❧ By the queen. WHereas the queens majesty, for avoiding of the great inconvenience that hath grown and daily doth increase within this her realm, by the inordinate excess in Apparel, hath in her Princely wisdom and care for reformation thereof, by sundry former Proclamations, straightly charged and commanded those in authority under her to see her laws provided in that behalf duly executed; Whereof notwithstanding, partly through their negligence, and partly by the manifest contempt and disobedience of the parties offending, no reformation at all hath followed; Her majesty finding by experience that by clemency, whereunto shee is most inclinable, so long as there is any hope of redress, this increasing evil hath not been cured, hath thought sit to seek to remedy the same, by correction and severity to be used against both these kindes of offenders, in regard of the present difficulties of this time, wherein the decay and lack of hospitality appears in the better sort in all Countreys, principally occasioned by the immeasurable charges and expenses which they are put to in superfluous appareling their wives, children, and families, the confusion also of degrees in all places being great, where the meanest are as richly appareled as their betters, and the pride that such inferior persons take in their garments, driving many for their maintenance to robbing and stealing by the high way: And yet in her Gracious disposition, being willing to haue that course of punishment to be the last mean of reformation, did in the end of this last term of the holy trinity, in her Highnesse Court of starchamber, at an assembly of diuers Lords of her privy counsel, and most of the Iudges being Iustices of assize, in the open hearing of many Iustices of the Peace of all the partes of the realm, and of a multitude of her majesties Subiects there present, by way of admonition signify her Princely determination to haue( specially at this time) for many urgent considerations, this intolerable abuse and unmeasurable disorder reformed. And albeit her Highnesse knows how she might justly make great profit as well by the executions of her laws standing in force for the Penalties already due, as also against both the said kindes of offenders for their manifest contempt against her majesties said Proclamations; Yet her majesty not respecting her advantages in these cases, but seriously intending the reformation of the abuses, and the common good and benefit of all her loving Subiects by these most royal & Gracious proceedings, hath not onely added by these presents such favourable tolerations and qualifications to such points of the former laws, now standing in force, as by alteration of time may seem in some part hard to be exactly observed, but also hath commanded the due execution of those partes of those laws that be most agreeable to this time, and easy and necessary to be observed, without charging either kind of the said offenders, for any offence already past, unless it be against such as shall hereafter offend, or not observe the special partes and branches of the laws now standing in force, and Articles hereafter following, according to such toleration and moderation thereof, as is hereafter expressed and set down. That is to say: For Mens apparel. ❧ Her majesty doth straightly charge and command, That None shall wear in his apparel Cloth of gold, or silver tissued. silk of colour Purple. under the degree of an earl. except Knights of the Garter in their purple mantles onely. Cloth of gold or silver. Cincelled satin. silk or cloth mixed or embroidered with pearl, Gold or silver, woollen Cloth made out of the realm. under the degree of a Baron. except Knights of the Garter, privy Counsellors to that queens majesty. Passemaine lace, or any other lace. of gold or silver, or mixed with gold & silver, with gold and silk, with silver and silk. under the degree of a Barons son. except Gentlemen in ordinary Office, attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in embassage to foreign Princes: Such as may dispend v. C. marks by the year, for term of life in possession above all charges. And Knights for wearing onely of spurs, sword, Rapiers and Daggers, and those other things therewith ensuing. And likewise Captaines being in her majesties pay. spurs. sword. Rapiers. Daggers. Skaines. Woodkniues. Hangers. Buckles, or studs of girdles. gilded, or Damasked with goldor silver, silvered. under the degree of a Barons son. except Gentlemen in ordinary Office, attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in embassage to foreign Princes: Such as may dispend v. C. marks by the year, for term of life in possession above all charges. And Knights for wearing onely of spurs, sword, Rapiers and Daggers, and those other things therewith ensuing. And like wise Captaines being in her majesties pay. velvet in