An Answer to the character of an exchange-wench, or, A Vindication of an exchange-woman 1675 Approx. 9 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A25583 Wing A3397 ESTC R28298 10521500 ocm 10521500 45174

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A25583) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 45174) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1394:2) An Answer to the character of an exchange-wench, or, A Vindication of an exchange-woman 6 p. Printed for Thomas Croskill, London : 1675. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.

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 eng Women -- England -- Employment -- Early works to 1800. Women -- England -- Social conditions. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2012-05 Assigned for keying and markup 2012-06 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2012-07 Sampled and proofread 2012-07 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2013-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

AN ANSWER To the Character of an Exchange-wench: OR A VINDICATION OF AN Exchange-woman.

LONDON, Printed for Thomas Croſkill. 1675.
AN ANSVVER TO THE Character of an Exchange-wench.

AN Exchange-Woman does as far exceed a meer Gentle-Woman, as a Civil Tradeſman does a common Shark, having a commendable Calling to vouch for her honeſty. She's one Bow with two ſtrings, being generally born to a compitable Fortune, ſhe wiſely ſhrowds her ſelf under the ſafe Covert of a good Trade. To ſecure her felicity; her Shop ſerves her inſtead of a Nunnery, where being bufied with the concerns of a laudable calling, ſhe forgets, or neglects the Debauches of the Town: She's rail'd in like an Altar, and ſecur'd by a Partition as a thing that's ſacred. She's as tempting as the forbidden Fruit, and has a Noli me tangere for her Motto: She needs no other Purgatory, having gone through the ſtrict Diſcipline of a ſevere Miſtreſs, whereby ſhe becomes ſo accuſtomed to Vertue, that at length it grows Natural. She is that politick Hermophrodite, who acts the part both of Man and Woman, in preſerving both her Honour and Family; a large Book with a little Title, being really worth five times as much as her Fortune; She's an En-tail for Life, and whoever has her may reckon he has purchas'd above a hundred a Year.

As for her Original ſhe is generally the Honourable off-ſpring of ſome Country Gentleman, who being curſt with a multitude of Bleſſings (I mean Children) and by ambition made ſlave to his eldeſt Son, is forced to piece out his Daughters fortune with a profitable employ, which is often the Stirrop to ſublimer Fortune.

Her Education is as Gentile as her Birth, and ſhe knows not but ſhe's a Fortune till ſhe goes to receive it. She is reſpected according to the noiſe of her Fathers Eſtate, which is generally two hundred a year, and kept as fine in her Child-hood as if ſhe were to enjoy it her ſelf.

Her Vertuous Education breeds in her ſo ſweet an Innocence that ſhe dreads to look in a Mans face for fear of diſcovering his deſires at his Eyes, and if he ſays but 'Faith, ſhe preſently corrects him for Swearing. She has ſuch a propenſity to goodneſs that ſhe acts it unawares, and often ſurprizes both her ſelf and others with her own Vertue. She is as ignorant of Vice, as of Terra Incognita and though ſhe deſigned to be wicked ſhe would not know how to effect it. She often wonders at the production of mankind, and lives to eleven or twelve years of Age before ſhe's convinc'd that ſhe did not ſpring out of the Parſly-Bed.

Thus having the advantages of a Gentile Birth, good Education, and vertuous Inclination; ſhe is deſign'd by her Parents, whoſe affections are larger then their • ags (their Quality obliging them to live up to the heighth of their Eſtate) to be put under the diſcreet tuition of ſome honeſt and able Exchange-Woman, thereby to obtain an honeſt and honourable employment, to ſecure her from thoſe ſtorms of Fate which are commonly ſevere on little Fortunes.

