The gentlewomans companion; or, A guide to the female sex containing directions of behaviour, in all places, companies, relations, and conditions, from their childhood down to old age: viz. As, children to parents. Scholars to governours. Single to servants. Virgins to suitors. Married to husbands. Huswifes to the house Mistresses to servants. Mothers to children. Widows to the world Prudent to all. With letters and discourses upon all occasions. Whereunto is added, a guide for cook-maids, dairy-maids, chamber-maids, and all others that go to service. The whole being an exact rule for the female sex in general. By Hannah Woolley.

What qualifications best become and are most suitable to a Gentlewoman.

I Have already endeavoured to prove, that though Nature hath differ'd mankind into Sexes, yet she never intended any great difference in their Intellect. This will evidently appear not only from those many arguments learned Cornelius Agrippa hath laid down in a particular Treatise for the Vindication of the excellency of the Female-Sex, but likewise from the many learned and in∣comparable Writings of famous Women, ancient and modern, particularly Anna Comnena who wrote the Eastern History in Greek, a large Folio. Nor can we without great ingratitude forget the memory of that most ingenious Dutch Lady Anna Maria a Schurman, who was so much admired by the greatest Scholars in Europe for her unparallel'd, natural and acquired parts, that there were very few (as the great Salmasius, &c.) who did not fre∣quently correspond with her by Letters. Her Opusucla or smaller works are now extant, printed in Holland in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, in which there is a small tract, proving that a Womans ca∣pacity is no way inferior to mans in the reception of any sort of learning; and therefore exhorts all Parents who are not much necessitated, not to let their Children spin away their precious time, or pore on a Sampler, till they have prickt out the date of their life; but rather instruct them in the

principles of those learned Tongues, whereby they may at pleasure pick-lock the Treasuries of Knowledg contained in those Languages, and adapt them for the conversation and discourse of most Nations.

I need not go out of our native Country to produce you Examples enough of our own Sex for your imitation and incouragement in treading the paths of learning; I shall forbear to speak of the incomparable worth and pregnant parts of some Gentlewomen lately deceased, as Mrs. Phi∣lips the ingenious Translatress of Pompey, &c. since what is extant of hers, or her Contempora∣ries will more at large express their matchless me∣rit; nor shall I eulogize or praise the living, nominating any person, left I be thought one parti∣ally addicted to flattery. Yet give me leave to say, I could instance not a few, who (to the glory of our Sex, and the place of their Nativity if occa∣sion modestly required) would not blush to an∣swer a Capricious Virtuoso in three of the most useful Tongues spoken or understood, that is, Latin, French, and Italian.

I desire not to hyperbolize; it is probable they may not be so expert in the anatomizing an In∣sect, or the discovery of some monstrous produ∣ction, as these Epidemical Wits are; yet for ought I know, may find out many monstrosities in their brain, whilst they are subtilly plumming the depth of their self-admired understanding.

Now since it may hence appear, Ladies, that you have no Pygmean Souls, but as capable of Gy∣gantick growth as of your Male-opponents; ap∣ply your self to your Gramar by time, and let

your endeavours be indefatigable, and not to be tired in apprehending the first principles of the Latin tongue. I shall forbear to give you rules for attaining the perfect knowledg thereof, but leave you to that method your Tutor or skilful Go∣verness shall propound for your observation.

I need not tell you the vast advantages that will accrue hereby, your own experience will better inform you hereafter. However I shall hint some; as first, your understanding the Latin tongue will inable you to write and speak true and good English; next, it will accommodate you with an eloquent stile in speaking, and afford you matter for any discourse; lastly, you will be freed from the fear of rencountring such who make it their business to ransack a new world of words to find out what are long and obscure; not regarding how insignificant, if they carry a ratling sound with them. Thus these Fops of Rhetorick, spawns of non-intelligency, will venture the spraining of their tongues, and splay-footing their own mouths, if they can but cramp a young Gentlewomans intellect.

Our English tongue is of late verymuch refined, by borrowing many words from the Latin, only altering the termination; these you will never per∣fectly understand without the knowledg of the Latin, but rather misapply or displace them to your great discredit, although you should con∣sult all the English Interpreters that were ever ex∣tant.

And as our Mother-tongue hath finified her expressions with the Roman dialect; so to make them the more spruce and complacent, she hath

borrowed some choice words from other Nati∣ons, more especially the neighbouring French, whose tongue you must in no sort be ignorant of, if you intend to speak with the air of the Court, or like the quaint Oratresses of the Court∣air.

It is no small benefit which will accrue to you by learning the Italian; for by reason of our Gentries travelling into foreign parts, occasioned by our late unhappy and inhumane home-bred distractions, these two Languages are generally spoken in England; insomuch that a Court-Lady will not be induced to esteem a friend, or enter∣tain a Servant who cannot speak one of them at least: and that you may not despair of a compe∣tent knowledg of either, or both, without going into those Countries where they are naturally spoken, know there are many excellent Masters who teach here in London those Languages; but more especially that sober and learned natural Italian Seignor Torriano; and that unimitable Master of the French Tongue, Monsieur Mauger; both which have publisht their Gramars; the first a large and useful Italian Dictionary also. Both these Countrys have been happy, and may be justly proud in producing so many learned and ingenious men; so many, should I nominate them with their deserved Encomiums, this small Trea∣tise would swell into Volumes; I shall therefore pass them over, but would not have you their Writings, where you shall find plenty of every thing, which shall either tickle your fancy, or fur∣nish your understanding. Having thus adapted you for conversation, let me next show you your deportment therein.