I mighte as well answere for Iudges, Sergeants. &c. as you doe for mini∣sters, and saye that seeing the Magistrate dothe allowe them as wyse, learned, and discrete men, and trusteth them with the gouernment of the common wealthe, it were somethyng harde not to trust them with the appoynting of their owne apparell: but so shoulde I reason fondly and seditiously: for it is méete that learned, wyse, and discrete men should be sub∣iecte to lawes: and the wyser, the learneder, and the discréeter they be, the more wil∣ling they are to obey the same. And this kinde of argument tendeth to nothing else, but to the animating of the subiects agaynst the Magistrate, and agaynst the lawes.* 1.1
Thoughe the authoritie that the Minister oughte to haue, muste come especially by his doctrine, good conuersation, and by his calling: yet is no outwarde meanes (bée∣ing lawfull) to be refused, whereby the same maye be helped: and he muste labour as muche as he can, euen by outwarde meanes (whether it be of conuersation, or of apparell, or any suche lyke thing) to commende his office and calling, and to procure reuerence vnto it.
A man mighte lykewyse saye, that Princes, Iudges, and Magistrates, are not to be reuerenced for their apparell sake, but for the authoritie committed vnto them by God: and yet is it méete and conuenient that they weare suche kinde of apparell as may externally commende their authoritie.
The apparell of Ministers declareth their modestie and grauitie: signifieth their calling and office: perteyneth to comelynesse and order: and therefore as conuenient to be prescribed vnto them, as any other kinde of apparell is to Iudges, Serge∣antes, or other ciuill Magistrates. And forasmuche as Ministers be members of the common wealthe, it is méete that they shoulde be subiecte to the orders of the same.
It is the honor of the Prince to haue all the states and degrées of persons with∣in hir dominion in good order, be they in Citie, or in Towne, togither or separate: and therefore this is nothing that you say, the Magistrate or the Citie maye seeke some honor of the Citizens. &c.
The Iudge, wheresoeuer he goeth, ought to be knowne by his apparel, euen so the Minister: neyther can you shewe any good reason to the contrarie. M. Caluine vpon* 1.2 the. 23. of Mat. sayth, it is méete that Doctors should in grauitie and modestie of apparell differ from the common sorte.