Fastidious Brisk.  A neat, spruce, affecting courtier, one that wears clothes well, and in fashion; practiseth by his glass how to salute; speaks good remnants, notwithstanding the base viol and tobacco; swears tersely, and with variety; cares not what lady’s favour he belies, or great man’s familiarity; a good property to perfume the boot of a coach.  He will borrow another man’s horse to praise, and backs him as his own.  Or, for a need, on foot can post himself into credit with his merchant, only with the jingle of his spur, and the jerk of his wand.

Deliro.  A good doting citizen, who, it is thought, might be of the common-council for his wealth; a fellow sincerely besotted on his own wife, and so wrapt with a conceit of her perfections, that he simply holds himself unworthy of her.  And, in that hoodwinked humour, lives more like a suitor than a husband; standing in as true dread of her displeasure, as when he first made love to her.  He doth sacrifice twopence in juniper to her every morning before she rises, and wakes her with villainous out-of-tune music, which she out of her contempt (though not out of her judgment) is sure to dislike.

Fallace.  Deliro’s wife, and idol; a proud mincing peat, and as perverse as he is officious.  She dotes as perfectly upon the courtier, as her husband doth on her, and only wants the face to be dishonest.

Saviolina.  A court-lady, whose weightiest praise is a light wit, admired by herself, and one more, her servant Brisk.

Sordido.  A wretched hobnailed chuff, whose recreation is reading of almanacks; and felicity, foul weather.  One that never prayed but for a lean dearth, and ever wept in a fat harvest.

Fungoso.  The son of Sordido, and a student; one that has revelled in his time, and follows the fashion afar off, like a spy.  He makes it the whole bent of his endeavours to wring sufficient means from his wretched father, to put him in the courtiers’ cut; at which he earnestly aims, but so unluckily, that he still lights short a suit.

Sogliardo.  An essential clown, brother to Sordido, yet so enamoured of the name of a gentleman, that he will have it though he buys it.  He comes up every term to learn to take tobacco, and see new motions.  He is in his kingdom when he can get himself into company where he may be well laughed at.

Shift.  A threadbare shark; one that never was a soldier, yet lives upon lendings.  His profession is skeldring and odling, his bank Paul’s, and his warehouse Picthatch.  Takes up single testons upon oath, till doomsday.  Falls under executions of three shillings, and enters into five-groat bonds.  He waylays the reports of services, and cons them without book, damning himself he came new from them, when all the while he was taking the diet in the bawdy-house, or lay pawned in his chamber for rent and victuals.  He is of that admirable and happy memory, that he will salute one for an old acquaintance that he never saw in his life before.  He usurps upon cheats, quarrels, and robberies, which he never did, only to get him a name.  His chief exercises are, taking the whiff, squiring a cockatrice, and making privy searches for imparters.