Innk. Nay, there are topping Citizens too, who imitate them as much as they can possibly.

Con. But now if a Man should dress himself up with Birds Feathers like an Indian, would not the very Boys, all of them, think he was a mad Man?

Innk. Stark mad.

Con. And yet, that which we admire, savours of a greater Madness still:  Now as it is true, that nothing is so ridiculous but Custom will bear it out; so it cannot be denied, but that there is a certain Decorum in Garments, which all wise Men always account a Decorum; and that there is also an Unbecomingness in Garments, which will to wise Men always seem unbecoming.  Who does not laugh, when he sees a Woman dragging a long Train at her Heels, as if her Quality were to be measured by the Length of her Tail?  And yet some Cardinals are not asham’d to follow this Fashion in their Gowns:  And so prevalent a Thing is Custom, that there is no altering of a Fashion that has once obtain’d.

Innk. Well, we have had Talk enough about Custom:  But tell me now, whether you think it better for Monks to differ from others in Habit, or not to differ?

Con. I think it to be more agreeable to Christian Simplicity, not to judge of any Man by his Habit, if it be but sober and decent.

Innk. Why don’t you cast away your Cowls then?

Con. Why did not the Apostles presently eat of all Sorts of Meat?

Innk. I can’t tell.  Do you tell me that.

Con. Because an invincible Custom hinder’d it:  For whatsoever is deeply rooted in the Minds of Men, and has been confirm’d by long Use, and is turn’d as it were into Nature, can never be remov’d on a sudden, without endangering the publick Peace; but must be remov’d by Degrees, as a Horse’s Tail is pluck’d off by single Hairs.

Innk. I could bear well enough with it, if the Monks had all but one Habit:  But who can bear so many different Habits?

Con. Custom has brought in this Evil, which brings in every Thing. Benedict did not invent a new Habit, but the same that he wore himself and his Disciples, which was the Habit of a plain, honest Layman:  Neither did Francis invent a new Dress; but it was the Dress of poor Country-Fellows.  Their Successors have by new Additions turned it into Superstition.  Don’t we see some old Women at this Day, that keep to the Dress of their Times, which is more different from the Dress now in Fashion, than my Dress is from yours?

Innk. We do see it.

Con. Therefore, when you see this Habit, you see only the Reliques of antient Times.

Innk. Why then, has your Garment no Holiness in it?

Con. None at all.

Innk. There are some of you that make their Boasts that these Dresses were divinely directed by the holy Virgin Mother.