"A monkey, squirrel and a brace of islands" (not the beginning of a "..walk into a bar" joke)

During her berating of Mistress Bonavent for surrendering her widow-status too soon, Mistress Carol catalogs the various benefits the "supposed" widow currently enjoys. For one thing, Mistress Bonavent will be able to behave in a carefree and independent manner; she "may sing a wanton ditty, and not be chid" or "dance, and go late to bed." Yet Carol places more emphasis on the widow as consumer, as one with purchasing power enabled by both financial and social independence. Mistress Bonavent's ability to own a coach and hire a personal tailor suggests that she has a disposable income; this reminds me of the gallants' purchasing power in many of the plays we have read. In particular, widows and gallants have a knack for purchasing exotic goods. It is also interesting that in many city comedies, gallants pursue the hands of wealthy widows. What does the economic link between gallants and widows mean in terms of social relations in early modern England? What in particular does this connection say about gender and social agency in the period?