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Of Apparrel. and trimming of the bodye. The .xx. Dialogue.
BVT I am brauely aparelled.
Thinges that are pure, doo loue to be seene naked: And it is a common fashi∣on to couer filthie thinges.
I am most exquisitely apparelled.
Thou mayest be ashamed of thy outwarde trimnesse, as oft as thou shalt thinke what is couered therewith: For it were a frentike part of pryde, to couer dounge with purple.
I am very neately apparrelled.
Hast thou not heard what yt most valient man in Salust saith? that neatnesse belongeth to women, and labour to men.
My ap∣parell is fayre and fine.
Then is it a banner of pryde, and a nest of lasciuiousnesse.
My clothes are excellent, and care.
I wyll not set agaynst thee godly poore soules halfe naked, and stiffe with colde, and scarce able to keepe of the winters bitternes, with their simple mantles of Rugge. I know well, that sinfull wealth, disdaineth holy pouertie. And the same most rich man also, of whom I spake yet whyle in our third dispu∣tation before this, vsed consideratly to weare none other garment then home made, suche as was spun and wrought by his wife, and his sister, and his daughter, and his nices: For this is also written of him, Thus he that was lorde of al, weeried a fewe women, but such as were most neare of kin vnto him. And thou perhaps being another mans seruant, doest weerie nations that are a great way of from thee. For thee the Fleminges spinne, for thee they carde, for thee they weaue: for thee the Persians, the Seres, the Indi∣ans do ioyle: for thee the Tyrian Murrey swimmeth, or Purple fishe: for thee the softe grains of Hispis hangeth vpon the shrubs: for thee the sheepe of Brytaine looke whyte: for thee the Indian Sandix looketh redde: both Oceans sweate for thy sake: but for Augustus, only his wife and his daughter, his sister and his nices do take payne. Thus much is vertue decreased, & pride increased. And since men haue délighted in the contrary, the examples of modestie are waxed vile. For in diet and apparell many contem∣ning this great & woorthy prince, haue gone after the woorst, as Caius & the residue, whose belly & backe were neuer couered with ciuile, nor manlike, nor Romane, nor truly humane, but with mad,