“…many Tradesmen and others, do therein mis-spend much of their time…in such houses, and by occasion of the meetings of such persons therein…False, Malitious and Scandalous Reports are devised and spread abroad, to the Defamation of His Majesties Government, and to the Disturbance of the Peace and Quiet of the Realm…”
The document written by or at least instructed at the request of English royalty opens with the reader acknowledging the existence of coffee houses. These places are also revealed as having increased in quantity as of late within the colonial lands of the nation such as Wales and the Town of Berwick. There is a claim made that all those who congregate in these houses are up to no good. The likes of such people in attendance are also specified when the direct reference to tradesmen is made.
Based on this, we are able to assume that usually working class people are the ones to be found at such functions; not very much unlike bars. These people are in essence being accused of committing treason or at least creating and/or contributing to an environment that at some point would be capable of fostering it. Suppression of this potential treason is treated as a priority to the extent that efforts for the disbanding of the establishments are requested personally through Royal Proclamation by the direct Monarchy itself. The writer, being aware of the burden of enforcement of the new legislation from a distance, instructs local government authorities to void and recall all licenses of the served beverages alone.
I agree that yes the people who do come and attend these meetings in the coffeehouse are working class, however more upper middle class, as regular working people would either attend bars or simply could not afford it. As well not all of the conversation was filled with malice, I feel as though it was simple conversation that could lead to politics and other topics. However I think that since individuals of different positions, and walks of life could commonly come and discuss many things, that’s what he feared most, that a collective group of people could talk and congregate together, it was the beginning signs of Democracy that the King feared most.