as wyll not be ruled / remouyng her selfe from one place to another / all such thynges causeth the labour to be much more payn full / cruell / and dolorous / then it wolde otherwyse be Also ye must vnderstande that generallye the byrthe of the man is easyer then the byrth of the female ¶ Item yf the chylde be of a fuller greater groweth than that it maye easelye passe that narowe passage / or contrarye wyse / yf it be so faynt / weake / and tender / that it can not turne it selfe / or doth it very slowly / or yf the womaÌ„ haue two chyldren at ones / other elles that it with the which she laboreth be a menster / as for example / yf it haue but one body and two heddes / as appeareth in the .xvij. of the byrth fygures / such as of late was sene in the dominion of werdenberghe ¶ Agayne wheÌ„ it procedeth not in due tyme or after due fashion / as when it cometh forthe with bothe fete or both knees togyther / or els with one fote onely / or with both fete downewarde and both handes vpwarde / other els the which is most perellous sydelong / arselonge / or backelonge / other hauynge two at a byrth / both procede with their fete fyrst / or one with his fete and the other with his head / by those and diuers other wayes the woman susteyneth greate doloure payne and anguysh ¶ Item yf the woman suffer aborsmeÌ„t / that is to saye brynge forth her chylde in the .iiii. or v. moneth after the conception / whiche is before the due tyme / in this case it shal be great payne to her / for so muche as accordynge to Galenus sayenge in that tyme the entrance of the wombe is so firmely and strongely enclosed / that scace the poynte of a nedle maye enter in at it ¶ Also yf the chyld be dead in the mothers bellye it is a verye perellous thynge / forsomuche as it can not be easely turned / nother can it weld or helpe it self to come forth / or yf the chyld be sycke or weakened / so that it can not for feablenesse helpe it selfe The whiche thynge maye be foresene knowen by these tokens Yf the woman with chylde haue ben longe sycke before her labor / yf she haue ben sore laxed / yf after her conception she haue had dayly vnwontly her flowres / yf streate after one moneth vppon the conception her brestes yelde anye mylke / yf the chylde steare not ne moue at suche tyme as is conuenient for it these be tokens that it sholde be verye weake By what tokens ye shall knowe it is dead / I shall shewe you in the nynth chapter hereafter ¶ Also there is greate parell in laborynge / when the secondyne or latter byrthe is ouer fyrme or stronge / and wyll not sone ryue or breake asunder / so that the chylde maye haue his easy commyng forth And contrary wyse when it is ouer weake slender or thynne / so that it breaketh asunder before that the chyld be turned or apte to yssue forthe / for then the humours which are collecte and gathered to gether about this secondyne or secoside byrth passe away soner then it sholde do / the byrth shall lacke his due humidite and moystenes / whiche sholde cause it the â—â—selyar to procede and with lesse payne ¶ The byrth also is hindered by ouer much colde or ouer muche heete / for in ouer muche colde the passage and all other powres of the laborynge woman be coarted and made narrower then they wolde otherwyse be Lykewyse ouer much heate debiliteth / weakeneth and faynteth both the woman and the chyld / so that neyther of them in that case can well welde or helpe them selfes for fayntnesse ¶ And forther yf the woman haue vsed to eate commenly such meate or fruytes / whiche do exiccat or drye and constrayne or bynde / as medlars / chestenuttes / all sowre fruyte / as trabbes / chokeperes / and suche other / with ouer muche vse of vergers / such lyke sowre sauces / with ryse myll / and many other thynges / all this shall greately hynder the byrth ¶ Also the vse of colde bathes after the .v. moneth folowyng the conception or to bathe in such water where alome is / yron / or salte / or any suche thynges which do coarcte and constrayne / or yf she haue ben oftentymes heauye and murnyng / or yll at ease / or yf she haue ben kept ouer hungrye and thurstye / or haue vsed ouer much watche and walkinge / other yf she vsed a lyttell before her labor thinges of great odour smell or sauoure / for suche thynges attracte and drawe vp warde the mother or matrice / the whiche is greate hynderaunce to the byrthe ¶ Also yf the womaÌ„ fele payne onely in the backe and aboue the nauell and not vnder / it is sygne of harde labor / lykewyse yf she ware wont to be delyuered with greate payne in tymes passed / is a sygne of great labor alwayes in the byrth ¶ Nowe sygnes and tokens of an expedite and easy delyueraunce be such as be contrary to all those that go before