University Life at Oxford.- [Penton (Stephen)] The Guardian's Instruction, or, The Gentleman's Romance:, first edition, for the Authour, and sold by Simon Miller, 1688.

University Life at Oxford.- [Penton (Stephen)] The Guardian's Instruction, or, The Gentleman's Romance: written for the Diversion and Service of the Gentry, first edition, one of 3 variants, this with gatherings in 12s, colon following "Romance" on title and B of signature B1 below space between "then" and "it", imprimatur leaf bound after title (becoming detached), browned, A2 torn (repaired with loss to a couple of letters), last few leaves frayed at edges with slight loss to pagination and to first few lines of final contents leaf (repaired), modern calf, spine faded, [Wing P1439], 12mo, for the Authour, and sold by Simon Miller, 1688.

⁂ Interesting work on polite conduct including an entertaining cameo of life at Oxford in the 17th century with scurrilous details of undergraduate activities. The author also describes the perfect wife, "she should be beautiful, and not proud; well-shap'd, and not stiff, familiar but not fond, good natured but not easie...", and notes that "mothers should have NO say in the education of their children".