❧ A Decree of the Priuye Coun­sell at vvestminster. Anno. 1.5.5.9. xx. October
Articles agreed vppon by the Lordes and other of the Quenes Maiesties pryuy Counsayle, for a reformation of their seruauntes in certayne abuses of apparell thereby to gyue exam­ple to alother Lordes, noble men and Gentlemen.

EVery Lord and Mayster hauing seruauntes, shal furthwith cause a viewe to be taken of al his seruauntes, attending about the Citie, and considre their degres and habilities of lyuyng, how many may dis­pende and be assessed to the Subsedie at. xx. pound of yerely lyuelyhode, or at two hundrede pounde in goodes, and therevpon cause them to vnderstande what is laweful for them to weare in their apparrel, and take ordre to reforme it, in this maner or such lyke.

FYrst as many as haue anye apparrell vnlawfull for them to weare, and can withoute ther losse leaue the same, to leaue it furthwith, and to be strayghtly charged that they procure no newe.

NExt that summe mete persons be assigned by the Mayster, to take a certaine viewe of al the seruauntes presente apparrell, beyng vnlawefull, and make a certaine boke therof, and therevpon gyue commaundemente that noo newe be bought or worne after the sayd viewe taken.

THyrdly these bokes shalbe delyuered eyther into the countinge house, or to the gentlemen huyshers, there to re­mayne, to thend that yf any shalbe empeched for wearyng of any vnlawfull apparrell, that then the same might be tryed whether it were newely prouyded sithens the viewe taken or no.

ITem, ordre shalbe taken and charge gyuen by the Lordes and Maysters, that vpon this reformation the mallycy­ous inuention and frowarde nature of any seruauntes, shall not deuyse anye newe fashion, or sorte of apparrell, that should be as sumptuous as the former, though not contrary to the wordes of the statute, thereby sekyng by fraud to auoyde the payne of the lawe, with which peruerse condition the wisedome of the Maysters must mete. both to cha­styse such lewde seruauntes, and to confort such aswyllyue in ordre and honest and cumlye maner.

ANd because many Gentlemen and seruauntes, haue at this present, summe by giftes, some otherwise, furres, em­brodiries, and other garmentes, or ornamentes, contrary to the lawes of the Realme. It is conuenient that eue­ry person hauing such beyng not well hable to chaunge the same. But meanyng hereafter to obserue the lawe & not be empeched for his default herein, shall deliuer a true certificate signed with his hand, of all such his apparell as is not lawefull for his degree to the Lord Chamberlayne of the Quenes Maiesties householde, if he meane to weare the same apparrell in anye the Quenes Maiesties Chambers, or to the comptynge house, if he meane to weare thee same, within the gates of the Courte. So as for the tyme suche persons as were their former vnlawefull apparrell maye be forborne and spared.

ANd it semeth not vnmeete to refrayne the conetuouse lewde condition of the Taylors, and hosyers, that euerye Lorde [...] Mays [...] [...]ther by hymselfe, or some his principall officers prescrybe to all maner of his seruauntes, that none of them ex [...]e somme conuenient and reasonable price for their garmentes, and specially for their hose, wherin a diuersitie would be had betwene them which be hable, and so assessed in Subsedye, either at xx. pound yerely lyuely hode, or two hundred pound in goodes, and all others that be not. And yet notwithstandynge that all this trauayle is to be taken for reformation of the shamefull excesse of Apparrell, as thoccasion of dyuerse of pouertie, in others, of robberies and such like. Yet it is mete and conueniente that all Lordes seruauntes (specyally in the Court) shoulde go semely and cumly for the honor of their Maister, which may be well done, wearynge the commodities of thys Realme, and vsyng measure in all shape and forme of apparrell.

God saue the Quene.

❧ Imprinted at London in Povvles Churchyarde bi Richard Iugge, and Iohn Cavvood, printers to the Quenes Maiestie.

Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis.

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