Of'thevemitie ofcoJflyandbraveapparell. 393 weremuch admired ;yeacontrariwifebecaufe theywafl their flates,and fpend alltheir liuings inmaintaining this brauery, and fuperfluous exceffe, which was heretofore bellowed, vpon charitable vies and good hofpitality ; therefore the meaner andpoorer fort,receiuing no reliefe or comfort from them; deteft their pride andenuie their brauerie. Muchwi_ fer therefore was thecourfe heldby our forefathers,who ha- uing indeed cooly attire befitting their callings, did not weare it commonly,but by the feldoníe vie thereof, made it the more to be admired and refpe&ed, and hovvfoeuer ma- king theirgarmentsofthebell andMoll idling fluffes, they did not need to changethem, but wore the fameclothes ma- ny yeerestogether ; yet wearing themfo feldome,. andwith fuck great difiance of time coming between ; and not glutting either themfeluesor otherswith their common vie, itwas all one,asifat euerygood time theyhad changed their fuit andfa(bion.By which wife frugality they were enabled to keepe good hofpitalitie, and to performe.the workes of mercy ; wherebyas they had comfort to their owne confci- ences ; fodidthey deferue the loue and reuerence.oftheirin- feriourstowardsthem,whenasthey tailed of their bountie andgoodnes. Efpecially theywere not driuen through their excefliue expences to inhance rents and increafe fines,but bauing fufficient oftheir owneto maintaine their port, they wereableto afford to their poore tenants their houfes and landsat fucheafie rates,as they might comfortablie hue vn- der their fhelter. Whereby as their loines did bleffe them, whenthey enioyed thefebenefitsfrom them ; fo in the time ofpeace theyhadfo many feruants as tenants, readie for all imployments; and in time'ofwarre fomany fouldiers,who inall dangers were readytohue and diewith.them. Whereas now their pride having fet rents and. fines;vpon the extrea- meflracke,.becaufe nothing fufficeth tomaintaine their ex cefliue brauerie,andhaving turned hofpitality andthe works of mercy into rich iewels,fumptuous furniture, andgorge- ousappareil; their tenants (land vpon equall tearmes with them, feeing their houfes. and lands being brought tothe markethil,:they had onelyabatepenniworth for their pea- nie ;,:
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