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To the Gentlemen Readers health.
GEntle Gentlemen, I hope Cloth breeches shall fin•…•… your gentle Censors of this homely Apo•…•…ogie of his antient prerogatiues sith though he speakes a∣gain•…•…t Veluet breeches which you were, yet he twits not the weede but the vice, not the apparell when tis worthily worn, but the vnworthie person that weares it, who sprang of a Pea∣sant will vse any sinister meanes to clime to preserment, being then so proude as the foppe forgets like the Asle that a mule was his father. For auntient Gentility and yeomanrie, Cloth bre•…•…ches attempteth this quarrell, and hopes of their fauour: for vpstarts he is halfe careles, & the more, bicause he knowes whatsoeuer some thincke priuately, they will bee no publike carpers: least by kicking where they are toucht, they bewray their gald backs to the world, and by starting vp to find fault, proue themselues vpstai•…•…s and fooles. So then poore Cloth∣breeches sets downe his rest on the courtesie of gentle gen∣tlemen and bold Yeomen, that they will suffer him to take no wrong. But suppose the worst, that hee should be fround at, and that such occupations as hee hath vppon conscience di∣scarded from the Iury, should commence an action of vnkind nesse against him, heele proue it not to hold plea, because all the debate was but a dreame. And so hoping all men will merrilie take it, he stands sollemnlie leaning on his pike staffe, till he heare what you conceaue of him for being so peremp∣torie. If well, he swears to crack his hose at the knees to quite your courtesie. If hardly, he hath vowed that whatsoeuer he dreames neuer to blab it againe, and so he wisheth me hum∣bly to bid you farewell.