working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

PROFESSIONSexaminations, before six skiEful Midwives, and asmany Chiru?gions expert in the Art of Midwifny.Thus it continued until the Act of Uniformity passed,which sent the Midwives back to Doctors Commons,where they pay their money (take an oath which itis impossible for them to keep) and return home as sllfulas they went thither. I make noreflections on thoselearned Gentlemen, the Licensers, but refer thecurious for their further satisfaction to the YearlyBills of Mortality, from 42 to 62 ; Collections of whichthey may find at Clerkshall. Which if they pleaseto compare with these of late Years, they will find theredid not then happen the eight part of the Casualitieseither to Women or Children, as do now."'In granting licences to midwives the Bishops weresupposed to make some enquiry as to their professionalattainments. Among the " articles to be enquiredof " during Diocesan visits was one " whether any manor woman within your Parish, hath professed or practisedPhysick or Chyrurgery ; by what name or namesare they called, and whether are they licensed by theBishop of the Diocesse, or his Vicar Generall, and uponwhom have they practised, and what good or harmhave they done ? "2 And again, " whether any inyour Parish do practise Physicke or chirurgery, or thatthere be any mid-wife there, or by what authorityany of them do practise, or exercise that profession."3But the interest of the Bishops was concerned morewith the orthodoxy of the midwife than with herprofessional skill.A midwife's licence was drawn up as follows :beginning :-" Thomas Exton, knight, doctor oflaws, commisary general, lawfully constituted ofthe right worshipful the dean & chapter of St.l Cellier (Eliz.). to Dr. - an answer to b:s Queries conccrnrng tbc Collcdg'of Madwaves, p. 6.Exeter, Artrcles to be etqutred ofby tbe Cburcbwardcns. 1646.a Canterbury, Artrck~ to be :ngu:red. 1636.PROFESSIONSPaul's in London ; to our beloved in Christ, AnneVoule, the wife of Jacob Voule, of the parish of StGile's Cripplegat, sendeth greeting in our Lord Godeverlasting : Whereas, by due examination of diverse,honest, and discreet women, we have found you aptand able, cunning and experte, to occupy & exercisethe office, business & occupation of midwife," andcontinuing after many wise and humane rules for herguidance with an exhortation " to be diligent, faithfuland ready to help every woman travelling of child,as well the poor as the rich, and you shall not forsakethe poor woman and leave her to go to the rich ;you shall in no wise exercise any manner of witchcraft,charms, sorcery, invocation, or other prayers, thansuch as may stand with God's laws, and the king's,"concluding thus :-" Item, you shall not be privyto or consent that any priest or other party shall inyour absence, or your company, or of your knowledgeor sufferance, baptize any child by any mass, Latinservice, or prayers than such as are appointed by thelaws of the Church of England ; neither shall youconsent that any child borne by any woman, who shallbe delivered by you, shall be carried away withoutbeing baptized in the parish by the ordinary ministerwhere the said child is born."lThe Bishops' interest in midwives may have beencaused partly by a praiseworthy desire to secure anadequate supply for the assistance of women in eachparish. But from the Church's point of view, themidwife's chief importance was not due to the factthat the life of mother and child might depend onher skill, but to her capacity for performing the ritesof baptism. The reasons for granting her this authorityare explained as follows :-" in hard Laboursthe Head of the Infant was sometimes baptizedbefore the whole delivery. This Office of Baptizing' Surstx Arcb. Call., Vol. IV., pp., ypgn Extracb from Parirh Regicten.