Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

Of the vanity o fco ffly and brittle apparel!. 403 ofgood hofpitalitie, which is a principali pillar that vphol- deth the common -wealth, as being the meanes to preferue loue and neighbourly friendfhip among the richer fort, and to glue reliefe to the poore,who ftand in need of helpe. For whereas there was much beftowed this way by our ance- fors,whileft they contented thernfelues with meane attire; now they who fucceed them, although they haue doubled and redoubled their fines and rents, cannot keepe open doores, but arc faine to leaue their countries, and to lurke in corners ofgreat cities to fane charges in houfekeeping, be- ing not able with all their meanes to maintaine halfe their forefathers famille, becaufe all which they can rake and fcrape together,is much too little to maintain their brauery in appPareil. Finally, there is no caufe equal! to this, of impo_ uerrfhing the common - wealth, of caufing dearth and fcar- citie of all things neceffarie; and confequently of bringing the whole communalrie to want and miferie. For to maintaine this exceffe in appareil, landlords are faine to rack their rents; and the tenant being not able with all his labor poorelyto maintaine his charge, and pay his rent, iscon- firainedtoraifetheprices of all his commie commodities to adoublerate. Artificers and tradefinen are likewifefor- ced to increafe the prices of their worke and wares, being not otherwife able to maintaine their families; and none fmart fo much as the poorer fort, who being deßitute of meanes, haue no entercourfe of dealing with the ref, nor cannot (like the other) heale their owne wound by biting o£theirfellow ; or being not able hauing done their worke to forbeare the tale, arefor the fuftaining of their prefent ne- cefl`itie faine to part with their wares at fuch eafie rates as the buiers pleafe to glue them. Finally, nothing doth more impouerifh the common-wealth then this exceflìuebraue- rie, teeing our monies and chiefe commodities, which are of much better vfe, are daily tranfported into other coun- tries,wehauing in lieu thereof nothing but coftlyftuffes, hikes and vcluets, gold andfilurrlaces, and fuchlike toyes and vanities,whichwithin a few moneths wearing come to ragges,not worth the taking vp if a man fhould find them in Dda the