Tobacco and how many be licenced in each of those places to use trade’; and the City of Exeter having made a return the Lords sent a list of those which are to be licensed, and order that no others be permitted to sell.”