That the Employment is as honourable as any other In-Land Trade cannot be denyed, they enjoying the ſame Priviledges, dealing in as Rich Commodities, and having attain'd as great Eſtates, as any other Vocation whatſoever. Which hath induc'd many noble families diſtreſſed by War, or Accidents, to bring up their Daughters to this Calling wherein ſome have prov'd ſo fortunate as to give a happy Reſurrection to their whole family. And at this day Heaven is ſo kind to their commendable endeavours, as to recompence their good deſigns with unexpected ſucceſs, of which, ſhould I give a Catalogue of thoſe young Ladies, whoſe unparallel'd Vertue, and good deportment have tempted Men of extraordinary Eſtates to deſire them in Marriage; I ſhould write rather a Volumn then a ſheet: But my deſign in Writing being only to reſcue that honourable Society, from the bitter invectives of that Satyrical Character, I ſhall forbear particulars, and only acquaint you, That the Exchange it ſelf is no leſs than an Academy, and the Youth therein, the dilligent Student of Vertue and good manners, 'tis true, there is ſome Sub graduates, and other Miſtreſſes of Arts, who like kind and careful Tutoreſſes take ſuch pains with their Pupils, that they never leave inſtructing them till they have made them as knowing as themſelves; If any prove vitious or Irrefectory they are preſently expell'd.

So that an Exchange Maid is a refin'd Vertuoſa, one who has ſeal'd her Gentility, with the Martyrdom of an Apprenticeſhip, ſhe's as happy in her Shop as a Miſs in a Playhouſe: and better pleas'd with the moderate gains of an honeſt Trade, than the other is with the Extravagant Allowance of a Wild Gallant, ſhe's ſo far from being a drudge to the world that ſhe ſits ſtill and gets an Eſtate.

The whole Town's her Labourer, and he that goes fineſt her greateſt ſlave, who as if his Money were a bad Commodity fooliſhly exchanges it for Lace or Ribbonds; as Bubbles do to Gameſters, he brings her Caſh whether ſhe will or no; He's her meer ſubject, and like the French King ſhe impoſes a Tax upon every thing he wears. How then can ſhe be unhappy when even our fancies and Extravagancies contribute to her welfare.

She's a Creature ready cut and dry'd for all preferment, and no leſs than a coach and ſix, can tempt her from her employment, an arrogant Fop that courts her to a ſmile, ſwears he has got her heart, and with himſelf contrives an aſſignation, when ſhe only did it, either in complaiſance to his folly or her own advantage.

A ſpruce Cit, briſtles up to her like a Turky-cock, and would fain be Trading, but as ſhe has attractions to draw, ſo ſhe has diſcretion to ſlight his Amours, her facetious diſcourſe, makes him think her eaſie to come at, when, indeed ſh • does it as Welſhmen on H • ls, who though they 〈◊〉 near together, are really likely never to meet.

In ſhort, her ſmilles are innocent, as ſleeping Infants, and ſhe preſerves her ſelf an un-blemiſh'd Sacrifice for a happy Husband; She has all the accompliſhments of a Gentle Woman, but if ſhe be defective in any thing 'tis Vice, being un-acquainted with the Gallants; She's a Stranger to deceit, and hating the ratling of a Coach remains untainted with the Pleaſures and Debauches of the Town.

In her Shop ſhe patiently attends both her buſineſs and Fate, and when ſhe marries needs no advice from a Mid-Wife to cheat her Husband into the belief of a Maiden-head: In fine ſhe is happy as ſhe is, but if ſhe alter her condition, experience ſhews us, ſhe may become a Dutcheſs.

To the Exchange Maids. THus I like you have waſted three hours time, To hide your wrinkles and to make you fine; Your ſickly Credits I ſo well reſtore; I make you more renowned than before: The Character you know was ſomething Witty, And 'Faith to ſpeak the Truth, I think it hit you, The Authour knows your tricks, and ſpoke the more, Becauſe he had been bit by you before. His Paſſion therefore (Ladies) don't admire, A Child that's burnt, does always dread the Fire. 〈◊〉 with Frowns— But caſt your ſmiles on him. Who took this paine to ranſome your 〈◊〉 . The Theme was barren, and did plague me more, Then any Subject e're I writ before: 'Twas full an hour e're my Muſe could raiſe A true expreſſion to ſet out your Praiſe; Which that my brooding thoughts did e're impart, Was more my fancy then your due deſert. Like him who courts a homely Miſtreſs, I Was forc'd to give my Conſcience the Lye. And (Heavens forgive me) I know ne're a Line, In all the Sheet, but what I think's a ſin. And ſince you're Sinners too, I only wiſh That we may 〈◊〉 in better Sheets than this. FINIS.