Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 1894] Excesse of Apparrell, condemned.

WHat heavy things are thundred against those curious Dames of Ierusa∣lem by the Prophet Isaiah, who being himself a Courtier, inveighs as puncutally against the Noble vanity of Apparrell, as if he had late viewed the Ladies Wardrobes; And our Saviour finds fault with the Scribes that lo∣ved to go in long cloathing.* 1.1 But to come nearer; In the year 1580, great ruffs with huge wide sets, and cloaks reaching almost to the ancles, no lesse comely then of great expence,* 1.2 were restrained here by Proclamation, saith Mr. Camb∣den; And need we not the like Law now, when so many Prodigals turn Rents into ruffes, and lands into lace, singulis auribu•• bina aut terna pendunt Patrimonia, as Seneca hath it, hang two or three Patrimonies at their ears, a pretty grove

upon their backs,* 1.3 a reasonable Lordship or living about their necks, from whence both S. Cyprian and S. Augustine drew up this conclusion, That superfluous Ap¦parrel is worse then Whoredome, because Whoredome onely corrupts Chastity, but this corrupts Nature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mark 12. 38.
• * 1.2

  In vita Elizab.
• * 1.3

  Joh. Trap Com. on Matth. 6. 29.