You shall then use youre Ceremonies, as the tailer shapes his garments, rather to large then to litle: but yet not so, that hee cutteth one hose large inough to make a cloke. And if thou doe use in this point, some litle gentle behaviour, to suche as be meaner then thy selfe: thou shalt be counted lowly. And if thou doe asmuche to thy betters: thou shalt bee saide a Gentleman well taught, and courtious. But hee that dothe herin to muche, and is over lavishe, shalbe blamed as vaine and light: and perhaps worse thought of too: counted a busie body, a fidging fellowe, and in wise mens sight, a flatterer: which vice, our elders have called, (if I doe not forget me) dowble diligence. And there is no faulte in the worlde, more to bee abhorred, or y^t worsse beseemes a gentleman, then this. And this is the thirde maner of Ceremonies, which simply procedeth of our owne will, and not of custome. Let us then remember, that Ceremonies, (as I have alwayes said) were not so necessarie by nature, but a man might doe well inough without them: As for example, our countrie lived (it is not long since) in maner cleane without any. But other mens diseases have infected us, with these infirmities and many mo. So that, custome and use observed: the rest that is more, is but waste: and such a sufferable leesing, as if it be more in deede then is in use, it is not only unsufferable, but forbidden: and so uppon, the matter, a cold and unsavourie thing to noble mindes, that cannot brouse uppon shrubbes and shewes. And you shall understand, that trusting my owne skill but little, in writing this present treatise: I thought good to consult with many, and to take the Judgement of better learned men then my selfe. And this in my reading I finde. There was a King, they call him Oedipus: being banished and driven out of his countrie (uppon what occasion I know not) he fled to King Theseus at Athens, the better to save him selfe and his life, from his enemies, that mainely pursued him. This Oedipus now comming before the presence of Theseus, by good chaunce hearing his daughter speake, (whome he knew by her voice, for he was blind and could not beholde her with his eyes) he was so presently striken with joy, that, not tarying to doe his allegeaunce and duetie to the King, he did presently embrace, & make much of his daughter before him: his fatherly affection so led him, and rulde him so. But in the end finding his fault, and better advising himselfe of his doings: he would needs excuse it to Theseus, & humbly prayd his grace to pardon his folly. The good and wise King, cut of his talke, and bad him leave his excuses, and thus saide unto him: Comfort thy selfe, Oedipus, and bee not dismayd at that thou hast done. For I will not have my life honoured with other mens woordes, but with my owne deedes. Which sentence a man should have alwayes in mind.