VOL. xm.] THE RUFF— AN EARLY RECORD. 19 



shire. The Fethers on their heads and fronts grewe and 

 stood out, not unhke to the frysled haire of men or women : 

 and the Fethers about their necke, being of divers coloures, 

 grew and stood up very high, even, and formally hke 

 unto great Ruffes : and were hilde (?) up with stiff quilles, 

 as it were Wyers or Supporters, such as are now commonly 

 used of our GaUants. These Foules going loose, seemed 

 so careles of their libertie and to escape, that (though 

 threatened by shaking and shoving with the handes, or 

 otherwise) they woulde not shrinke from, or shunne any 

 person : retayning still as it were one and the same coun- 

 tenaimce, their use was all three in rankwise, and with 

 great stateliness to walke divers tumes up and downe 

 in the Hall, and then eftsoones to stay and drawe all their 

 heades and billes together. Standing so a long time, as 

 it were in consultation or counsell of some weightie matter, 

 and then to fall againe to walking, refusing to take, and 

 not seeming to make account of any meate, which they 

 were oftentimes offered. In this order they continued 

 until they all three dyed one after another, about three 

 dayes after their taking. When they were dead not any 

 man with both his handes could scarse stirre one of their 

 fethers about their neckes. Divers Fowlers were sent 

 for to see them, but neither could they tel what Foules 

 they were, or ever had scene or hearde of the like. 



What these Foules were, what their flight hither, what 

 their taking heere, their forme, Fethers, coloure, or order 

 before remembred should signifie, I cannot prognosticate : 

 only this I observe, that what seemed chiefiie supematurall 

 in them, the like, in respecte of our Omamentes, is super- 

 aboundant in us. It were thinke I an happy error (if it be 

 an error) that our frysled and over-ruffed Dames would 

 construe these Foules to bee frysled and ruffed Divels : 

 and I wish that the reporte of these monstrous Byrdes 

 might admonish some Rufflers, that themselves are 

 monstrously men. Let us at length remember, that our 

 Creator hath formed us, not to deforme our selves, being 

 Images of his own similitude. A few thinges (alas) suffise 

 nature, and every thing superfluous is merely vicious. 

 Naked were we borne, and naked in effect shall we be 

 buried : and then onely was man altogether happy, when 

 man lived altogether naked, the very sight therefore of 

 apparel should worke us to bee so farre off from Pride and 

 ostentation thereof, that remembering the same to be 

 onely the Coveringes of our shame, and the tragicall 



