tress'd,
'Tis a comforter in need;
It is social, soothing, blest;
It has fragrance, force, and zest;
Then hail the kingly weed!"

While Raleigh[51] and many of Elizabeth's courtiers indulged
frequently in a pipe, some have imagined that even Queen Bess herself
tested the rare virtues of tobacco. This is hardly based upon
sufficient proof to warrant a very strong belief in it; but the
following account of "How to weigh smoke" taken from _Tinsley's
Magazine_ shows that the Queen was acquainted at least with Raleigh's
use of the weed:

[Footnote 51: It is said that Raleigh in communicating
the art to his friends, gave smoking parties at his
house, where his guests were treated with nothing but a
pipe, a mug of ale, and a nutmeg. Says an English
writer: "From the anecdote related respecting the weight
of smoke, the vapor of the pipe certainly did not throw
a cloud over the brilliant wit of the unfortunate
Raleigh."]

"One day it happened that Queen Elizabeth, wandering about
the grounds and alleys at Hampton with a single maid of
honour, came upon Sir Walter Raleigh indulging in a pipe.
Smoking now is as common as eating and drinking, and to
smoke amongst ladies is a vulgarity. But not so then: it was
an accomplishment, it was a distinction; and one of the
feathers in Sir Walter's towering cap was his introduction
of tobacco. The all-accomplished hero rose and saluted the
Queen in his grand manner, and the Queen, who was in her
daintiest humour, gave him her white hand to kiss, and took
the seat he had left.

"Now, Sir Walter, I can puzzle you at last." "I suppose I
must not be so rude as to doubt your Majesty." "You are bold
enough for that, but your boldness will not help you, Sir
Walter, this time. You cannot tell me how much the smoke
from your pipe weighs." "Your Majesty is mistaken. I can
tell you to a nicety. Will your Majesty allow me to call
yonder page, and send for a pair of scales and weights?" "By
my honour," said the Queen, "were any other subject in our
realm to make request so absurd, we should very positively
deny it. But you are the wisest of our fools, and, though we
expect to see but little use made of these weights when
brought, your request shall be grant