The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…

But if ye say, ye deck your selves to be the more cleanly, & so to please your husbands, I tell you again, that there is a mean & measure in every thing, & according to every state & degree there is a comely apparel, which comeliness and measure no honest husband nor honest wife will be glad to transgress & exceed. Such excess & pride may procure the dishonesty & harm to thy husband.

But yf ye saye, ye decke your selues to be the more clenely, & so to please youre husbandes, I tell you agayne, that ther is a meane & measure in euery thynge, & accordynge to euerye state & degree theris a comlye apparell, whych comelynes and measure no honest husbond nor honest wyfe wylbe glad to trāsgresse & exceade. Such eccesse & pryde maye procure the dyshonestye & harme to thy husbonde.

As for gentle women & such, as are of noble ¹birth, whether they may exceed in light & wan ton apparel, or in apparel to costly. I will first as• them whether they be Christen & faithful women or unfaithful? If they be unbelievers then let them walk as they list. And the more gorgeous tenderlings they be, the better shall they please their head the devil. And seeing th y have wanton proud sprites, they must needs have like garments to declare what they b• within in heart and mind, with these women I will not wrestle. But if they be Christen faithful women, they may well know that the holy Apostles Peter and Paul have written their exhortations for sober apparel, unto them which have such rich Jewels, stones, gold & silver, & not to poor women, that have them not. Seeing then that the word of God is principally spoken to you that be gentle women ⟨p. lxxvi⟩of noble parentel which have these riches and Jewels to lay them away with all your pomp and pride, & will be taken for Christen folks, then follow you the exhortations of the ministers of Jesus Christ.