29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.

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by Stefanie on 25/11/2015 | Cultural Opinion

A seventeenth-century English
cannabis activist, John Taylor, the
Water Poet Part II.
Hemp Poetry
The poem The Praise of Hemp-seed was published in 1620 by John
Taylor, the Water Poet. Surprisingly enough, he praises the many
benefits that the hemp seed has to offer mankind. His passion, some
four hundred years ago, rivals that of modern cannabis activists. Learn
more about this poet and his song of praise for the hemp seed.

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
In the early seventeenth century, John Taylor, the Elizabethan ‘Water Poet’
penned an impressive poem: The Praise of Hemp-seed. It is striking that this
poem not only praises and describes the many benefits for mankind of hemp
itself, but of hemp seeds too. The passion with which the poet does so rivals
the passion of any cannabis activist of today. Some four hundred years ago,
John Taylor was already very much on the case.

In this article I will present and analyse the poem The Praise of Hemp-seed,
starting with the foreword. In the first paragraph of the foreword, the poet
makes quite clear that the poem is intended to portray the benefits of hemp
seeds to non-users.

“…But make them understand what Hempseed is.”

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/foto-6-hempseeds-on-
hand14282400321_d94e0134fd_o.jpg>

In the poem’s first stanza, the poet makes quite clear that the poem is intended to
portray the benefits of hemp seeds to non-users (CC. U.K. College of Agriculture,
Food & Environment)

He is aware that he has his critics, who see him as a simple waterman
unworthy of readers. Many of his critics would also have wondered what on
earth was worth writing about a seed. These ‘depraving minds’ who criticise
both the poet and the seed are set straight in the foreword, in which he
explains why the seed is indispensable for mankind and should be protected.

“…Hemp-seed (quothe he) what can be writ of that?

Thus these deprauing minds their iudgements scatter
Eyther against the Writer or the Matter.
But let them (if they please) read this Preamble,
And they will finde that J haue made a scamble
To shew my poore plentious want of skill,
How Hemp-seed doth deserue, preserue, and kill.”

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
John Taylor questions why other deceased writers and poets have never
written about this interesting yet underexposed topic, preferring instead to
dedicate their writing to more everyday subjects.

“I muse that neuer any exc’lent wit

Of this forgotten subiect yet hath writ.
The theame is rich, although esteemed meane,…”

“And say, O Hemp-seed, how art thou forgotten

By many Poets that are dead and rotten?”

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/foto-7-hemp-
fiber.-5897802148_bb417ed330_o.jpg>

Hemp fibres were used to produce textile products, such as the shirts worn by
Taylor and his critics (CC. Shelly2dogs)

This remarkable and impressive seed is important to one and all, be they
citizen or king. After all it is used to make the clothes worn by both.

“And this rare Hempseed that such profit brings,

To all estates of subiects, and of Kings,
Which rich commoditie if man should lacke,
He were not worth a shirt vnto his backe.”

Taylor is well aware that this claim will cause a commotion among his critics,
who incorrectly argue that their shirts are made of linen. In response, the
writer claims that linen and hemp are one and the same. They are made from

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
the male and female form of the same seed that, for centuries, has offered so
many benefits to mankind.lon los mismono, a lo que el poeta responde que le
lino y el co y navegarrcamientos como latigos r la creatividad aplicada a la

“Some Critticks will perhaps my writing tax

With falshood, and maintaine their shirts are flax,
To such as those, my answer shall be this,
That Flax the male and Hemp the female is,
And their engendring procreatiue seed
A thousand thousand helpes for man doth breed.”

The poet ventures into the world of plants and argues that the plants that
provide us with linen and hemp are one and the same – probably because
the fibres of both plants are used for the production of textile. As far as Taylor
is concerned, whichever way you look at it, the two plants are the same.

“So Hemp and Flax, or which you list to name

Are male and female, both one, and the same.”

The Water Poet believes that the reason for this persistent misunderstanding
about the seed is that poets do not know enough about it, and are not aware
of the many benefits of the hemp seed.

“The cause why Hempseed hath endur’d this wrong

And hath its worthy praise obscur’d so long,
I doe suppose it to bee onely this
That Poets know their insufficience is,
That were earth Paper, and Sea inke, they know
‘T were not enough great Hempseeds worth to show

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/foto-8-navigation.-4790861831_3e6549bb1a_o.jpg>

The English ships of the time were built using a large number of components
crafted from hemp; for instance, the sails were made of hemp fabric (CC.
Id_germain)

The foreword subsequently continues with a long list of names of heathen

gods and religious icons that have been worshipped throughout history.
Taylor claims that if the people who worshipped these gods had known of
the value of hemp seed, they would undoubtedly have fought for this seed
and built buildings and altars for it.

”Oh had these men the worth of Hempseed knowne,

Their blinded zeale (no doubt) they would haue showne
Jn building Temples, and would alters frame,
Like Ephesus to great Dianaes name.”

Finally, the author turns to the reader to indicate that the poem is about to
start and to ask the reader to read it first before forming an opinion, which is
a dig at those who doubt him.

The Praise of Hemp-seed , the poem

These are the first lines of the poem in praise of the hemp seed:

“Sweet sacred Muses, my invention raise

Unto the life, to write great Hempseeds praise…”

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
The writer is inspired by muses to write a song of praise for this seed’s
marvels. The song of praise begins with an explanation of the many
applications of hemp. The seed grows into a plant of which the stalk is used
by the textile industry to produce clothes, ropes, halters and sails.

“This grain grows to a stalk, whose coat or skin

Good industry doth hatchell twist, and spin,
And for mans best advantage and availes
It makes clothes, cordage, halters, ropes and sailes.”

Great phenomena, such as shipping, stem from this seed, which he calls a
small atom and which fills all corners of the earth with its wonders. Even
kings of lands far away agree.

“From this small Atome, mighty matters springs,

It is the Art of nauigations wings;)”

“From Pole to pole, it cuts both Seas and Skyes,

From th’ orient to the occident it flyes.
Kings that are sundred farre, by Seas and Lands,
It makes them in a manner to shake hands.
It fils our Land with plenty wonderfull,”

While the seed may be small, it is a wonderful means of spreading God’s

word.

“This little seed is the great instrument

To shew the power of God Omnipotent…”

“It is an instrument by the appointment of God for the encrease

of the Gospell of Christ.”

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/foto-9-seed-apothecary-
remedies.-4508626333_6599fe26af_o.jpg>
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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
Without the hemp seed, apothecaries would have had no means to develop the
natural medicines used to treat all kinds of illnesses (CC. “thörR)

Taylor shows his admiration for this small seed which he considers to be a
superior and divine phenomenon: “this high supernaturall straine”. The poet
then moves on to more down-to-earth, material matters. He logically and
simply explains that without this seed, there would be no fishing nets,
without which people cannot catch fish to eat.

“Without this seed the Whale could not be caught,

Whereby our oyles are out of Greenland brought.
Nay wer’t not for the net made of this seed,
Men could not catch a Sprat whereon to feed.”

Not only does the seed serve as food, it is also a source of income for
thousands of people in the places where it is cultivated, as it is used for a
wide range of crafts and professions.

“Besides, it liberally each where bestowes

A liuing vpon thousands where it growes;”

After this, a few lines are dedicated to the many producers, manufacturers
and craftsmen who are dependent on hemp and need it to be able to do their
work, such as spinners, weavers, fishnet makers, fishers, fish traders, fabric
traders, shopkeepers and tailors. Without hemp, they would all lose their
source of income.

“The Taylors trade would hardly get them bread

If Hempseed did not furnish them with thread…”

The same fate would face the pharmacists of Taylor’s time. Without the hemp
seed, they would have no means to develop natural medicine on the basis of
cannabis, such as oils, salves and balsams used to treat all kinds of illnesses.
Nor could these medicines have been supplied from other countries.
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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
“Apothecaries were not worth a pin,
If Hempseed did not bring their commings in;
Oyles, Unguents, Sirrops, Minerals, and Baulmes,
(All nature’s treasures, and th’Almighties almes),
Emplasters, Simples, Compounds, sundry drugs
With Necromanticke names like fearful Bugs,
Fumes, Vomits, purges, that both cures, and kils,
Extractions, conserves, preserves, potions, pils,
Elixirs, simples, compounds, distillations,
Gums in abundance, brought from foreign nations.”

“Transported medicines daily bring releefes,

Most seruiceable Hempseed but for thee,
These helpes for man could not thus scattered be.”

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/foto-10.-seed-common-
diseases.3410000930_d0a489c698_o.jpg>

As far as Taylor is concerned, the seed is an important medicine against the most
common illnesses (CC. Chuck Cocker)

As Taylor said at the beginning of the poem, people also use hemp for the
administration of law. Using the instruments of torture and execution
produced in Taylor’s time, such as ropes, cords and whips, rogues and
criminals were physically punished or hung to pay for their wrongdoings. It
was the fear of the seed that kept them in check, according to Taylor.