downs. cloaks. coats or othervppermost Garments. embroidery with silk. Netherstocks of silk. under the degree of a Knight. except Gentlemen in ordinary Office attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in embassage to foreign Princes. The son and heir apparent of a Knight, Captaines in her majesties pay: and such as may dispend C C. li. by the year for term of life in possession above all charges. velvet in jerkins. Hose. Doublets. satin. in gowns. cloaks. coats, or other uppermost Garments. damask. in gowns. cloaks. coats, or other uppermost Garments. Taffata. in gowns. cloaks. coats, or other uppermost Garments. Grogeran. in gowns. cloaks. coats, or other uppermost Garments. under the degree of a Knights eldest son, except Gentlemen in ordinary Office, attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in Ambassages to foreign Princes: And such as may dispend one C. li. by the year for term of life in possession above all charges. satin. in Hose. Doublet. damask. in Hose. Doublet. Grogeran. in Hose. Doublet. Taffata. in Hose. Doublet. under the degree of a Gentleman bearing arms. except Gentlemen in ordinary Office, attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in Ambassages to foreign princes: And such as may dispend xx. li. by that year for term of life in possession above all charges. None shal haue in their Saddles. Bridles. stirrups. Trappings. harness. Footcloth, or other furniture of their horse. any velvet. Gilding. Damasking with gold or silver. Siluering. Studs. gilded. Damasked with gold or silver. silvered. Buckles, or other garniture. gilded. Damasked with gold or silver. silvered. under the degree of a Barons son. except Knights, & Gentlemen in ordinary Office, attending vpon her majesty in her house or chamber: Such as haue been employed in Ambassages to foreign princes. Captains being in her majesties pay: And such as may dispend v. C. marks by the year for term of life in possession abone all charges. ❧ For Womens apparel. Her majesty doth straightly charge and command, That None shall wear in her apparel. Cloth of gold or silver tissued. silk of colour Purple. under the degree of a countess. except Vicountesses to wear cloth of gold, or silver tissued in their kirtles only. Cloth of gold. Cloth of silver. Cinselled satin. Stattens branched with silver or gold. satins striped with silver or gold. commodities branched with silver or gold. commodities with gold or silver grouds. Tinseld commodities tuft or plain. Tinseld Cipresses. Cipresses flourished with silver or gold. gold or silver Chamblets. Networks wrought with silver or gold. Tabines branched or wrought with silver or gold. Or any other silk or cloth mixed or embroidered with pearl, gold, or silver. under the degree of a Baronesse. except The wives of Barons eldest sons. To wear cloth of gold and silver, only in their Kirtles and linings of their garments. And Barons daughters. To wear cloth of gold and silver, only in their Kirtles and linings of their garments. And knights wives To wear Cloth of silver in their Kirtles only. embroideries of gold or silver. Passemaine lace, or any other lace. Of gold or silver. Or mixed With gold & silver. With gold & silk. With silver & silk. cawls, Attires, or other garnishings for the head trimmed with pearl. under the degree of a Barons eldest sons wife. except Barons daughters. The wives of knights of the order of the Garter, or of privy counsellors. The Ladies and gentlewomen of the privy Chamber. The Maidens of Honour. And such, whose Husbands or themselves may dispend 500. marks by the year for term of life in possession above all charges. velvet in gowns. cloaks. Sauegards or other uppermost garments. embroidery with silk. Netherstockes of silk. under the degree of a Knights wife. except Gentlewomen of the privy Chamber. The Maidens of Honour. And such whose husbands or themselves may dispend C. C. li. by the year for term of life, in possession above al charges. velvet in Kirtles. petticoats. satin in gowns. cloaks. Sauegards, or other uppermost garments. under the degree of a knights eldest sons wife. except Gentlewomen of the privy Chamber. The Maidens of honour. Gentlewomen attendant vpon Countesses, Vicountesses or Ladies of the like or higher degree. And such whose husbands or themselves may dispend C. li. by the year for term of life, in possession above all charges. satin in Kirtles. damask. in gowns. Tuft Taffetie. in gowns. plain Taffetie. in gowns. Grograine. in gowns. under the degree of a Gentlemans wife bearing arms. except Gentlewomen attendant vpon knights wives, or Ladies of the like or higher degree. And such whose husbands or themselves may dispend xl. li. by the year for term of life in possession above all charges. 