280 HISTORY OF LAOE. CHAPTER XXIV. JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION. JAMES I. “ Now tip aloft I mount unto the Ruffe, Which into foolish mortals pride doth puffe ; Yet Ruffe’s antiquity is here hut small: Within these eighty years not one at all. For the 8th Henry, as I understand, Was the first king that ever wore a Band, And but a falling hand plaine with a hem, All other people knew no use of them.” Taylor, Water Poet, 1G40. The ruff single, double, three piled, and Dsedalian, 1 to the delight of the satirists, retained its sway during the early days of King James I. It was the “ commode ” of the eighteenth—the crinoline of the nineteenth century. Every play teems with allusions to this monstrosity. One compares it to “ A pinched lanthorn Which schoolboys made in winter; ” 2 while a second 3 talks of a “ Starched ruff, like a new pigeon-house.” The lover, in the play of the “ Antiquary,” 4 complains to his mistress in pathetic terms— “ Do you not remember how you fooled me, and set me to pin pleats in your ruff two hours together ? ” Mr. Stubbs stood not alone in his anathemas. The dignitaries 1 “ Your trebble-quadruple Daedalian Dechar. London, 1609. ruffes, nor your stiffe necked Rebatoes 2 Beaumont and Fletcher, “Nice that have more arches for pride to row Valour.” under, than can stand under five London 3 Ibid. “ The Blind Lady,” 1661. Bridges.”—The GuVs Horne-boolce, by T. * 1641.