In another place, Roscher continues thus: “Where it has been attempted to suppress the consumption of popular delicacies, the impossibility of enforcing sumptuary laws has been most strikingly observed. Thus, in the 16th century, an effort was made as regards brandy; in the 17th, as regards tobacco; in the 18th, as regards coffee. The Hessian law of 1530 provided that only apothecaries should retail brandy. In 1624 Papal excommunication was fulminated against all who took snuff in church, and was repeated in 1690. According to a Turkish law of 1610, all smokers should have their pipes broken against the nose. In 1634 a Russian law prohibited smoking under penalty of death. In Switzerland, even in the 17th century, no one could smoke except in secret. In its native place even coffee had a hard struggle. Prohibited in Turkey in 1633 under pain of death; it was still prohibited in Basel in 1769, and could be sold by apothecaries only as medicine. In Hanover the coffee trade was prohibited in 1780. When governments discovered the fruitlessness of these efforts, they gave up the prohibition of these luxuries, and instead substituted taxes on them, thus aiming to combine a moral and a fiscal end. Even Cato took this course. His office of censor, which united the highest moral superintendence with the highest financial guidance, must of itself have led him in this direction.” Strange it is how slowly men learn by experience. We know of the many oppressions in England “for opinion’s sake.” History tells us that the puritan fathers sought “freedom of conscience” in the wilds of America. Yet, scarcely were the “pilgrims” of New England wonted to a strange and inhospitable land, than what they required for themselves was denied to others. In their fanaticism, the “soul liberty” of Roger Williams was violated in every conceivable way. Personal freedom was violated to an extent that is now the detestation of right-thinking persons. Execrable for their tyrannical spirit, are some of the records of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, New Haven Colony and Connecticut. The following extracts are taken from the records of the General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay: “1635: Whereas, complaints hath bene made to this Courte that dyvers persons, within this jurisdiction, doe usually absent themselves from Church meetings upon the Lord’s Day, power is therefore given to any two assistants to heare and sensure, either by fine or imprisonment, all misdemeanors of that kind, committed by any inhabitant within this jurisdiction, provided they exceede not the fine of 15 shillings for any one offense.” “1669: Any person or persons that shalle be found smoking tobacco on the Lord’s Day, going to or coming from the meetings, within two miles of the meeting house, shall pay 12 pence for every such default to the colonies’ use.”