ABSTRACT
At the beginning of the seventeenth century Spain had complete control of the tobacco supply except that which was already being grown in Europe and the Orient. As the following figures show, her trade with England in this commodity became of considerable value to her during the first twenty years. In his Advice How to Grow Tobacco, published 1615, C.T. says : “So greedy were our English of the Indian tobacco; as where in the beginning of our traffique there, some yeares since, the Spaniards (as in all new plantations) were prest with all sorts of wants; and had neither cloathes to cover them, nor shooes to tread on, nor bread to eate, and did therefore exchange their tobacco for Fish, Wine; Aqua-Vitæ, all sorts of lasting foods, for woollen stockins, hats, threed, hatchets and the like; they became in a short time so cloyd with all these commodities, as nothing, (some silkes and cloath of silver and gold excepted) but ready money and silver plate could content them.” https://www.niso.org/standards/z39-96/ns/oasis-exchange/table">
1615–6. Spanish tobacco imported, London
52,764½lbs.
1616–7. Spanish tobacco imported, London
50,906 lbs.
1617–9/8/17. Spanish tobacco imported, London
1,613 lbs.
Total imports during whole period: Outports
4,299½lbs. 1
