The 1674 Women’s Campaign Against Coffee
“Remember, John,
If any ask, to th’ Coffee House I’m gone.
Then at Lloyd’s Coffee House he never fails
To read the letters and attend the sales.”
-unknown
Prohibition, widely enacted in the early 20th century in the US and northern Europe, is often brought up as an example of female activism and a consequence of suffrage, but long before the introduction of universal suffrage similar restrictionist movements had almost resulted in heavy penalties for, of all things, drinking coffee.
In late 1675, King Charles II of England banned the sale and consumption of coffee in “a proclamation for the suppression of coffee-houses.” Fortunately, he backed down a couple days before the ban was to take effect. Coffee had, at that point, become very popular amongst the British intelligentsia, spawning a number of all-male coffee clubs where men would gather to discuss philosophy and politics. Apparently, Charles wasn’t all that pleased about the activities of the intellectually stimulated men, who were accused of spreading dissent throughout the realm.
However, there had already been political pressure from another group to ban coffee, which is perhaps what gave Charles the initial push toward banning the substance.It turns out that a group of proto-feminists had approached the king demanding that he shut down the coffee houses a year earlier, as the elixir was held to be causing their husbands to become snotty, “Frenchified” fellows who had lost all interest in sex (with their wives).
The document they presented is “The Women’s Petition Against Coffee,” and it is well worth reading for the humor therein if nothing else. In one hilarious passage, the “Buxome Good Women” warn that coffee-drinking husbands run the risk of being “Cuckol’d by Dildo’s.” In another, they express dismay that men have begun to talk as much as women. Here are a few excerpts:
To the Right Honorable the Keepers of the Liberties of Venus; TheWorshipful Court of Female-Assistants,&c. The Humble Petition and Address of several Thousands of Buxome Good-Women,Languishing in Extremity of Want. SHEWETH, That since ’tis Reckon’d amongst the Glories of our Native Country, To be A Paradise for Women: The same in our Apprehensions can consist in nothing more than the brisk Activity of our men, who in former Ages were justly esteemed the Ablest Performers in Christendome; But to our unspeakable Grief, we find of late a very sensible Decay of that true Old English Vigour; our Gallants being every way so Frenchified, that they are become meer Cock-sparrows, fluttering things that come on Sa sa, with a world of Fury, but are not able to stand to it, and in the very first Charge fall down flat before us. Never did Men wear greater Breeches, or carry less in them of any Mettle whatsoever.There was a glorious Dispensation (’twas surely in the Golden Age) when Lusty Ladds of seven or eight hundred years old, Got Sons and Daughters; and we have read, how a Prince of Spain was forced to make a Law,that Men should not Repeat the Grand Kindness to theirWives, above NINE times in a night: But Alas! Alas!Those forwards Days are gone, The dull Lubbers want a Spur now, rather than a Bridle: being so far from doing any works of Supererregation that we find them notcapable of performing those Devoirs which their Duty, and our Expectations Exact.
[…]
Nor is this (though more than enough) All the ground of our Complaint: For besides, we have reason to apprehend and grow Jealous, That Men by frequenting these Stygian Tap-houses will usurp on our Prerogative of Tatling, and soon learn to exeel us in Talkativeness: a Quality wherein our Sex has ever Claimed preheminence: For here like so many Frogs in a puddle, they sup muddy water, and murmur insignificant notes till half a dozen of them out-babble an equal number of us at a Gossipping, talking all at once in Confusion, and running from point to point as insensibly, and as swiftly, as ever the Ingenious Pole-wheel could run divisions on the Base-viol; yet in all their prattle every one abounds in his own sense, as stiffl yas a Quaker at the late Barbican dispute, and submits to the Reasons of no other mortal: so that there being neither Moderator nor Rules observ’d, you may as soon fill aQuart pot with Syllogismes, as profit by their Disconrses.
[…]
Wherefore the Premises considered, and to the end that our JustRights may be restored, and all the Antient Priviledges of our Sex preserved in violable; That our Husbands may give us some other Testimonies of their being Men, besides their Beards and wearing of empty Pantaloons:That they no more run the hazard of being Cuckol’d by Dildo’s:But returning to the good old strengthning Liquors of our Forefathers; that Natures Exchequer may once again be replenisht, and a Race ofLusty Hero’s begot, able by their Atchievments, to equal the Glories of our Ancesters. We Humbly Pray, That you our Trusty Patrons would improve your Interest, that henceferth [>henceforth] the Drinking COFFEE may on severe penalties be forbidden to all Persons under the Age of Threescore; and that instead thereof, Lusty nappy Beer, Cock-Ale, Cordial Canaries, Restoring Malago’s, and Back-recruiting Chocholes be Recommended to General Use, throughout the Utopian Territories.In hopes of which Glorious Reformation, your Petitioners shall readily Prostrate themselves, and ever Pray, &c.~W. F. Price on April 15, 2011.
http://www.the-spearhead.com/2011/04/15/the-1674-womens-campaign-against-coffee/
Coffee with the Queen 