In 1662, letters were issued from the Lords of the Council which commanded that "all tobacco planted within the county of Worcester should be speedily destroyed by order of the sheriff and justices of the peace," to whom the said letters were directed; and for many years subsequent to that period (as appears from the Sessions rolls) the chief constables of this county sent warrants to the various constables for cutting and destroying the weed, and regular returns were made by them as to whether they had found any growing within their constablewicks. The tobacco plant, I am informed (_Nicotiana rustica_), still grows in a half naturalized state near Bewdley--in the vicinity, no doubt, of spots where it was formerly cultivated. This shows how easily tobacco might be produced in England, if there were no prohibitory taxation opposed to it. The following quaint stanzas are from a forgotten book of "Gospel Sonnets," by Ralph Erskine, a Presbyterian clergyman, whose object was to _improve_ whatever subject he touched upon, and thus he tunes his pipe in a "MEDITATION ON SMOKING. The pipe, so lily-like and weak, Does thus the mortal state bespeak: Thou art even such, Gone with a touch! Thus think, and smoke Tobacco. And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold'st the vani-ty Of worldly stuff-- Gone with a puff! Thus think, and smoke Tobacco. In vain th' unlighted pipe you blow, Your pains in outward means are so, Till heavenly fire Your heart inspire;-- Thus think, and smoke Tobacco. And when the pipe grows foul within Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require;-- Thus think, and smoke Tobacco. And see'st the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say-- That to the dust Return thou must!-- Thus think, and smoke Tobacco." HERMITAGES AND CAVES