OfApparrell. 375 (mall part oftheirhappineffe,thinking themfelues bet} when they are brauet}, and mot}etleemed when they hauegot on the richet}fuite. And this makerh them ro fet their hearts fovpon it, that they thinke no time toomuch, no cot} too great,which is fpent inadorning ofthemfelues; yea theyare ready to fell religion,confcience, and credit,topurchafe this exceffiuebraucrie; and tocommit all manner ofwrongs and iniuries,opprefiìon,and violence,to maintaine their gay and gorgeous apparrell.Which folly,that we allomay not falin- to, let vslearn bafely to efleemc this, which the world fo much admireth, and to contemne it as a trifling vanitie; which is not onely voidofall worthand excellencie,butalto through common abufe, Cubic& to much corruption and finite. And yet left for the abufe we fhould rcie6t thelaw- full vfe, and cynically refute that chriflian libertie, which Godhereinhath liberally allowed veto vs; let vs in the firfl place confider , that there is agood and lawfull vfe of thefe rich attires, and cot}ly appareil; namely, when as they are well fitted and forted vnto the calling of thofe that weare them. For as the Lord hath made dinerset}atesand degrees ofinen; fo wouldhe haue euery one to apparrell themfelues according to their degree & calling, that fo thefe dinersor- ders and conditions ofinenmay the better be diflinguifhed theonefrom the other:kings with royall apparell,nobles ac- cording to their nobility,with that which is richand coflly; genticmen,as hefitteth their gentrie;and themeaner fort ac- cording to their qualifie and condition. The which diffe.. rencemay lawfully appeareboth in thematter, and alto the forme oftheir garments. For in the former refpeó, it is law- full for thofe who are inhigh eflate,toweare flukes and vel- uets, gold and fluer, jewels and precious (tones; neither were thefe creatures caufelefly created, but for the vie of men, and that not heathens, worldlings and infidels; but chiefly and principallie forGods own childrenand feruants, who onelyhaue iufl title andinterell vnto them. The like differencethere may allo be in the forme or fafhionofap- pareil; for the kingand the weane fubieCì, the courtier and the countricman, the gentleman and yeoman, the old and Bb 4 the
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