Act, of the Apparel of Judges, Magistrates, and Kirkmen.--[Excerpt
from.]
24th June 1609.
Attour, his Majesty and Estaites foresaids, considering what slander
and contempt hes arisen to the ecclesiasticall estate of this kingdom
by the occasion of the light and undecent apparell used by some of
that profession, and chiefly these having vote in Parliament: It is
therefore statute that every preacher of God’s word shall hereafter
weare black, grave and comely apparell beseeming men of their estate
and profession. As lykewise that all pryors, abbots, and prelates,
having vote in Parliament, and specially bishops, shall weare grave
and decent apparrell agreeable to their function, and as appertaines
to men of their rank, dignity, and place. And because the haill
Estates humbly and thankfully acknawledges that God of his great
mercy hes made the people and subjects of this country sa happy as to
have a King raigne over us, wha is maist godly, wyse, and religious;
hating all erronious and vaine superstition, just in government, and
of lang experience therein, knawing better then any King living what
apperteins and is convenient for every estate in their behaviour and
duty. Therefore it is agreed and consented to by the Estates, that
what order sa ever his Majesty in his great wisdome shall think meet
to prescrive for the apparell of kirk-men agreable to their estate
and moyen; the same being sent in writ by his Majesty to his Clerk of
Register, shall be a sufficient warrant to him for inserting thereof
in the buikes of Parliament to have the strength and effect of an act
thereof, with executorials of horning to be direct thereupon, against
sic persons as within the space of fourty dayes after the publication
or intimation to them of the said act or charges used against them
thereupon, shall not provyde themselves of the apparell to be
appoynted by his Majesty for men of their vocation and estate, to be
used and worne by them and their successours at the tymes, and in
manner to be expressed in the said act to be made by his Heighnesse
thereanent.