As for example / when the woman hathe ben wonte in tymes passed easelye to be 〈…〉 that in her labor she feale but lyttell thronge or dolor / or thoughe she haue greate paynes / yet they remayne not alwayes in the vppar partes / but descend to the nether partes or botome of the bellye ¶ And to be shorte in all paynefull troublesome labours / these sygnes betokeÌ„ signify good spede and lucke in the labor vnquietnes / muche stearynge of the chylde in the mothers belly / all the thronges and paynes tomblynge in the fore parte of the botome of the bellye / and when the woman is stronge and myghtye of nature / and such as can well and strongelye helpe her selfe to the expellynge of the byrth And agayne euell sygnes be those / when she swetethe colde swete and that her pulces beate and labor ouer sore / and that she her selfe in the laborynge faynt and swowne these be vnluckye and mortall sygnes ¶ Howe a woman with chylde shall use herselfe and what remedies be foâ—â— them that haue harde labor ¶ Cap .iiii. Tâ—… 〈…〉 such as are in suche difficull parell of labor / as we haue spoken of before / ye must obserue / kepe marke those thynges whiche we shall by the grace of god shew you in this chapter folowynge Fyrst the woman with chyld must kepe two dyettes / the one a monethe before her labor / the other in the verye laborynge / aboue all thynges she muste exchue and forbare all suche thynges which maye hynder the byrthe so nere as she can possible / the which we rehersed in the chapter before / but yf there be anye suche thynge which can not be auoyded / for so much as it commeth by nature or by long
in maner colde as yise / or to fluye or thynne c. dyuers other other wayes also it maye be letted / whyche shall not nede here to be rehersed ¶ Nowe yf the woman can not conceaue / the cause commynge of ouer muche frigidite and coldenesse in the matrice / that shall she knowe by these tokens she shal feale greate cold about the sydes / the raynes of the backe and the matrice / her vryne shall appeare whyte and thynnysshe / and sometymes also somewhat spysse and thycke / and all maner of colde thynges shall noye her / hote thynges shall greately comfort her ¶ But yf it come by ouer muche humidite of the matrice / that shall she knowe by these sygnes Yf the bodye of her be of a fatte and grosse disposition / yf with her flowres yssue forth at the begynnynge and the latterende of them certayne vyscous and waterye substaunce / and that her vrine be whyte / thycke / and sometyme as it were mylke Alsoo that she feale greate colde and payne aboute the matrice pryuie partes / muche dolour in her sydes and in the raynes of her backe ¶ And when ouer much heate or dryeth in the matrice / is cause of the hynderaunce of conception / then is the vryne hye coldred / red or yelowe / beynge thynne with certayne motes appearyng in the water / the womā hath greate thyrste / and bytter rysynge or belking oute of the stomacke in to the mouthe And manye tymes they that are in this case / are verye spare and leane in all theyr bodye / hauyng also but small quantite of flowres / the whiche thynge maye happen other by ouer muche watche / or ouer much fastynge / labor / trauell / sorowe / syckenesse c. But suche women which naturally are thus spare lene / maye verye hardely be brought to a temperancye agayne be made apte to conceaue And this shal be sufficiente for this tyme to knowe whiche qualite by his excesse causeth sterilite / nowe wyll we shewe howe it shal be knowen whether lacke of conception be in the woman or elles in the man / and howe to knowe whether the woman be conceaued or no / accordynge to the mynde of ryght expert doctors of physycke ¶ Howe to knowe whether lacke of conception be of the woman or of the man and howe it maye be perceaued whether she be conceaued or no. ¶ Cap .iiii. IF ye be desyrous to know whether the man or the woman be hynderance in conception lette eche of them take of whete and barlye cornes / and of beenes of eche .vii. the which they shall suffer to be steped in theyr seueral vryne / the space of .xxiiij. houres / then take .ij. pottes / suche as they set gylyflowres in / fyll them with good earth / in the one let be set the whete / barlye / beanes / styped in the mans water / in the other the whete / barlye / and beanes / styped in the womans water / and euerye mornynge the space of eight or ten dayes / lette eche of them with theyr proper vryne / water the sayd seades sowen in the forenamed pottes / marke whose potte dothe proue / the seades therin contained dothe growe / in that partie is not the lacke of conception / but see that there come no other water or rayne on the pottes ¶ Itē accordynge to Hypocrates wrytyng yf ye wyl