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SUMPTUARY LAWS.

These laws were made to restrain excess in apparel, costly furniture,
eating, &c.

Zaleucus, the ancient philosopher and legislator of Greece, ordained
that no woman should go attended with more than one maid in the street,
except she was drunk. He prohibited the use of wine, otherwise than as
a medicine, &c.

Among the Romans there were sumptuary laws to restrain the number of
guests at feasts;--not only the master of the feast, but all the guests
too, were liable to the penalty. It was also enacted, that more than ten
asses should not be spent at any ordinary feast. Ten asses was the price
of a sheep.

Luxury was restricted in England in 1337; wherein the prelates and
nobility were confined to two courses every meal, and two kinds of food
in every course, except on great festivals. All who did not enjoy a fee
estate of 100_l._ per annum were also prohibited from wearing furs,
skins, or silk; and the use of foreign cloth was confined to the royal
family alone--to all others it was prohibited. An edict was issued by
Charles VI. of France, which says, "Let no one presume to treat with
more than a soup and two dishes," 1340.

Sumptuary laws were made in England, in former times, against picked
shoes, short doublets, and long coats. The dandies of ancient days wore