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Fast. Here, in the opinion of mutual damage, we paused; but, ere I proceed, I must tell you, signior, that, in this last encounter, not having leisure to put off my silver spurs, one of the rowels catch'd hold of the ruffle of my boot, and, being Spanish leather,* and subject to tear, overthrows me, rends me two pair of silk stockings, that I put on, being somewhat a raw morning, a peach colour and another, and strikes me some half inch deep into the side of the calf: he, seeing the blood come, presently takes horse, and away: I, having bound up my wound with a piece of my wrought shirt

Car. O! comes it in there?

Fast. Rid after him, and, lighting at the court gate both together, embraced, and march'd

of the fashionable extravagancies of the time. The linen, both of men and women, was either so worked as to resemble the finest lace, or was ornamented, by the needle, with representations of fruits, flowers, passages of history, &c. The Puritans, it appears, turned the mode to account, and substituted texts of scripture for the usual embellishments. There is a pleasant allusion to this practice in the City Match:

*

"Sir, she's a Puritan at her needle too :

66

My smock sleeves have such holy embroideries, "And are so learned, that I fear, in time,

"All my apparel will be quoted by

"Some pure instructor." A. II. S. 2.

one of the spurs catch'd hold of the ruffle of my boot, and being Spanish leather, &c.] This explains what the nature of the ruff, or ruffle was, about which there have been some doubts. The tops of the boots of Jonson's time, as Whalley observes, turned down, and hung in loose folds over the leg; they were probably of a finer leather than the rest of the boot, and seem to have had their edges fringed or scalloped; the exact form of them may be seen in several of the whole-length portraits of James and Charles's days, particularly in those by Vandyke: the edges of the ruffle, in some instances, were evidently laid with gold lace.

hand in hand up into the presence. Was not this business well carried?

Maci. Well! yes, and by this we can guess what apparel the gentleman wore.

Punt. 'Fore valour, it was a designment begun with much resolution, maintain'd with as much prowess, and ended with more humanity.

Re-enter Servant.

How now, what says the notary?

Serv. He says, he is ready, sir; he stays but your worship's pleasure.

Punt. Come, we will go to him, monsieur. Gentlemen, shall we entreat you to be witnesses? Sog. You shall entreat me, sir.-Come, Resolution.

Shift. I follow you, good Countenance.
Cur. Come, signior, come, come.

[Exit all but Macilente.
Maci. O, that there should be fortune
To clothe these men, so naked in desert!
And that the just storm of a wretched life
Beats them not ragged for their wretched souls,
And, since as fruitless, even as black, as coals!

[Exit.

Mit. Why, but signior, how comes it that Fungoso appeared not with his sister's intelligence to Brisk?

Cor. Marry, long of the evil angels that she gave him, who have indeed tempted the good simple youth to follow the tail of the fashion, and neglect the imposition of his friends. Behold, here he comes, very worshipfully attended, and with good variety,

SCENE VII.

A Room in Deliro's House.

Enter FUNGOso in a new suit, followed by his Tailor, Shoemaker, and Haberdasher.

Fung. Gramercy, good shoemaker, I'll put to strings myself. [Exit Shoemaker.]-Now, sir, let me see, what must you have for this hat? Habe. Here's the bill, sir.

Fung. How does it become me, well? Tai. Excellent, sir, as ever you had any your life.

Fung. Nay, you'll say so all.

hat in

Habe. In faith, sir, the hat's as good as any man in this town can serve you, and will maintain fashion as long; never trust me for a groat else.

Fung. Does it apply well to my suit?
Tai. Exceeding well, sir.

Fung. How lik'st thou my suit, haberdasher? Habe. By my troth, sir, 'tis very rarely well made; I never saw a suit sit better, I can tell

on.

Tai. Nay, we have no art to please our friends,

we!

Fung. Here, haberdasher, tell this same. [Gives him money. Habe. Good faith, sir, it makes you have an excellent body.

Fung. Nay, believe me, I think I have as good a body in clothes as another.

Tai. You lack points to bring your apparel together, sir.

Fung. I'll have points anon. How now! Is 't right?

Habe. Faith, sir, 'tis too little; but upon farther hopes-Good morrow to you, sir. [Exit. Fung Farewell, good haberdasher. Well, now, master Snip, let me see your bill.

Mit. Methinks he discharges his followers too thick.

man.

Cor. O, therein he saucily imitates some great I warrant you, though he turns off them, he keeps this tailor, in place of a page, to follow him still.

Fung. This bill is very reasonable, in faith: hark you, master Snip-Troth, sir, I am not altogether so well furnished at this present, as I could wish I were; but- -if you'll do me the favour to take part in hand, you shall have all I have, by this hand.

Tai. Sir

Fung. And but give me credit for the rest, till the beginning of the next term.

Tai. O lord, sir

Fung. 'Fore God, and by this light, I'll pay you to the utmost, and acknowledge myself very deeply engaged to you by the courtesy.

Tai. Why, how much have you there, sir? Fung. Marry, I have here four angels, and fifteen shillings of white money: it's all I have, as I hope to be blest.

Tai. You will not fail me at the next term with the rest?

5 four angels, and fifteen shillings of white money:] An angel was a gold coin, worth about 10 shillings; white money was the cant term for silver specie. Thus Massinger: "If thou wert an angel of gold, I would not put thee into white money," Virgin Martyr.

Fung. No, an I do, pray heaven I be hang'd. Let me never breathe again upon this mortal stage, as the philosopher calls it! By this air, and as I am a gentleman, I'll hold.

Cor. He were an iron-hearted fellow, in my judg ment, that would not credit him upon this volley of oaths.

Tai. Well, sir, I'll not stick with any gentleman for a trifle: you know what 'tis remains?

Fung. Ay, sir, and I give you thanks in good faith. O fate, how happy am I made in this good fortune! Well, now I'll go seek out monsieur Brisk. 'Ods so, I have forgot riband for my shoes, and points. 'Stid, what luck 's this! how shall I do? Master Snip, pray let me reduct some two or three shillings for points and ribands as I am an honest man, I have utterly disfurnished myself, in the default of memory; pray let me be beholding to you; it shall come home in the bill, believe me.

6

Tai. Faith, sir, I can hardly depart with ready money; but I'll take up, and send you some by my boy, presently. What coloured riband

would you have?

Fung. What you shall think meet in your judgment, sir, to my suit.

Tai. Well, I'll send you some presently.

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6 Tai. Faith, sir, I can hardly depart with ready money ;] To part and depart with any thing, were synonymous expressions. So our author, in the Sad Shepherd,

"I have departed it 'mong my poor neighbours."

And Shakspeare, in K. John,

"John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole,
"Hath willingly departed with a part." WHAL.

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