knowe whether the faute be in the woman or no / then lette the woman receaue in to her body vndernethe / beynge well and closely closed round about the fume of some odoriferous perfume / as laudanum / storax / calamyte / lignum aloes / muske / ambre / and suche other / and yf the odour and sauour of suche thynges assende thorowe her body vp vnto her nose / ye shall vnderstande / that sterilite commeth not of the womans parte / yf not then is the defecte in her ¶ Item yf she take garlycke beynge pylled out of the huskes / and conueye of it into the pryuie partes / and yf the sente of it assende vp through the bodye vnto the nose / the woman is fautelesse / yf not then is there lacke in her These are sygnes to knowe whether the lacke be in the man or the woman ¶ Whether she be conceaued alreadye or no / ye shall knowe by these sygnes Fyrste the flowres yssue not in so great quantite as they are wōt / but wexe lesse and lesse / and in maner nothinge at all commeth from them Also the brestes begyn to waxe rounder / harder / and styffar then they were wonte to be / the woman shall longe after certayne thynges otherwyse thē she was vsed to do before that tyme. Also her vryne waxeth spysse and thyckysshe / by retension of the superfluyties Also the woman fealeth her matrice verye fastelye enclosed and shytte / in so muche that as Hypocrates saythe / the poynte of a nedle maye scace enter ¶ Item to knowe whether she be conceaned or no / accordynge to Hypocrates mynde / in the .v. of his Ampho geue vnto the woman when she is goyng to bedde a quantite of mellicratum to drynke / and yf after that drynke she feale greate payne / gnawing / and tumblynge in her belly / then be ye sure / that she is conceaued yf not / she is not cōceaued / this mellicratum is a drynke made of one parte wyne / an other parte water soden together / with a quantite of hony ¶ But if ye be desyrous to knowe whether the conception be man or woman then lette a droppe of her mylke or twayne be mylked on a smothe glasse / or a bryght knyfe / other elles on the nayle of one of her fyngers / and yf the mylke flewe and spredde abrode vpon it / by and by then is it a woman chylde but yf the droppe of mylke contynue and stande styll vppon that / the whiche it is mylked on / then is it sygne of a man chylde Item yf it be a male / then shall the woman with childe be well coloured / and lyghte in goynge / her belly rounde / bygger towarde the right syde then the lefte / for alwayes the man chylde lyeth in the ryghte syde / the woman in the lefte syde ¶ Of certayne remedyes and medycynes which shall cause the woman to conceaue ¶ Cap .v. ALl sterilite then for the moste parte ensueth and commeth of the dystemperancye of one of these .iiij. forenamed qualities / wherfore the remedye and cure of the same when it chaunseth / must be done by such thynges / the whiche haue contracye power operation to the excessyue qualities for by that shall it be reduced to his temperancye agayne ¶ As yf that coldenesse and moystenesse exceadynge temperancye in the matrice be occasion of sterilite / then muste she applie such thynges to that place / the whiche be of nature hote drye / the whiche maye calify and
deliueraunce of the same / it shal be fyrst verye necessary to shewe after what maner and fasshyon the infant lyeth in the mothers wombe / and in howe many caules the same is lapped and wrapped to the farther knowlege and perceuerance of suche thynges the whiche we shall entreate of hereafter ¶ wherfore ye shall vnderstande that the byrth lyeth in the mother after this maner Fyrste it lyeth rownde in maner as a bowle the handes beynge betwene the knees / and the hedde lenyng on the knees eyther of the eyes ioynynge vppon eyther of the knees the ryghte eye vppon the ryghte knee and the lefte vpon the lefte / the noose dependyng betwene the knees / so that the face and foreparte of the infante is towarde the inwarde partes of the woman / lyenge in maner vpryght in the mothers matryce ¶ Farther ye muste vnderstande that there be thre coueres or caules in the whiche the byrthe is contayned and lapped of the whiche the one compassyth embrasyth rownd aboute the byrthe / and the other two caules also and it is called the secondyne seconde byrth or the after byrthe the whiche defendeth the byrthe frome noysum and yll humours encreasynge in the matryce after conception by retensyon of the flowres otherwyse wonte to passe and yssue furthe ones in the monethe / the whiche yll humours yf they sholde touche or come nere to the byrth wolde greatlye peryshe and hurte the same But after the deliueraunce of the pryncipall byrth these humours also with the foresayd caule or secondyne yssue furthe / and is called