In 1675, King Charles II of England banned coffee houses on the grounds (cough) that they had become “the great resort of Idle and disaffected persons.” The ban was ignored.… Read More
Many people know Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618) as the courtly gentleman who spread his cloak over a puddle so Queen Elizabeth would not dirty her shoes. It’s uncertain whether or not this actually happened, but even if the story is true, his cloak was most likely made of leather and easily cleaned.