PLEASE ALLOW A FEW MOMENTS FOR THE IMAGE TO APPEAR (a translation of the Old English appears below the tablet)





THE amazing RECREATED DOCUMENT ON THIS 11" X 16" UNIQUE TABLET DATES BACK TO 1675 AND CONCERNS THE SUPPRESSION OF COFFEE HOUSES AND THE SEVEREST OF PUNISHMENT TO BE DEALT TO THOSE OPERATING & FREQUENTING SUCH PREMISES . . . .

WHY? . . . . ACCORDING TO KING CHARLES 11, THESE WERE PLACES THAT SUBVERSIVE PEOPLE CONGREGATED TO PLOT THE DOWNFALL OF GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENT BODIES AND THAT, to quote Charles, "MUCH VALUABLE TIME WAS WASTED NOT GOING ABOUT ONES DAILY DUTIES AND BUSINESS!"

Has anything changed? . . . .



Who then would have possibly thought that 328 years later Starbucks and their clones would have taken over the street corners, shopping parades and malls in nearly every major city in the world, maybe Charles had an incling of things to come. . . . .

THIS IS A FANTASTIC, FUNNY AND WONDERFULLY IRONIC GIFT TO GIVE ANY COFFEE DRINKER, FOR AS THEY SIP THEIR FAVORITE MORNING BREW THEY CAN THINK THEMSELVES VERY LUCKY THEY WEREN'T BORN IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 17TH CENTURY!




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11" x 16" Aged Polished Wood Tablet



THE TRANSLATION


Whereas it is most apparent that the multitude of coffee houses of late years, set up and kept within this kingdom, the Dominion of Wales and the town of Beswick upon Tweed, and the great resort of whole and dissafected persons to them, have produced very evil and dangerous effects; as well for that many Tradesmen and others do therein misspend much of their time, which might and probably would otherwise be employed in and about their Lawful Callings and Affairs but also, for that in such houses, and by occasion of the meetings of such persons therein, diverse false, Malicious and Scandalous Reports are devised and Spread abroad, to the Defamation of his Majesty’s Government, and to the Disturbance of the peace and quiet of the Realm;

His Majesty hath thought it fit and necessary, That the said Coffee- houses be (for the future) put down and suppressed, and both (with the advice of His Privy Council) by this his Royal proclamation, Strictly Charge and Command all manner of persons, That they or any of them do not presume from and after the tenth day of January next ensuing, to keep any Public Coffee-House, or to Utter or sell by retail in his, her or their house or houses (to be spent or consumed within the same) any Coffee, Chocolate, Sherbet or Tea as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils.

And for the better accomplishment of this his Majesties Royal pleasure, His Majesty doth hereby will and require the Justices of Peace within their several Counties, and the chief Magistrates in all Cities and Towns Corporate, that they do at their next respective General Sessions of the peace ( to be holden within their several and respective Counties, Divisions and Precincts) recall and make void all Licenses at any time heretofore Granted for the selling or retailing of any Coffee, Chocolate, Sherbet or Tea. And that they or any of them do not (for the future) make or grant any such License or Licenses, to any person or persons Whatsoever.

And His Majesty doth further hereby declare, that if any person or persons shall take upon them, him or her, after his, her or their License or Licenses recalled, or otherwise without License, to sell by retail (as aforesaid) any of the Liquors aforesaid, that then the person or persons so Offending, shall not only be proceeded against, upon the Statute made in the Fifteenth year of his Majesties Reign (which gives the forfeiture of five pounds for every month wherein he, thee or they shall offend therein) but shall (in case they persevere to Offend) receive the severest punishment that may by Law be inflicted. Given at Our Court at Whitehall, this Nine and twentieth day of December 1675, in the Seven and twentieth year of Our Reign.