The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

No less truly is the vanity that is used amongst us in these days. For the proud & haughty stomachs of the daughters of England, are so maintained with divers disguised sorts of costly apparel, that as Tertullian ¹an ancient father saith, there is left no difference in apparel between an honest matron and a common strumpet. Yea many men are become so effeminate, that they care not what they spend in disguising them selves, ever desiring new toys, and inventing new fashions. Therefore a certain man that would picture every country man in his accustomed apparel, when he had painted other nations, he pictured the English man all naked, and gave him cloth under his arm, and bad him make it him self as he thought best, for he changed his fashion so often, that he knew not how to make it. Thus with our fantastical devises, we make our selves laughing stocks to other nations, while one spendeth his patrimony upon pounces and cuts, another bestoweth more on a dancing shirt, then might suffice to buy him honest and comely apparel for his whole body. ⟨p. 220⟩Some hang their revenues about their necks, ruffling in their ruffs, & many a one jeopardeth his best joint, to maintain him self in sumptuous raiment. And every man, nothing considering his estate and condition, seeketh to excel other in costly attire. Whereby it cometh to pass, that in abundance and plenty of all thin ²ges, we yet complain of want and penury, while one man spendeth that which might serve a multitude, and no man distributeth of the abundance which he hath received, and all men excessively waste that which should serve to supply the necessities of other. There hath ben very good provision made against such abuses, by divers good and wholesome laws, which if they were practised as they ought to be of all true subjects, they might in some part serve to diminish this raging and riotous excess in apparel. But alas, there appeareth amongst us little fear and obedience either of God, or man. Therefore must we needs look for Gods fearful ³vengeance from heaven, to overthrow our presumption and pride, as he overthrew Herod, who in his royal apparel, forgetting God, was smitten of an Angel, and eaten up of worms. By which terrible example, God hath taught us that we are but worms meat, although we pamper ourselves never so much in gorgeous apparel.