[Sidenote: I have seen noblemen’s inventories of apparel very moderate as compared with what is worn now.] I haue seen bokes of accompte of the yomen of the wardropes of noble men, and also inue_n_torys made after theyr decease of their apparell, and I doubte not but at this daye, it is .xx. tymes more in value, than it was to 4 suche a man of degree as he was an .C. yere a-go: and many tymes it is gyuen away, er it be halfe worne, to a symple man, the whiche causeth hym to weare the same; and an other symple man, or a lyttell better, seynge him 8 [Sidenote: Other men try to dress like them.] to weare suche rayment, thynketh in his mynde, that he maye were as good rayment as he, and so causeth hym to bye suche other, to his great coste and charge, aboue measure, and an yll ensample to all other: and also to see 12 [Sidenote: Even servants dress too much.] mens seruantes so abused in theyr aray, theyr cotes be so syde, that they be fayne to tucke them vp whan they ryde, as women do theyr kyrtels whan they go to the market or other places, the whiche is an vnconuenient syght. And 16 ferthermore, they haue suche pleytes vpon theyr brestes, and ruffes vppon theyr sleues, aboue theyr elbowes, that yf theyr mayster, or theym-selfe hadde neuer so greatte nede, they coude not shoote one shote, to hurte 20 [Sidenote: [Fol. 66_b_.]] theyr ennemyes, tyll they hadde caste of theyr cotes, or cut of theyr sleues. This is fer aboue measure, or common weale of the realme. This began fyrste with honour, worship, and honesty, and it endeth in pryde, presumption, 24 and pouertye. Wherof speketh saint Austin, _Que_m_cunque superbum esse videris, diaboli filiu_m _esse ne dubites_: That is [Sidenote: The proud man is a child of the devil.] to say, who-so-euer thou seest that is proude, dout the not, but he is the diuels chylde. Wherfore agaynst pryde he 28 byddeth the remembre: _Quid fuisti, quid es, et qualis post mortem eris_: That is to say, what thou were, what thou art, and what thou shalte be after thy death. And S. Bernarde saythe, _Homo nihil aliud est, q_uam _sperma 32 fetidum, saccus stercorum, et esca vermium_: That is to saye, [Sidenote: Man is but worm’s meat.] A man is nothynge but stynkynge fylthe, a sacke of dounge, and wormes meate. The whiche sayinges wolde be reme_m_bred, and than me semeth this is sufficient at this 36 time for the first point of the thre. 152. ¶ Of delycyouse meates and drynkes.