The London-Bawd: With Her Character and Life: Discovering the Various and Subtle Intrigues of Lewd WomenAnonymous
General
The London-Bawd: With Her Character and Life: Discovering the Various and Subtle Intrigues of Lewd Women
Anonymous
Prostitution -- England -- London
_I have as genteel a House as most in _London_, with several Chambers very
well furnish'd for accomodation of Gentlemen and Ladies: and a
Looking-glass in each Chamber so conveniently plac'd, that those who have a
mind to't, may see what they do: For some take as much delight in seeing as
in doing: My House goes under the Notion of being Let out in Lodgings, and
every Gentlewoman than is enter'd, has her Picture drawn, which hangs up in
the Dining Room; where when Gentlemen come, they chuse which Person they
please by the Picture; and for a Guinea paid to me, they are admitted to
her, with whom they make what Bargain they can agree upon. And by this
means we are sure that none but Persons of Quality can be admitted: and the
Ladies Honours are thereby secur'd._
But for ought I perceive (said the Citizen's Wife) here is constant
Attendance requir'd, to be in the way; or else how shall a Gentleman do,
that chooses the Picture of a Person that en't there? As to that replied
the Bawd, the more any Gentlewoman is there, so much the better 'tis; and
so much the more Money they get; but those that can't attend always, have
their certain hours; and if a Gentleman has a Fancy to such a one, when he
knows her hour, he will come accordingly.--Now you your self can best judge
what hour will be fittest for you--That I am at a Loss how to resolve, says
she.--Tell me how you spend your time, all Day, says the Bawd and then I'll
tell you what you shall do--Why, says she, many times I rise at five a
Clock in the Morning, and having got my self drest by Six a Clock, I go to
the Lecture at St. _Antholines_, which is done a little before Eight, and
then I return home; and at Ten--Hold, says the Bawd, you need say no more;
There's nothing in the World blinds a Man like a pretence of Devotion; and
therefore if you can get out at Six a Clock to go to the Lecture, 'tis the
only time you can take; and by that time the Lecture's done, you may be at
home again: Nor need you stand much upon Dressing; for if you come in a
Loose Morning-Gown, you're the fitter for Business. She lik'd the Bawd's
contrivance very well, and accordingly paid her Entrance Money, and
Deposited two Guinea's for the Drawing of her Picture. And in the mean time
went constantly to the Lecture every Morning: Which her Husband was very
well pleas'd at. But her being of late more constant at the Lecture than
she us'd to be, caus'd some suspicion in her Husband, who rising one
morning (which happened to be the Day before her Picture was ready,) he
follow'd her unseen, to know whither she went to the Lecture or no; and she
going directly thither, and staying there all the time; her Husband had a
mighty Opinion of the Devotion and Piety of his Spouse: And began to blame
himself for having entertain'd an ill thought of her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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