In this “Diary,” covering the years 1631-43, there are some forty entries concerning the purchase of what is always, save in one case, called “tobacka.”  These entries give valuable information as to the prices of the two chief kinds of tobacco.  One was imported from Spanish America, which up to 1639 Hayne calls “Varinaes,” and after that date “Spanish”; the other was imported from English colonies—­chiefly from Virginia.  The “Varinaes” kind, Dr. Brushfield suggests, was obtained from Varina, near the foot of the range of mountains forming the west boundary of Venezuela, and watered by a branch of the Orinoco River.  Hayne also notes the purchase of “Tertudoes” tobacco, but what that may have been I cannot say.  From the various entries relating respectively to Varinaes or Spanish tobacco, and to Virginia tobacco, it is clear that the former ranged in price from 8s. to 13s. per lb., while the latter was from 1s. 6d. to 4s. per lb.  There is one entry of “perfumed Tobacka,” 10 oz. of which were bought at the very high price of 15s. 6d.

The variations in price of both Spanish and Virginia tobacco were largely due to the frequent changes in the amount of the duty thereon.  In 1604 King James I, newly come to the throne, and full of iconoclastic fervour against the weed, raised the duty to 6s. 8d. per lb. in addition to the original duty of 2d.  On March 29, 1615, there was a grant to a licensed importer “of the late imposition of 2s. per lb. on tobacco”—­which shows that there must have been considerable fluctuation between 1604 and 1615—­while in September 1621 the duty stood at 9d.  Through James’s reign much dissatisfaction was expressed about the importation of Spanish tobacco, and the outcome of this may probably be seen in the proclamations issued by the King in his last two years forbidding “the importation, buying, or selling tobacco which was not of the proper growth of the colonies of Virginia and the Somers Islands.”  These proclamations were several times confirmed by Charles I, the latest being on January 8, 1631; but they do not seem to have had much effect.

Hayne’s “Diary” contains one or two entries relating to smokers’ requisites.  In September 1639 he spent 2d. on a new spring to his “Tobacka tonges.”  These were the tongs used for lifting a live coal to light the pipe, to which I have referred on a previous page.  On the last day of 1640 Hayne paid “Mr. Drakes man” 1s. 5d. for “6 doz:  Tobacka-pipes.”

From the various entries in the “Diary” relating to the purchase of tobacco, it seems clear that there was no shop in Exeter devoted specially or exclusively to the sale of the weed.  Hayne bought his supplies from four of the leading goldsmiths of the city, who can be identified by the fact that he had dealings with them in their own special wares, also from two drapers, one grocer, and four other tradesmen (on a single occasion each) whose particular occupations are unknown.