[260] The famous Puritanic writer, Philip Stubbes, who published his
"Anatomie of Abuses" in 1593, declares that he "has heard of shirtes
that have cost some ten shillings, some twentie, some fortie, some
five pound, some twentie nobles, and (which is horrible to heare)
some tenne pounde a peece." His book is filled with similar
denunciations of abuses; in which he is followed by other satirists.
They appear to have produced little effect in the way of
reformation; for in the days of James I, John Taylor, the Water
poet, similarly laments the wastefulness of those who--
Wear a farm in shoe-strings edged with gold,
And spangled garters worth a copyhold;
A hose and doublet which a lordship cost;
A gaudy cloak, three manors' price almost;
A beaver band and feather for the head
Priced at the church's tythe, the poor man's bread.
[261] It is not unusual to find in inventories of this era, the
household effects rated at much less than the wearing apparel, of
the person whose property is thus valued.
[262] The Jesuit Drexelius, in one of his Religious Dialogues,
notices the fact; but I am referring to an Harleian manuscript,
which confirms the information of the Jesuit.