the after byrthe ¶ The seconde caule with the whiche the byrth is coueryd / compasseth the same byrth frome the nauyll downe warde / couerynge all the inferyour partes of the infant / and this skynne or caule is as it were fulle of plyghtes and wrynkles and through this caule the byrthe is defended and kepte from yll and sharpe humours as vryne or pysse yssuynge frome the infante and swette c. for so longe as the chylde is in the mothers wombe it sendeth furthe vrine / not by the due membres but by the vayne whiche procedeth out of the nauell ¶ The thyrde shynne or caule lykewyse contayneth all the byrthe in it defendynge also the same frome humours vryne and from the boystesnes of the secondyne or fyrst caule and this is called the armoure or defence of the byrthe ¶ This is the maner of the sytuation and lodgyng of the infante in the mothers bellye and these be the thre caules contaynynge and enclosyng in the byrth Nowe wyll we speake of the tyme of byrthe ¶ Of the tyme of byrthe and whiche is called naturall or vnnaturall ¶ Cap .ii. ANd when the tyme of byrthe approchyth nere / moste commenly these sygnes folowyng come before by the which the tyme of labor is knowen to be at hande ¶ Fyrste certayne dolours and paynes begynne to growe about the guttes / the nauell / and in the raynes of the backe / and lykewyse aboute the thyghes the other places beinge nere to the priuy partes / which lykewyse then beginneth to swell and to burne and to expell humours / so that it gyueth playne and euident token that the labor is nere ¶ But ye shall note that there is two manner of byrthes / the one called naturall / the other contrarye to nature Naturall byrthe is when the chylde is borne bothe in due season also in due fashion The due season is most commenlye after the .ix. moneth or aboute .xl. wekes after the conception / althoughe some be delyuered sometymes in the seuenthe moneth / and the chylde proueth verye well But such as are borne in the eyght moneth / other they be dead before the byrth / or els lyue not longe after / as the noble medicine Auicenna doth testifye ¶ The due fashion of byrthe is this / accordynge as wytnesseth Albert the greate / fyrste the head commeth forwarde / then foloweth the necke and shouldes / the armes with the handes lyenge close to the bodye towarde the fete / the face and forepart of the chylde beyng towardes the face and foreparte of the mother / as it appeareth in the fyrste of the byrthe fygures For as Albertus writeth / and as we haue rehersed before also / before the tyme of delyueraunce the chylde lyeth in the mothers wombe the face and breste beynge towardes the backe of the mother / but when it sholde be delyuered / it is torned clene contrary / the head downewarde / the fete vpwarde / and the face towarde the mothers bellye / and that yf the byrth be natural Another thyng also is this / that yf the byrthe be naturall / the delyuerance is easye withoute longe taryenge or lokynge for it ¶ The byrth contrarye to nature is / when the mother is delyuered before her tyme / or oute of due season / or after any other fashion then is here specyfyed before / as when bothe legges procede fyrste / or one alone / with both the handes vp / or both downe / other elles the one vp the other downe / and diuers otherwise as shal be hereafter more clerely declared ¶ Of easye and vneasye difficull or dolorous delyueraunce and the causes of it with the sygues howe to knowe and forese the same ¶ Cap .iii. VEry many be the parelles / dangerous stronges which chanse to women in theyr labor / whiche ensue come in dyuers wayes / for dyuers causes / such as I shal here declare ¶ Fyrst when the woman that laboreth is conceyued ouer yonge / as before .xii. yee or .xv. yere of aege / which chāseth somtyme / though not verye often / and that the passage be ouer angust streate or naro we / other naturally / or els for some disease and infirmite / which may happen about that parte / as apostumes / pusshes / pyles / or blysterres / and such other / thorowe the whiche causes nature can not but with great dolor and payne open and dilate it selfe to the expellynge delyuerance of the chylde And sometyme the vesyke or bladder / or other intralles beyng about the matrice or wombe be also apostumat blystered / whiche beynge greaued / the matrice or wombe lykewyse is greaued with them / and that hyndereth greatly the deliueraunce Also sometyme in the fundament are emerrodes or pyles and other pusshes / chappynges or chynnes which cause greate payne / also hardnes and difficulte or byndynge of the belly / which thinges for the grefe and payne that ensueth of them causeth the woman to haue lyttell power to help herselfe in her labor ¶ Farthermore if the partie be weke and of feble complexion / or of nature very colde / or to yonge / or very aged / or to grosse and fatte / or contrarye wyse to spare and leane / or that she neuer had chylde before / or that she be ouer timorous and fearefull / dyuers waywarde / or suche one
