SUMPTUARY LAWS

(Lat. sumptus, expense.) Laws intended to restrain the expenditure of citizens. Ancient legislation abounded in them. Thus, among the Romans, the Lex Orchia limited the number of guests at a feast; the Lex Fannia restricted the cost of an ordinary entertainment to ten a es, and so forth. There were anciently many laws in England to restrain exce in apparel; but they were ail repealed by 1 J. 1, c. 25. It is said, however, that one ancient statute, 10 E. 3, st. 3, which orders that no man shall be served at dinner or supper with more than two courses, remains unrepealed. It is truly said by Montesquieu,that sumptuary laws are of all laws the most inefficacious and most constantly violated. [s. 1215]