When we could get no further supplies from home for these Extravagancies , the Gallant abroad was ready to furnish us ; and who could resist at once a double Inclination within , and the passionate Importunities of a civil Gentleman without ? Brisk and Airy ( which our dull Grandmothers would have call'd Wanton and Impudent ) is long since become the Character of a Well bred-woman ; and to be a Miss , was both a pleasant and thriving Undertaking . But the unhappy By-blow , or the Great Disease , the maintaining Friend disinherited , or undone , or weary of the same Face , or bewitch'd with Age , or reform'd by dear bought Experience , leaves the helpless Gentlewoman to her shifts ; and what then is to be done , but Have at all ? Fine she must be , work she will not ; Friends disown her , Reputation is gone , and the sinking Vessel has nothing left to buoy her up , but the extreamest Impudence .

Then to the Entertaining or Procuring Matrons we repair , under whose protection , in a worse Servitude than the most wretched Gally-slaves , we lie at the common Receipt of Custome ; which in these hard times ( not for want of Inclination but Money ) finding very dead , necessity prompts us to seek out ; and taking the opportunity of the Night ( the fittest season for Deeds of Darkness ) abroad we walk a Cully catching .

Fleetstreet , Holborn , and Cheapfide it self , can witness with how many industrious and weary steps we have trac'd along even till Ten at night : How sometimes we spread all our Sails , and presently lay by ; now stopp'd our Course , and then hearkened for every inviting Hem ; jostled , or star'd each Passenger in the face , call'd to them by strange Names , and the friendly salutation How d' ye Cozen ; and sometimes fell down flat before 'um to attract their Civility ; practicing all the mysteries of Enticing , Deluding , Solliciting , Fascinating , and Intoxicating , with so much Dexterity , Address , and Diligence , as if the Devil , grown weary of Temptation , had made us his onely Deputies ; and all this often without so much as meeting one single Prize .

True it is , if we chanc'd to happen sometimes on a young Fop , or an old Leacher , a wilde Gallant or a Grave one , we got perhaps a pretty Treat , and now and then a George or two ; or if soundly drunkifi'd , made bold to search their Fobs , and dive into their Pockets for an unnecessary Watch , or a few straggling Guinies : but alas , as great Rents , Parish-Duties , and Family-Expences are enough without quick Returns to undo the greatest Dealers ; so the Bawds snips , the Surgeons Salary , the Apothecaries Bill , the Tallymans weekly Contribution , and constant bribes to Friends in office for Connivance , so deeply Excis'd our Gains , that ( like Virginia-Traders ) the Returns of the Cargo would scarce p●y Fraight and Customs ; besides , the hazards we underwent of being disrob'd by Prentices upon every Uproar in the streets , pawn 'd at Taverns , Sconces built at home by Bullies and Hectors , and that unconscionable Cheat of brass Half-crowns impos'd upon us by more serious Camlet-cloak Customers after the most punctual bargain in the world , rendered our Occupation so inconsiderable , that one on 's in forty was able to purchase Paint and clean Linnen . But ●bove all to take the Trade of Trepanning out of our hands and turn it upon our selves , to wheadle us gravely into a Tavern , and instead of the Reckoning produce the short Staff , and hurry us away to the Hemp office : Verily , and by our truly , Gentlemen , it was a most unexpected ( not to say rigorous and unreasonable ) usage . Unfortunate Sex of ours ! whose Lot it is , if young and handsome , to be punished as Whores ; if old and ugly , to be Carted for Bawds , or burn'd for Witches ; if honest , to starve ; if free & complaisant , to be rail'd on , P●x'd , Trepau'd , and Bridewell'd ; and all this by an ungrateful Generation , whom we endeavour'd , through so many dangers , to oblige .

But Complaints are vain , and we intend not to dispute the Justice of these Proceedings ; onely thought fit to warn ignorant well wishers to our faculty , of the Hazards abroad ; and advise them , if they must needs be kinde , to dispence their Favours in private , rather than make Bawdy houses of the Streets and Alleys . The truth is , after this late Animadversion , we finde our selves somewhat inclinable to turn honest : Cautiously at least , if not Chastly , is a good Motto ; for proffer'd Ware you know always goes to a bad Market , and Experience shews ( let people talk what they will of Marriage Bands and Matrimonial Shackles ) that our Sex enjoys Pleasure and Liberty seldome so much , never so securely , as when under Covert-baron .

At least ( dear Sisters ) let us advertise you to stand upon your Guard , traffique not with Strangers without good security : The City is a dangerous Port to lade forbidden Wares in ; rather ply on the Skirts of the Town , where 't is more easie to Smuckle a Cully : since an Embargo is laid on publick Trade , enhance your favours to particular Gallants , to make good the Damage . Though Night-walking be forbidden , the day's our own ; but have a care of the Painted Staff , and Marshals men . Leave off the White Colours , 't is too notorious and dangerous ; rather put on black Handkerchiefs and green Aprons , and then you pass amongst Friends without suspition . Expose not your selves to every Sixpenny-Customer ; tamper not with Prentices , unless they have the Cash under their Tuition . Know the Prerogatives of your Profession ; and leave off that scandalous trick of begging Pots of Ale of Porters and Foot-boys . In a word , render not your selves Cheap and Contemptible by an open Prostitution , but force the Fops to keep a Lent till Christmas , and 't is an hundred to one , if you do not finde some of your Persecutors Solliciting in secret your Favours .