The Gentlewomans Companion
or A Guide to the Female Sex (1675)
272 pp; 210x148mm; hardcover
(Expected September 2001)
ISBN 0907325 998 £25.00
Contents |
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| A Note on the Text | 6 | ||||||||
| Introduction | 7 | ||||||||
| Frontispiece | 52 | ||||||||
| Title page | 53 | ||||||||
| THE TEXT | 55-245 | ||||||||
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| Glossary | 247 | ||||||||
Review of Hannah Woolley by Lucy Lethbridge in ‘The Tablet’
It was one of the ironies of history that many of the women who most vociferously advocated the traditional virtues of the stay-at-home housewife were themselves independent career women living by their wits outside the domestic sphere. Hannah Woolley was said to be the first woman ever to earn her living by writing, but in her book The Gentlewoman's Companion (subtitled A Guide to the Female Sex) she laid down the law when it came to achieving feminine perfection: those who were not modest, almost completely silent and did not know about preserving fruit and curing constipation simply stood no chance of getting a husband and would be held in "meer pity" by the rest of society, particularly other women. It was this pity, says Woolley, which drove her to pen this self-help manual in 1673 for the woman who wishes to become a lady, to learn "the laudable sciences which adorn a compleat gentlewoman".
It was tremendously hard work: you secured a husband by keeping your mouth closed while eating, and learning French, and when you were married you had to remember details such as not to "suck your knuckles" while carving fowl. And frivolities were out: patches, powders, even farthingales.
The seventeenth-century compleat gentlewoman toiled away acquiring skills which she would then pretend she didn't have, or had at least effortlessly acquired, in the interests of preserving the modest restraint which was her hallmark. (Though Woolley breaks her own rule by including a long list of her accomplishments: still, I suppose she had to keep an eye on her career.)
Nothing is left to spontaneity - least of all courtship. A quick flick through The Gentlewoman's Companion gives you a useful response to a keen suitor: "Sir, I have absolutely render'd myself up to the disposal of my dear parents, consult them: if you prevail on their consent, you shall not doubt the conquest of my affection."
But what makes this book so fascinating is the sense of sheer hard work involved in running a seventeenth-century household, the vivid details it gives of daily life. It's hard to imagine that a woman who kept her eyes always downcast would have been able to oversee cheese making, the preparation of sometimes extraordinarily complicated foods, preserving for the winter, slaughtering animals. Woolley includes a guide to what food is seasonal: green geese in April, mince pies in January, pigeon pie in August. There is a long section on remedies for various ailments. Demure she may be, but the gentlewoman is not squeamish and a good thing too when the best way to cure corns was to rub live black snails on them.
This wonderful new edition of the Companion, beautifully produced, comes
with an excellent introduction by Caterina Albano and an equally excellent
glossary.
Hannah Woolley (or Wolley) is often said to have been the first woman to earn her living by the pen. She thus has talismanic value to feminists and students of women's history, as well as being absolutely thrilling stuff for any old person to read. She had a life of considerable struggle, which was in part resolved by writing cookery books. These had great success in the Restoration period.
The book that we are publishing here may actually not have been written by Hannah Woolley herself but by a grasping publisher anxious to capitalise on her name. It draws on many of her earlier cookbooks and adds in lots of advice and models for ladylike conduct, whether at the table, in the salon, or in negotiating marriage and other connections.
Conduct books are much more fun than
cookery books (although there is a good section of recipes included here
too). They often make their advice extremely obvious by giving sample letters,
telling charming parables, or reproducing possible conversations. And in
some ways bring everyday life much closer to the reader than creative works
of fiction or drama. This text is re-set from the original, not a facsimile,
and should thus be readable to the entire reading public. Caterina Albano
has studied early women's literature and contributes an introduction which
sets Woolley in context, discusses the true authorship, and makes a bit
of sense of conduct books as a genre.
To all Young Ladies, Gentlewomen, and all Maidens whatever.
I have formerly sent forth amongst you two
little Books; the first called, The Ladies Directory; the other, The Cooks Guide Both which have found very good Acceptance. It is near Seven years since I began to write this Book, at the desire of the Bookseller, and earnest intreaties of very many worthy Friends; unto whom I owe more than I can do for them. And when I considered the great need of such a Book as might be a Universal Companion and Guide to the Female Sex, in all Relations, Companies, Conditions, and states of Life even from Child-hood down to Old-age; and from the Lady at the Court, to the Cook-maid in the Country: I was at length prevailed upon to do it, and the rather because I knew not of any Book in any Language that hath done the like. Indeed many excellent Authors there be who have wrote excellent well of some particular Subjects herein treated of. But as there is not one of them hath written upon all of them; so there are some things treated of in this Book, that I have not met with in any Language, but are the Product of my Thirty years Observations and Experience.
