The Duc de Bourgogne (Louis XIV’s grandson) and his two brothers had been taught the polite innovation of using a fork to eat with. But when they were invited to the King’s table at supper, he would have none of it and forbade them to use such an instrument. He would never had had an occasion to reproach me in the matter, for I have never in my life used anything to eat with but my knife and my fingers. – from the correspondence of the Princess Palatine, sister-in-law to Louis XIV (late 17th Century France)