dyssolued / and that the humours yssue forthe in great plente / then shall it be mete for her to syt downe lenynge backewarde in maner vpryght For the which purpose in some regioÌ„s as in France and Germanye the mydwyfes haue stooles for the purpose / whiche beynge but lowe and not hye frome the grounde / is made soo compase wyse and caue or holowe in the myddes / that that maye be receaued from vndernethe whiche is loked for and the backe of the stoole lenyng backewarde / receauethe the backe of the woman / the fashion of the which stole is set in the begynninge of the byrth sygures hereafter ¶ And when the tyme of labor is come / in the same stole ought to be put manye clothes or clowtes in the backe of it / the whiche the midwife may remoue froÌ„ one syde to another accordyng as necessite shal require The mydwyfe herselfe shall syt before the laboryng woman / and shall diligently obserut and wayte howe muche after what maner the chylde stearethe it selfe also shall with her handes fyrste annoynted with the oyle of almondes or the oyle of whyte lylies rule directe euery thynge / as shall seme best Also the mydwyfe muste enstructe and comfort the partie not onely refresshynge her with good meate and drynke / but also with swete wordes / geuynge her good hope of a spedefull delyueraunce / encouragyng and enstomacking her to pacience and tolleraunce / byddyng her to holde in her brethe in so muche as she maye / also strekynge gentylly with her handes her belly aboue the nauel / for that helpeth to depresse the byrth downewarde ¶ But and yf the woman be any thynge grosse / fat / or flesshly it shall be best for her to lye grouelyng / for by that menes the matrice is thrust and depressed downe warde / anoyntynge also the preuy partes with the oyle of whyte lyllies And yf necessite require it / let not the mydwyfe be afrayde ne asshamed to handle the places and to relaxe and lose the straytes / for so muche as shall lye in her / for that shall helpe wel to the more expedite and quycke labor ¶ But this must the mydwyfe aboue all thynges take hede of that she coÌ„pell not the woman to labor / before the byrth come forewarde / shewe it selfe For before that tyme all labor is in vayne / labor as muche as ye lyst And in this case many tymes it cometh to passe / that the partie hath labored so sore before the tyme / that when she sholde labor in dede / her myght and strength is spent before in vaine / so that she is not nowe able to helpe her selfe / and that is a peryllous case ¶ Farthermore when the secondine or seconde byrthe in the which the byrth is wrapped and conteyned doth ones appeare / then maye ye knowe that the labor is at hande / wherfore yf the same secondine breake not of his owne kynde / it shal be the myd wyfes parte and offyce with her nayles easely and gentely to breake it / and rent it / or yf it maye not so conuenientlye be done / then reyse vp betwene your fyngers a pece of it / and cutte it of with a payre of sheeres / or a sharpe knyfe / but soo that ye hurte not the byrthe with the cutte / this done / by and by ensueth consequeÌ„tly the flux and flowe of humours / of the whyche I spake before / and then nexte foloweth immediatly the byrthe ¶ But yf it so chanse the secondine sholde be cutte by the mydwyfe and all the watery parte yshued and spent before due tyme and necessite sholde requyre it / so that the preuye passage be lest exiccat and drye / the byrth not yet appearynge / and by this meanes the labor sholde be hyndered and letted In this case ye shall annoynt and mollify that preuy passage with the oyle of white lillies / or som of the greses spoken of before / fyrste wharmed and so conueyed in to the preuy partes the whiche thynges wyll cause the waye to be slypperye / sople / and easye for the byrth to passe But chiefly in this difficulties sholde profette the whyte of an egge to gether with the yolke powred in to that same place / whiche sholde cause it to be moste slypperye and slydynge ¶ And yf it so be / that the byrthe be of a greate groweth / and the head stycke in the commynge forthe / then muste the mydwyfe helpe al that she may / with her handes fyrst annoynted with some oyle openyng and enlargynge the waye / that the yssue maye be be the frear lykewyse muste be done yf she bare two chyldren at once And all this is spoken of the naturall byrth when that fyrst procedeth the head / and then the reste of the body ordinatly / as