I will not deny but I have made some use of that Excellent Book, The Queens Closet; May's Cookery; The Ladies Companion; my own Directory and Guide; Also, the second part of Youth's Behaviour, and what other Books I thought pertinent and proper to make up a Compleat Book, that might have an Universal Usefulness; and to that end I did not only make use of them, but also of all others, especially those that have been lately writ in the French and Italian Languages. For as the things treated of are many and various, so were my Helps.
I hope the Reader will not think it much, that as the famous Limner when he drew the Picture of an Exact Beauty, made use of an Eye from one, of a Mouth from another; and so cull'd what was rare in all others, that he might present them all in one entire piece of workmanship and Frame: So I, when I was to write of Physick and Chirurgery, have consulted all Books I could meet with in that kind, to compleat my own Experiences.
If any shall wonder why I have been so large upon it, I must tell them, I look upon the end of Life to be Usefulness; nor know I wherein our Sex can be more useful in their Generation than having a competent skill in Physick and Chirurgery, a competent Estate to distribute it, and a Heart will thereunto.
The like Apology I have for my Prolixity about Cookery and Carving, which being essential to a true Houswife, I thought it best to dwell most upon that which they cannot dwell without, unless they design to render themselves insignificant, not only in the world, but in those Families where they are.
As for what concerns Gentlewomans Behaviour, I have the concurrent advice and directions of the most able Professors and Teachers, both here and beyond the Seas; yet durst not be so airy and light in my Treatise about Ladies Love and Courtship as some of the French Authors have been, but have taken out of them what I found most taking with our English Gentry. The like I may say for Habits and Gesture; I am not ignorant of the vanity of some Mens stiles upon these Subjects; and that young Ladies are too apt to take what may gratifie their Fancies, and leave what may better their Judgments about true Behaviour.
I know I may be censured by many for undertaking this great Design, in presenting to all of our Sex a compleat Directory, and that which contains several Sciences: deeming it a Work for a Solomon, who could give an account from the Cedar to the Hysop. I have therefore in my Apology to the Bookseller, declared how I came to be of Ability to do it, reciting to him the grounds of my knowledg in all those Sciences I profess; and also what practice and experience I have had in the World, lest any should think I speak more than I am able to perform. I doubt not but judicious persons will esteem this Essay of mine, when they have read the Book, and weighed it well; and if so, I shall the less trouble my self what the ignorant do or say.
I have now done my Task, & shall leave it to your candid Judgments and Improvement; your Acceptation will much encourage
Your
Most humble Servant,
London, Nov.
10. 1672.
Hannah Woolly.
T A B L E
The duty and qualification of a Governess to Gentlewomens Children, 69.
A short account of the Life and Abilities of the Authoress of this Book, 73.
Good Instructions for a young Gentlewoman, from the age of Six to Sixteen, 76.
Advice to the Female younger-sort, 78.
The duty of Children to their Parents, 81.
Of a young Gentlewomans deportment to her Governess and Servants in the Family, 83.
What Qualifications best become and are most suitable to a Gentlewoman, 86.
Of a Gentlewomans Civil Behaviour to all sorts of People in all places, 88.
Of the Gait or Gesture, 91.
Of the Government of the eye, 92.
Of Speech and Complement, 94.
Choice and general Rules for a Gentlewomans observation in Conversation with Company, 95.
Rules to be observed in walking with persons of honour, & how you ought to behave your self in congratulating and condoling them, 102.
Of habit, and the neatness and propriety thereof; Of Fashions, and their ridiculous apish Imitation, 102.
Of New Fashions, 107.
Of young Gentlewomens fit hours and times for their recreations and Pleasures, and how to govern themselves therein, 120.
What Recreations and Pleasures are most fitting and proper for young Gentlewomen, 121.
Of the guiding of a Ladies love and fancy, 124.
The Gentlewomans Mirrour, or Patterns for their imitation of such famous Women who have been eminent in Piety and Learning, 131.
Of Marriage, and the duty of a Wife to her Husband, 134.
Of Womens behaviour to their Servants, and what is to be required of them in the House, or what thereunto appertains, 137.
Terms for Carving all sorts of Meat at Table, 140.
Quaint Directions for the Carving of all manner of Fowl, 141.
Artichoaks Fried, 143.
