SUMPTUARY LAWS

enactments to check private extravagance. Plato’s tions enforcing simplicity of life; early Romans po e ed Spartan frugality, but sumptuary laws became nece ary by close of III. cent. B.C.; medieval kingdoms limited expense in dre , food, retinue, etc., first important Eng. laws being pa ed, 1336 and 1363; disused in XVI. cent.; statue of Livery and Maintenance pa ed by Henry VII. with political purpose; later laws purely for purposes of revenue.