Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BAND

in A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayA Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1615
First performance1615
Decade1610s
GenreAcademic Entertainment
Play typeUniversity
Theaterat University;
Speech prefix(es)Band.
Words310
Characters1517
Typicality0.17 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03424
BritDrama no.1759
ClusterCluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

VFFE, where art thou? Where is this Cuff? What? do you think I am afraid of your great words? no, you shall know that there be men of fashion in place, as well as your self. A scurvy shagrag Gentleman, new come out of the North, a Puny, a Freshman, come up hither to learn fashions and seek to expel me? No, Hodge Peak, its more then you can do. Ther's never a Spanish Ruff of you all can do it. Lace me? thou wouldst be laced thy self, Ruff, for this is the very truth, thou art a plain Knave. In the field? why? thou art but and ef feminate fellow, Ruff; for all thou art so well set: but at what weapon? Sfoot, thou shalt know, a Gentleman and a Soldier scorns thy proffer. Where I have served, it is no matter, but I am sure I have been pressed oft. Nay bragger, it is not your great words can carry it away so; give Band but a hem, and he will be for you at any time, name the place, the time and hour of our meeting. Then farewell. Well, remember the time and place, Ruff. Who? Mistress Stichwell, by this light I know her not. Nor Band a button. The place the Paper-mills, the hour to morrow at one. Say and hold. Friends with him? such a base Rascal? he is a very threadbare fellow, I scorn, but my man Collar should go as well as he every day in the week, and be friends with him. Since you will force me to it, if Ruff be content, I am willing. If I may choose, I'll have Master Hand kerchief. No, I deny that, he is a very bade Justice, you may have him wrought on any side for more nic. He is not in Town.

Plot summary

Plot — A Merry Dialogue between Band, Cuff, and Ruff
Ruff and Band quarrel over which of them is the more modish, and make a date to fight a duel the following day. Cuff tries to keep the peace, threatening them with a beating from the laundress and hanging by the seamster, but is unable to dissuade them. They disagree about who should umpire the fight, but finally agree to appoint Cuff moderator. Cuff defuses the situation by arguing that both are the height of fashion with different people: ruffs are favoured by clerics (other than Puritans) and bands by gallants.