ye mayese in the fyrste of the byrth fygures folowynge ¶ ij But when the byrthe commeth contrarye to nature / then must the mydwyfe do all her diligence and payne / yf it may be possible / to turne the byrthe tenderlye with her annoynted handes / so that it maye be reduced agayne to a naturall byrthe / as for example Some tyme it chanseth the chylde to come the legges and both arines and handes downewarde cloose to the sydes fyrste forthe / as appearethe in the seconde of the byrth figures / in this case the mydwife must do all her payne with tender handelyng and annoyntyng to receaue forthe the chylde / the legges beynge styll close to gether / the handes lykewyse remaynynge / as appeareth in the sayâ—e .ij. figure Howe be it / it were farre better yf it maye be by any meanes that the mydwyfe sholde turne these legges coÌ„myng fyrste forthe vpwardes agayne by the bellywarde / soo that the heade myghte descende downward by the backe part of the wombe for then naturally agayne without parell as the fyrste myght it procede come forthe ¶ iii. Agayne sometyme the byrthe commeth forth with both legges and fete fyrste / the handes beinge lyfted vp aboue the head of the chylde / and this is the parelloust maner of byrth / that is as appeareth in the iij. of the byrth figures And here must the myd wyfe do what she maye to turne the byrth yf it maye be possible to the fyrst figure / and yf it wyll not be / muste reduce the handes of it downe to the sides / so to reduce it into the ij figure But yf this also wyll not be then receaue the feate as they come forth / binde them with some fayre lynnen clothe / and so tenderly and very softly loose out the byrth tyll all be come forth / and this is a very â—copardous labor ¶ iiij Also sometyme the byrth commeth forwarde with one fore onely / the other beynge left vpwarde / as appeareth in the .iiij. fygure And in this case it behoueth the laborynge woman to laye her vpryght vppon her backe / holdynge
vp her thyghes belly / so that her heade be the lower part of her body then let the mydwyfe with her hande returne in agayne the fore that commeth oute fyrste in as tender manner as maye be / and warne the womā that laboreth to stere and moue her selfe / so that by the mouynge and sterynge the byrth maye be turned the head downewarde / and so to make a naturall byrth of it / and then to set the woman in the stole agayne / and to do as ye dyd in the fyrste fygure / but yf it so be that notwithstandyng the mothers stearynge and mouynge the byrth do not torne / then muste the mydwyfe with her hande softelye fetche out the other legge whiche remayned behynde / euermore takynge hede of this that by handelynge of the chylde she do not remoue ne sette oute of theyr place the two hādes hangyng downewarde towarde the fete ¶ v. Lykewise somtyme it cōmeth to passe that the syde of the chyld cōmeth forwarde / as appeareth in the .v. fygure / then must the mydwyfe do so / that it maye be returned to his naturall fasshion / so to come forthe ¶ vi Also sometyme the chylde commeth forthe the fete forwarde / the legges beynge abroade / as in the .vi. figure / and then muste the mydwyfe se / that the fete legges maye be ioyned to gether / and so to procede come forth / euer more regarding the handes / as I warned you before ¶ vij Yf it come with one of the knees or bothe forewarde / as in the .vij. figure / then muste the mydwyfe putte vp the byrth / tyll such tyme as the legges and fete come ryght forth / and then to do as afore ¶ viij When the chylde commeth hedlonge / one of the handes commyng out and appearyng before / as in the .viij. figure / then let the byrthe procede no farther / but let the mydwyfe put in her hande and tenderlye by the shoulders thrust in the byrth agayne / so that the hande maye be setteled in his place agayne the byrth to come forth ordinatly naturally / as in the first figure / but if by this meanes the hand come not to his conueniēt place / then let the woman lye vpryght with her thyghes bellye vpwardes / her head downewardes / so that by that meanes it maye be brought to passe / and then to bryng her to her seate agayne ¶ ix But yf it procede with both handes forewardes / then muste ye lykewyse do as afore by the shulders thrustynge it backe agayne / vntyll suche tyme as the handes lye close to the sydes / and so to come forth as appeareth in the .ix. fygure ¶ x. But when it commeth arsewarde / as in the .x. fygure maye be sene / then muste the mydwyfe with her handes retorne it agayne / vntyl such tyme that the byrth be turned / the legges and fete forwarde / otherels yf it maye so be / it ware beste that the heade myght come forwarde / and so naturallye to procede ¶ xi And yf it so be