〈…〉 caps, hats. Hathands, Caph●nds. trimmed with gold, silver, or pearl. Garters, Bootehos●. trimmed with gold, silver, or pearl. silk Netherstockes. trimmed with gold, silver, or pearl. enameled chains. Buttons. Aglets. except Men of the degrees about mentioned, the Gentlemen attending vpon the queens person in her Highnesse privy Chamber, or in the Office of Cupbearer, Carner, Shewer. esquire for the body, Gentlemen ushers, or esquires of the Stable. satin, gown, coat, Hose, or uppermost garments. damask, gown, coat, Hose, or uppermost garments. or Castata, in fur, whereof the kind groweth not within the queens Dominions, except foins, gray jenets, and Budge. except. The degrees and persons above mentioned, and men that may dispend C. li. by the year, and so balued in the subsidy book. Hat, Bonnet, Girdle, Scabberds of swords, daggers, &c. shoes, and Pantophies. of velvet. except. The degrees and persons above name, and the son and heir apparent of a Knight. silk, other then satin, Damashe, Caffata, Chamlet, in doublets: and sarsenet, Chamlet, or Caffata in facing of gowns and cloaks, and in coats, jackets, jerkins, coifs, Purses, being not of colour Scarlet, Crimson, or Blewe. fur of foins, gray Genets, or other, as the like groweth not in the queens Dominions. except Men of the degrees & persons above mentioned, son of a Knight, or son and heir apparent of a man of CCC. mark land by year, so valued in the subsidy books, and men that may dispend xl. li. by the year, so valued, vt supra. B●t hall 〈◇〉. spurs. sword. Rapiers. Daggers. Skaynes. Woodkniues, or Hangers. Buckles of Girdles. gilded, silvered, or Damasked. except knights and Barons sons, and other of higher degree or place, and Gentlemen in ordinary office attendant vpon the queens majesties person, which Gentlemen so attendant, may wear all the premises, saving gilded, silvered, or Damasked spurs. 〈◇〉 shall ●●t in 〈◇〉 Trappings or harness of their horse, any studs, Buckels, gilded, silvered or damashed, or other garniture, gilded, silvered or damasked, nor stirrups guilt, silvered, or damasked, nor any velvet in saddles or Horse Trappers, except The persons next before mentioned, and others of higher degrees, and Gentlemen in ordinary, vt supra. ●●tt that ●he lord chancellor. treasurer. President of the counsel. privy seal. may wear any velvet, satin, or other silks, except purpur. furs, except black jenets. These may ●art as they 〈…〉 vidz. ●● of the Kings counsel. Iustices of either bench. Barons of the exchequer. Master of the rolls. Sergeants at Lawe. Masters of the chancery. Of the queens counsel. apprentices at Lawe. physicians of the King, queen, and Prince, Maiors & other head Officers of any town Corporate. Barons of the v. Ports. except velvet. damask. satin. of the colour Crimson. Violet. purpur. Blewe. Note that her majesties meaning is not, by this order to prohibit in any person the wearing of silk Buttons, the facing of coats, cloaks, hats, and caps, for comeliness onely with Taffata, Grograyne, velvet, or other silk, as is commonly used. Gentlewomen attendant vpon Dutchesses. Marquesses, Countesses, May wear in their liveries given by their mistresses, as the wives of those that may dispend C. li. by the year, and are so val●ed, vt supea. Gentlewomen attendant vpon passports wives, and Barons wives, may wear in their liveries, as the daughters of such as may dispend in. C. marks by the year, and as the wives of those that may dispend ●l. ll. valued, vt supra. 〈…〉 velvet, tuffed Taffata, satin, or any gold, or silver, in their petticoats. except wives of Barons, Knights of the Order, or counsellors, Ladies and Gentle women of the privy chamber, & bed chamber, & the maidens of Honor. Damas●●, Taffata, or other silk in their petticoats. except. Knights daughters, and such as be matched with them in the former article, who shall not wear a gard of any silk vpon their petticoats. velvet, tuffed Taffata, satin, nor any Gold or silver in any cloak or safeguard. except The wives of Barons, Knights of the Order, or counsellors, Ladies, and Gentlewomen of the privy Chamber, and bed Chamber, and the maidens of honour, and all degrees above them. ●amaskt, Taffata, or other silk. in any cloak or safeguard. except knights wives, and the degrees and persons above mentioned. ¶ No persons under the degrees above specified, shall wear any gard or welt of silk, vpon any petticoat, cloak, or safeguard. All which Articles, clauses and premises, her majesty straightly commandeth to be from henceforth exactly and duly observed in all points, and the parties offending to be further punished as violaters and contemners of her royal and princely commandment by this her Highnesse proclamation expressed and published. given under our Signet, at our Mannor of Green which, the sixth day of july, in the nine and thirtieth year of our reign. God save the queen. ❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, printer to the queens most excellent majesty. 1597.