Artichoaks stewed, ibid.
An Almond-Pudding, ibid.
An Almond-Pudding in Guts, ibid.
An Almond-Tart, ibid.
Almond-Cream, 144.
Apple-Cream, ibid.
Apricocks green Baked, ibid.
Barley-broth, ibid.
Bisk, ibid.
Beef Hashed, 145.
Beef A-la-Mode, 146.
Beef Carbonadoed, ibid.
Beef baked red Deer fashion in Pies or Pasties, either Sirloyn, Brisket, Buttock or Fillet, larded or not, ibid.
Beef Collared, ibid.
Brawn, how to make a Collar, 147.
Brawn made of a Sucking-Pig, otherways called a Souced Pig, 148.
Calves-head roasted, ibid.
Calves-foot Pie, or Neats-foot-Pie, ibid.
Capons Souced, 149.
Calves-Chaldron Mince-Pies, ibid.
Capon or Chicken in white Broth, ibid.
Chicken-Pie, 150.
Clouted Cream, ibid.
Cabbidg-Cream, ibid.
Carp stewed, 151.
Carp Marinated, ibid.
Carp Roasted, 152.
Deer red and Fallow Roasted, ibid.
Deer Baked, ibid.
Egg Mince-Pie, ibid.
Florentines on Paste, or without Paste, ibid.
Flowers of all sorts pickled, 153.
Grapes and Goosberries Pickled, ibid.
Geese Boiled, ibid.
Hashes several ways, ibid.
Hashes of Neats-feet, or any feet, as Calves, Sheep, Deer, Hogs, Pigs or Lambs, 154.
Hashing of any Feet, 154.
Hares Roasted without, and with the skin, ibid.
Ipocras, ibid.
Jellies of several Colours, for all sorts of Souc'd. Meats, and to be eaten alone, 155.
Land or Sea-fowl, how to boil them, ibid.
Land-Fowl the smaller sort, how to boil a[s] Plovers, Quails, Black-birds, Railes Thrushes, Snites, Wheatears, Larks and Sparrows, ibid.
Marrow-Pudding in a Dish baked, garnished with Puff-past, 156.
Mutton hashed the French way, ibid.
Marinated Mullet, Bace, Gurnet, or Rochet, ibid.
Mullets Fried, 157.
Mullets or Bace baked, ibid.
Mushrooms Fried, ibid.
Mushrooms stewed, ibid.
Neats-tongues Boiled, 158.
Neats-tongues Stewed, ibid.
Neates-tongues an excellent way how to dry them, ibid.
Neats-tongues roasted, ibid.
Neats-tongue Mince-Pye, 159.
A Norfolk fool, ibid.
Oysters Stewed, ibid.
Oysters Fried, ibid.
Oyster-Pyes, 160.
Oysters Pickled, ibid.
Ox-cheeks Baked in a Pye, ibid.
A Calves-head-Pye, 161.
Puff-past, the best way how to make it, ibid.
Panadoes, ibid.
Posset of Sack, Claret, or White-wine, the best manner, ibid.
Pumpion-Pye, 162.
Pig Roasted with the Hair on, ibid.
Pidgeons Boiled, ibid.
Pike Boiled, 163.
Pike Stewed, ibid.
Pike Souced, ibid.
Pike Roasted, ibid.
Quaking Pudding, 164.
Quince-Pyes, ibid.
An excellent Restorative for a weak back, ibid.
A most incomparable Broth or Drink for a sick person, 165.
Rice-Tart, 165.
Rice-Cream, ibid.
Another excellent and rare Cream, ibid.
Several excellent Sauces for several Dishes, and first for Green-Geese, ibid.
Salmon Roasted, 167.
Salmon Fried, ibid.
Souc't Veal, Lamb, or any Joint of Mutton, Kid, Fawn or Venison, ibid.
Taffety-Tart, ibid.
Venison how to recover when tainted, 168.
To make Beef, Ram, or Mutton pass for Venison, ibid.
Warden Tarts, ibid.
A Bill of Fare of Sutable Meat for every Month in the Year, 169.
Bills of Fare for Fasting-days, or Lent, 171.
An Introduction to Physick and Chyrurgery, 173.
What is to be observed by a Gentlewoman before she undertakes the administration of Physick, 175.
A most approved Receipt for a Quartane Ague, 178.
For a sudden and violent bleeding at the Nose, ibid.
To stop the bleeding of a Wound, ibid.
An approved Medicine of London-Midwifes to break and heal Womens sore Breasts, ibid.