that it appere come forth fyrst with the sholders / as in the .xi. figure / then must ye fayre and softely thrust it backe agayne by the sholders / tyll such tyme as the heade come forewarde ¶ xii But when the byrth cōmeth forthe with both handes and bothe fete at once / as in the .xij. fygure / then muste the mydwyfe tenderly take the chylde by the head / and returne the legges vpwarde / and so to receyue it forth ¶ xiij And when it cometh brestewarde / as in the .xiij. figure / the legges and handes bydynge behynd / then let the mydwyfe take it by the fete or by the head / which that shall be moste apte and commodious to come forwarde / returnynge the rest vpwarde / and so to receaue it forth / but if it maye be hedlong / it shal be best ¶ xiiij Nowe sometyme it chaunseth the woman to haue two at a burden / and that bothe procede to gether headlonge / as in the xiiij figure / then must the midwyfe receue the one after the other / but so that she let not slyppe the one whylest she taketh the fyrste ¶ xv Yf bothe come forthe at once with theyr fete foreward / then must the mydwyfe be very diligent to receaue fyrst the one / and then the other / as hath ben shewed before ¶ xvi When the one cōmeth hedlonge / the other fotewyse / then must the mydwyfe helpe the byrth that is most nerest the yssue / it that cōmeth fotelōg if she cā to returne it vpon the head / as is spoken of before / taking euer the hede / that the one be not noysō to the other ī receauing forth of ether of thē ¶ And to be shorte / let the mydwyfe often tymes annoynte and mollifye the waye and passage with some of the foresayd oyntmentes / to make the womans labor so much the easyar / haue the lesse thronge trauell and payne / yf there chanse to be any apostume / or dysease about that places in this tyme by suche annoyntynge to alaye and swage the payne so that for the tyme it may be the lesse grefe to the partie / as I poke of before also / and for them that be in this case / it shall be best to lye growelyng / as I said of the grosse fatte and flesshly woman ¶ Remedies and Medicines by the whiche the labor maye be made more tollerable easy and without great payne ¶ Cap .v. ALl suche thynges as helpe the byrth make it more easye / are those Fyrst the womā that laboreth must other syt grouling or els vpryght leanynge backewarde / accordynge as it shall seme commodious and necessarye to the partie / or as she is accustomed And in wynter or colde whether the chamber wherin she laboreth muste be warmed / but in somer or hote whether / let in the ayre to refresshe her withall / lest betwene extreme heate and labor the woman faynt and sounde / and farthermore she must be prouoked to sneesynge / that other with the powder of Eleborus / or elles of pepper Also the sydes of the woman must be strekē downewarde with the handes / which thing helpeth greately and farthereth / and let the mydwyfe alway be very diligent prouidyng and seinge what shal be necessary for the woman / annoyntinge the priuities with oyle or other such grese as I spoke of before in this fasshion Take the oyle of whyte lyllies or duckes grese / with that temper two graynes wayghte of Safran and one grayne of muske / and with that oyntmente annoynte the secrete partes Yf this profet nothynge / then vse this suffumigation ¶ Take myrrhe / galbanum / castorium / let those be beten and make lyke pylles of them tempered to gether with bulles gaule / then take a dramme of this pylles / and put it
syde / so that nothyng appeare betwene the peces of lynnen in the myddes of them / but onely the clefte and ryfte of the wounde in the breadthe of a strawe / then this done / sowe these sydes of lynnen to gether close as before I bed you to sowe the skynne when they be thus stytched to gether / laye a lyttell lyquyd pytche vpon the seme and this done the lappes and sydes of the wond vnder the lynnen plaster wyll growe to gether agayne heale / theÌ„ may ye remoue your plasters ¶ Iâ—eÌ„ another way take camfely dryed / beate it to powder / also cummyn and cynamome both beaten to powder / ioyne all thre to gether / and strew of this powder into the wounde / and without faute it shall heale ¶ Of aborcementes or vntymelye byrthes and the causes of it and by what remedyes it maye be defended holpen eased ¶ Cap .viii. ABorcement or vntymely byrth is / when the woman is delyuered before due season before the frute be rype as in the iij.iiij or .v. monethe before the byrth haue lyfe and sometymes after it hath lyfe it is delyuered before it steare beynge by some chaunse dead in the mothers wombe Of the which thynge there be many and dyuers causes ¶ Fyrste sometymes the mouth of the matrice is so large and ample / that it can not