“For Hempseed if men rightly vnderstand,

Is knowne the greatest Iustice in a Land :
How could men trauaile safely, here and there,
If Hempseed did not keepe a Theefe in feare;”

A little later, Taylor concludes his examination of the law aspects by stating
that it is just that the hemp seed helps those that are good and kills those
that are not.
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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
To end this point of Hempseed, thus in briefe
It helpes a trueman, and it hangs a Theefe.

And of course, we cannot ignore Taylor’s claims about the effectiveness of

cannabis for passion and love. He says, “Besides it is an easie thing to prove

It is a soveraigne remedie for love”.

He then includes a short list of the names given to the seed in various
countries, reflecting the benefits it offers. As far as Taylor is concerned,
whatever its name, it’s an important medicine against the most common
illnesses.

“The names that diuers Nations did attribute to Hemp-seed.

The Libians call’d it Reeua, which implies

It makes them dye like birds twixt earth and skyes,
The name of Choak-wort is to it assign’d,
Because it stops the venom of the mind.
Some call it Neck-weed, for it hath a tricke
To cure the necke that’s troubled with the crick.
For my part all’s one, call it what you please,
‘T is soueraigne ‘gainst each Common-wealth disease

While the therapeutic and medicinal applications of cannabis and the health
benefits are innumerable, it is not a miracle cure. John Taylor recognises that
it can do nothing for serious illnesses such as gangrene.

”For if they doe to a Gangrena runne,

There’s little good by Hempseed can be done;”

The seed was and is so very important for mankind that it even made
possible the operations of the famous explorers in history.

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
“ And all the worthy things that these men did
Without this seed had bin vndone, and hid,”

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/files/2015/11/Ben-and-Jack-in-front-of-seedbank-blog1.jpg>

John Taylor knew, like Jack Herer, Ben Dronkers and many others, that this small
seed could, and can, save the planet

As the poem comes to an end, Taylor cannot resist mentioning another

important benefit of hemp: the crop rejuvenates the soil in which it is
cultivated, as it returns to the soil 40% of the nutrients that it takes from it in
the form of organic material. What’s more, this plant smothers weeds.

“ Moreouer, Hempseed hath this vertue rare

In making bad ground good, good corne to beare,
It fats the earth, and makes it to excell
No dung, or marle, or mucke can do’t so well :
For in that Land which beares this happy seed
In three yeares after it no dung will need,
But sow that ground with barley, wheat, or rye
And still it will encrease aboundantly ;
Besides, this much I of my knowledge know
That where Hemp growes, no stinking weed can grow,”

We have now come to the end of the poem, were John Taylor presents himself
with feigned modesty as a self-taught and original writer that learned at the
university of life. In his view, this poem justifies his role and work as a poet
and writer, because it is his masterpiece.

“Thus ending (like to Jasons Golden-fleece)

This worke of Hempseed is my Master-peece.”

Now that we are better acquainted with John Taylor, we can, without a doubt,
regard him as a man who was ahead of his time in many ways. He was a
Thames waterman who worked his way up to become a poet, literary, and
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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.
business pioneer, a hemp and cannabis activist who dedicated his
masterpiece to praise the many wonders of this small seed, a tiny grain, a
small atom that creates life and helps mankind in all kinds of ways. John
Taylor knew, like Jack Herer, Ben Dronkers and many others, that it all starts
with a small seed that – even today – can save the planet.
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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/a-
seventeenth-century-english-cannabis-
ti i t j h t l th t t t

A seventeenth-century English cannabis

activist: John Taylor, the Water Poet
Part I. <https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/a-seventeenth-century-english-cannabis-activist-john-

taylor-the-water-poet-part-i/>

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/hemp-
songs-poems-history/>

Hemp Songs & Poems of History

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/hemp-songs-poems-history/>

/en/blog/hemp-songs-poems-history/>

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29/09/2018 A seventeenth-century English cannabis activist, John Taylor, the Water Poet Part II.

<https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis
celebrity-profile-michka-seeliger-
chatelain/>

Cannabis celebrity profile: Michka

Seeliger-Chatelain <https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/cannabis-celebrity-

profile-michka-seeliger-chatelain/>

nnabis-celebrity-profile-michka-seeliger-chatelain/>

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