Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of'the vemitie ofcoJfly and brave apparell. 393 were much admired ;yea contrariwife becaufe theywafl their flates,and fpend alltheir liuings in maintaining 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 the courfe held by 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 their garments of the bell andMoll idling f luffes, they did not need to change them, but wore the fame clothes ma- ny yeeres together ; yet wearing them fo feldome,. and with fuck great difiance of time coming between ; and not glutting either themfelues or others with their common vie, it was all one,as ifat euery good time they had changed their fuit and fa(bion.By which wife frugality they were enabled to keepe good hofpitalitie, and to performe.the workes of mercy ; whereby as they had comfort to their owne confci- ences ; fo didthey deferue the loue and reuerence.oftheir in- feriourstowardsthem,whenas they tailed of their bountie and goodnes. Efpecially theywere not driuen through their excefliue expences to inhance rents and increafe fines, but bauing fufficient oftheir owne to maintaine their port, they were able to afford to their poore tenants their houfes and lands at fuch eafie rates,as they might comfortablie hue vn- der their fhelter. Whereby as their loines did bleffe them, when they enioyed thefe benefits from them ; fo in the time ofpeace they had fo many feruants as tenants, readie for all imployments; and in time' of warre fomany fouldiers, who in all dangers were ready to hue and diewith.them. W hereas now their pride having fet rents and. fines ;vpon the extrea- meflracke,.becaufe nothing fufficeth to maintaine their ex cefliue brauerie,andhaving turned hofpitality andthe works of mercy into rich iewels,fumptuous furniture, and gorge- ous appareil; their tenants (land vpon equall tearmes with them, feeing their houfes. and lands being brought to the market hil, :they had onely abate penniworth for their pea- nie ;,: