PRO SP 63/144/57 II

A note of sutch reasons
as mooued mea, toe putt
the statute In execution
agaynst Irish habites:

Text

First the Common people and multitude beinge more ledd by the Eie then by any
other sence, seeinge vs in a strange attire from them and they from vs haue
thereby a Contynuall testymonie in their eie that they are a different people
from vs and we from them strangers and alientes: which breedeth & Confirmeth
in them a strangenes and alienacion of mynde from vs, our lawes & government./

Secondly a generall lawe beinge made to the contrarie, and the same by them
generally contemned, maketh the Lawe contemptible in their myndes which ought
to be held in speciall regard, respect, and reverence least the contynuall custome
of breakinge and contemning lawes breede in them a habite of Dissolutenes &
disobedience

Thirdly howe availeable the vnitie of apparell and maner of cloathinge is
to the vnitinge of myndes and Combinacion of nations in one may appeare
by the Contrary commanded by the eternall wisdom of god to the people of
Israell who weare forbidden to weare Linsey Wollsey and other such weedes
of the Cananites least they should becomme one nacion with them./

Fourthly the minde receivinge impressions by the eie, and by the hearinge
as by the sight and noyse of pleasant & delectable thinges, ioye & solace,
and of thinges woofull and lamentable, sorowe & grieffe: and that so much
the more, by howe much the nearer the obiect is vnto it, by the contynuall
gesture and wearinge of rude and barbarous attire receiveth an Impression
of rudenes and barbarisme: and by wearinge Civill handsom & cleanlie
apparell receiveth a persuacion and adoptacion vnto handsomnes cleanelynes
and Ciuilitie./

Fivethly, as it is well written and observed by Cicero: Cura parandi ea que
suppeditent et ad Cultum, et ad victum exsussitat animos et maiores ad rem
gerendam facit: So a forme of attire and lieffe that requireth no such
Care, but is had without any Industrie at all maketh the mynde lacie
Idle and abiect./

Sixthly it is not onely an ornament to the Common wealth that everie manne
be apparelled accordinge to his estate and callinge, but allso conducible
to the Common societie, commerse and Interchange of thinges, that some
porcion of euerie mans substance be bestowed yearely in apparell & thinges
therevnto belonginge.

Seaventhlie: the charge that is bestowed vpon apparell (so it be not
excessiue) is of greater vse & profitt then that which is bestowed in meate
drinke, plaie, or other like superfluous charge: wherfore what is drawn
from the one vnto the other is gayned both to the personne and to the common
wealth.

Eightlie

Eightlie, the mantle servinge vnto the Irishe as to a hedghogge his skynne
or to a snaile her shell for a garment by daie, and a house by night
it maketh them with the Contynuall vse of it, more apt and able to liue
and lie out in bogges and woodes, where their mantle serveth them for
a matteras and a bushe for a bedsteede, and thereby are lesse addicted
to a loyall dutifull and Civill lieffe./

Nienthlie, As that vertue or rather vigor of all vertues (seamelynes)
which the latines call Decorum: the greekes : where it taketh
roote in the hartes and myndes of men, induceth them to all cyvill behaviour
good demeanure and honestie: so the contrarie thereof (vnseamelynes &
vndecensie) where it is growne into habite with men leadeth them to all
disorder, dissolutenes and Impuritie. /