The English gentlevvoman, drawne out to the full body expressing, what habilliments doe best attire her, what ornaments doe best adorne her, what complements doe best accomplish her. By Richard Brathvvait Esq.

TO THE GENTLEVVOMAN READER.

GENTLEVVOMEN:

I Have heere presented vnto your view one of your owne Sexe; One, whose improved Educa∣tion will bee no blemish but a beautie to her Na∣tion. Peruse her, and I make little doubt, but you will so approve of her Behaviour, as you shall acknowledge her right worthy the title of a Sister. More shall you finde in her, by freely conversing with her, than in those YOVNG but loose ENGLISH GENTLEWOMEN, whose long mer∣cinarie Prostitution vpon the Stall, hath brought them out of Request, and made them grow too Stale, by being exposed to publike Sale. Ma∣ny Countries hath shee coasted, sundry Dangers

accoasted, Courts and Cities hath shee frequen∣ted, to returne home better freighted, and re-con∣vey the benefit of that fraught to this Iland, where shee was first bred and now arrived. Doe yee itch after Fashion? She is for you; yet not that, which the vanity of this Age admits; but what Modestie onely affects. She hath observ'd much in forraine Courts, which deserv'd rather Contempt than Imitation; this shee would not for a world intro∣duce into a well-govern'd State; so tender shee is of her Fame, as no place nor person shall derive from her the least staine. Whatsoever shee hath commended to be seene, is no lesse fully than faith∣fully showne, and with that temporate style drawne, as in every line some one precept of Vertue seemes to shine. Neither in this her strict or serious Ob∣servation of Times, doth shee resemble those La∣miae, who vse to take their eyes with them when they goe abroad, but lye them aside when they come home: No; so little doth shee favour her selfe, as shee preferres others Censures before her owne; and in no one particular so much expresseth her owne true glory, as in the constant practise of Humilitie. Hence it is, that shee is no curious pryer into others actions, nor too cens••rious a reproover of others Directio••s; being indeed, a TYRESIAS in the eying or descrying of others errors, an ARGUS in her owne. What is good and amiable in the eye of Vertue, she imbraceth with an affectionate tender; making it her highest honour, to promote the glory of her Maker. But least by being too serious, shee

might become tedious; she will not sticke to walke abroad with you into more pleasing groves or pa∣stures of Delight: where shee will converse with you of Love, and intermixe her Discourse with such time-beguiling Tales as varietie shall no lesse sharpen your attention, then the modesty of her Method beget admiration. Every Subiect she treats of, you shall finde so equally tempered with profit and delight; as the one shall no lesse benefit your minde, than the other solace your Eare. Shee can reprove without gall, blush without guilt, love without guile, live without gaine. Her gaine is to purchase vertue more followers; her guile, to de∣prive the world of her favourers; her guilt, to defeat all vitious pioners; her gall, to disrelish all Voluptuous practisers. She can discourse of Love without lightnesse; converse with Love without loosenesse; and consort with those shee loves with∣out leudnesse. She knowes how to retaine a seeme∣ly state without pride; to expresse her selfe praise∣worthy without selfe-praise; and in all her acti∣ons to make Vertue her highest prize. Humilitie, which is the princesse of Vertues, the conqueresse of Vices, the mirror of Virgins, and Crowne of Chri∣stians, shee so much honours, as shee values it above all humane glory: whence it is, that shee hath e∣ver reapt more spirituall profit by dis-esteeme then selfe-esteeme. Day by day shee recreates herselfe in her Garden of goodwill; and in her recreati∣on, shee makes this her soule-solacing Meditation: Who be they that neighbour neare me, and

whose weake estates stand in need of me? Con∣cluding with this charitable resolution: There is none so poore, but to my power I will relieve, so long as I live, for the honour of his Image whom I love. Shee devides her day into houres, her houres into holy taskes. Employment takes a∣way all occasions of distraction. Should she suffer a light or indisposed thought to worke upon her ima∣gination: or giue way to any such intruder to di••sturbe the peace of her inward house, she would en∣dure her selfe worse for many yeares; and inflict vpon her extravagant affections such a censure, as might deterre them thenceforth to wander. She distastes none more than these busie house-wives, who are ever running into discourse of others fami∣lies, but forget their owne. Neither holdes shee it sufficient to be onely an House-keeper; or Snayle-like to be still vnder roofe: she partakes therefore of the Pismire in providing, of the Sarreptan wid∣dow in disposing: holding ever an absent providence better then an improvident presence. She is no common frequenter of publique feasts, but if neigh∣bourhood require it, she will admit of it: wherein she demeanes her selfe so civilly, as there is no dis¦creete person but ioyes in her society. There is no∣thing must beget in her a distemper, having ever a tender eye o're her honour. In the report of others praises she is attentive, but deafe to her owne. Bee she in places of publique resort or privately retyr'd, she ever enioyes her selfe; neither can excesse of mirth transport her; or any crosse occurrent much