An excellent way to dry up a Womans Breast, 179.
An infallible way to increase Milk in Womens Breasts, ibid.
Against a stinking Breath, ibid.
For a Cancer in a Womans Breast, ibid.
For young Children who by reason of the weakness of their Limbs can neither stand nor go, ibid.
An approved China-broth for a Consumption, 180.
A most excellent Jelly for the Consumption, ibid.
An excellent Comforter for the Stomack, and helper of Digestion, 181.
A well-tried Medicine for the Corns on the Feet or Toes, ibid.
An excellent Diet-drink for the Spring to purge the Blood and cleanse it, ibid.
A Remedy for the Dropsie, whether hot or cold, ibid.
Another for the Dropsie, ibid.
For the Web or Pin in the Eye, 182.
To cleanse the skin of your Face, and make it look beautiful and fair, ibid.
How to ripen and heal a Felon or Whitelof, ibid.
How to cure the bloody Flux, 182.
A Cure for every sort of Gout, ibid.
How to cure the Green Sickness, 183.
An Universal Medicine of wonderful use both for Man and Woman, ibid.
Against the Yellow Jaundies, 184.
Against the Itch, ibid.
Against Kibed Heels, ibid.
What is best to be administred to one sick of the Meazels, ibid.
To cure the Fits of the Mother, 185.
To take away the heat of a Burn or Scald, ibid.
For a Scald-head, ibid.
For one burnt with Gun-powder, ibid.
A very safe Clister to be used by either Man or Woman who is much bound or costive, ibid.
How to cure old Sores on the Legs which have been of so long standing that the Bones have appeared, 186.
An excellent way to dissolve the Stone, ibid.
A way not only to prevent but to cure the Toothach, or to make an aking Tooth fall out of it self, ibid.
How to order a Woman with Child, before, in, and after the Dilivery, ibid.
An excellent Cordial for Women troubled with swooning Fits in Travel, 187.
Of Candying, Conserving and Preserving, 189.
Barberries Preserved, ibid.
Pears Preserved, ibid.
Green Pippins, ibid.
Black-Cherries, 190.
Mulberries, ibid.
Oranges and Lemons, ibid.
Goosberries Preserved, ibid.
Roses, or any other Flowers, 191.
Cherries, ibid.
Apricocks, ibid.
Green Walnuts, ibid.
Eringo-Roots, 192.
Ennula-Campana-Roots, ibid.
Conserve of Roses, ibid.
How to Candy all sorts of Flowers as they grow with their Stalks on, 193.
Candied Eringo-Roots, 193.
The best and most approved way to dry Plumbs, ibid.
Proper Colours for Fruitage, 194.
Quince Marmelade, ibid.
How to make Syrrup of Violets, ibid.
Syrrup of Roses, ibid.
Syrrup of Coltsfoots, 195.
Of Distillation, 196.
Dr. Stevens his famous Water, ibid.
Aqua Mirabilis, 197.
Water for the Eyes, ibid.
An admirable water against the stone in the Kidnies, ibid.
An excellent Water for the Worms, ibid.
An excellent artificial Wine like Claret, 197.
An Oyntment for any Wound or Sore, ibid.
A Searcloth for all Aches, ibid.
What things belong to a Country Gentlewoman; Of Dairies, and making Butter and Cheese, 200.
How to make your ordinary clouted Cream, 201.
To make fresh Cheese in Cream, ibid.
Cream of Codlins, 202.
To make a Junket, ibid.
To Gentlewomen who serve Persons of Quality, 203.
To all Maidens who desire to be Chamber-maids to Persons of Quality, 205.
Instructions for all Nursery-maids in Noble Families, ibid.
Instructions for all Chamber-maids to Gentlewomen in City and Country, 206.
To Nursery-Maids in London or elsewhere, 207.
To Cook-maids, 208.
Under-Cook-maids, 209.
Dairy maids, 210.
Laundry-maids, ibid.
House-maids, 211.
Scullery-maids, ibid.
Writing Letters, 212.
The Resolute Lover: A Pastoral Dialogue, 232.
Addresses of Love and Service, from Erotus to Aurelia. 233.
A merry Dialogue between an ingenious Gentlewoman and a Poetaster or Rimer, 235.
A form of Discourse at a casual meeting between Silvester and Sylvia, 237.
A method of Courtship on fair and honourable terms, ibid.
An impertinent and lying Travellers Discourse with his witty and Jocose Mistress, 239.
A Gentleman accidentally hapning into a room where a Company of Ladies were well known to him, 241.