perplexe her. There is nought that aliens her mind more from those with whom shee consorts, than an immodest discourse, which shee interrupts with a discreet anger. Wheresoever she sets her rest, shee makes Vertue her guest, whom she entertaines with so sweet an embrace, as nothing can divide them: so firme and inviolable is the league that is be∣twixt them. She conceives no small delight in E∣ducating the young and unexperienced Damsels of your sexe: wherein she retaines an excellent facul∣ty and facility. It shall not be amisse therefore for you who have Daughters, to recommend them to her direction; whose government is such, as neither her too much indulgence shall spoile them; nor re∣straint dull them. Whatsoever she in many yeares hath learned (so desirous is shee to benefit where her Observations may afford profit) she is wil∣ling to impart; to the end shee may procure her mor•• servants, whom she•• religiously hath ever vow'd to serve. Long hath she beene a Learner, neyther is she asham'd to be so still. Onely for ver∣tues honour, is shee become a Teacher; that the Younger may be instructed by those that are El∣der; the vndisciplin'd by such as are riper. Ney∣ther shall you find her slow in performing, what she hath so perfectly learned. For her very Life is a continued line of Direction, being solely dedicated to a vertuous profession. St. Cyprian did sharpe∣ly reprove a rich woman, for comming into the Lords Temple without her Oblation: But this re∣proofe she would be loath iustly to incurre: there∣fore

she goes better prepar'd, that her portion of Glory may be sooner shar'd: having an Oblation in her hand, Devotion in her heart, and a Crowne of consolation in hope. You then, who love modesty, entertaine her; for she will sort well with your hu∣mour, and through her acquaintance improve your honour. For such who sacrifice the Morne to their Classe, the Afternoone to the Stage, and Evening to revelling; she holds no correspondence with them. These she holds for no employments; nor the Profes∣sors of them worthy her knowledge. They must not a∣buse time, that are commended to her trust. She is not so weary of time, neither doth she so disvalue it, as with such impertinences to consume it. Those like∣wise, who preferre Fashion before Decency, formal Punto'es before reall Formality, & will suffer thē∣selves to be deluded by Vanity; they must not be ad∣mitted into her family. She hath learned better things than to foole her selfe in a painted disguise, or to labor of that Vniversall disease, which the corrup∣tion of a full and flourishing State usually produceth. She hath learned with that better Sister, to chuse the better part. Constant be her purposes, content∣ment her desires, consonant her delights. Be it then your honour to be informed by her, seeing her in∣structions are equally mixt with profit and plea∣sure. Now if you obiect, that shee hath beene too flow in comming, seeing her GENTLEMAN so long since arrived; heare mine answer; and sus∣pend your Censure, by imputing this fault to our English Error. Where Venus is longer in trim∣ming,

than Mars in training. Many provisions were required by her, before the World were to be possessed of her. Much likewise expected from her, before the World had knowledge of her; this made her the longer to retire, that shee might pro∣fit the more in her returne. May you, Gentlewomen, bee the instance of it; so shall both the Author and his labour reioyce in it. To draw then to a Conclusion, lest my Portell rise too high for my building; as you are not to expect from her any guga-tyres, toyes, or trifles; love-sented gloves, amorous potions, perfumed pi∣ctures, or love-sicke pouders; so shee doubts not, but to finde in you an Eare, prompt to attention; a Tongue, cleare of invection; a Spirit, free from detraction? with an Heart apt to harbour affection.

Now for the Volume, I had purposely made it more portable, that it might become your more so∣ciable follower; had not my observation told mee, that albeit amiablenesse consist in a lovely feature, the goodlinesse of a Gentlewoman rests in her comely Stature. Besides, this corresponded better with the Portraiture of the ENGLISH GENTLEMAN, her affianc'd Lover. For the Margin, I have not charg'd it with many Notes, lest you should neglect the Garment, by being taken too much with the border. Improve it to your best profite, and let GOD have the glorie of it.