coÌ„ueniently shytte it selfe to gether / nether contayne the feture or conceptioÌ„ / or it is corrupt and infect with such vicyous yll humours that it is so slyppery that the feture slyppeth and slydeth forth Also sometymes the matrice is apostumated sore / so that for payne it can not contayne the conception ¶ Item sometyme the cotilydons / that is the vaynes and synnues by the which the coÌ„ception and feature is tyed and fastened in the matrice through the which also the feature receaueth noryshment and fode be stopped with vyscous and yll humours / or elles swollen by inflation / so that they breake / by the whiche meanes the feature destitute of his wont noryshment peryssheth and dyeth / and that moste commonlye in the seconde or thyrde monethe after conception wherfore Hypocrates sayth All suche women whiche be impregnat or conceaued being of a meane state in her bodye / that is to saye / neyther to fat or grosse / ne to spare or leane yf it chanse anye suche to aborce in the seconde or thyrde moneth no other euident cause appearyng knowe ye for certayne that it ensueth for because the cotilydons be opplete / stopped / and stuffed with yll humours / be swollen and puffed therewith / that they breake / and so coÌ„sequeÌ„tly the feature dryeth for faute of fode ¶ Item aborcemente sometyme commeth by reason that some of the places about the matrice be deseased and greaued as yf intestinum rectum / whiche is called the fundament gutte be exulcerat / hauynge the pyles or hemorroides / or the vysyke or bladder be swollen or encombred with the stone / the strangurye / or other yll / in these cases thorough the greate labor and payne the which the partie hathe in endeuourynge and enforsynge her selfe other to stole or to make water / be engendred greate motions downewarde / by the whiche meanes manye tymes the cotylydons be enfringed and broken ¶ Also aborcement maye come of a disease called Tenasmus / the whiche is when one hath euer greate desyre and luste to the stole and yet can do nothynge / neuer the lesse the parties greately do enforce and payne them selfe to it / as Hypocrates sayth The pregnant woman which hath tenasmum / for the moste parte aborteth ¶ Item the coughe / yf it be greuous / causeth the same / and as the forenamed excelleÌ„t phisytiane sayth / such as are very spare and leane and brought lowe euermore lyghtlye dothe aborte / for because that as Auicenna wryteth all the meate and fode the whiche they receaue / turneth to the fode / noryshmeÌ„t / and restauration of theyr owne bodyes / and so is the conception destitute of fode / wherfore necessarily it dyeth ¶ Item this chanse also commeth by ouer muche bleadynge or yssuyng of the flowres / when they yssue immoderatly And so sayth Hypocrates Yf the woman yelde flowres after her conception / it can not be that the feature do longe proue / the which saying muste be vnderstande / yf they flowe vehementlye / or that the partie be weake and verye spare / or yf it be after the thyrde moneth / for it may be well that in the fyrst and seconde moneth flowres maye yssue / and yet no daunger / for as yet lyttell fode and noryshment satisfieth the conception ¶ Item to be let bloude / maye be the cause of aborcement as Hypocrates sayth whiche muste be vnderstande in suche as haue but lyttell store of bloud but such as haue great copie plentie of bloude maye without any parell yf any cause requyre it be let bloude / so that it be after the .iiij. moneth and before the .vii. Howe be it I wolde that none shold be let bloude / except some greate and vrgent cause dyd requyre it ¶ Item it maye come by takynge of some stronge purgation before the .iiij. monethe after the vii moneth / and yf it be so that any necessitie do so requyre that she muste nedes receaue a purgation / let it be done betwent the .iiij. and the .vij. moneth after the conception for then maye it be with lest parell / and se that the purgation be very gentell easy ¶ Also this maye come by reason of a continuall fluxe / be it bloudy or otherwyse / and spetially yf the woman be weake and spare / for by that meanes the conception is greately weakened and peryshed Item ouer much vomytynge may be cause of aborcement / for by ouer muche galpynge and reachynge vpwardes the cotilydons maye be broken / and so the feature to perysshe ¶ Item ouer muche famyne or hunger also sharpe and faruent syckenesse maye be the cause hereof / as the pestelence / apostume in the breste / the soden palsie / the fallynge syckenes c. Also ouer much dronkenesse excesse fedynge and surfetynge / by the which the byrthe is suffocat and strangeled in the bellye and the fode corrupte for lacke of due digestion IteÌ„ yf the byrthe be sycke by anye outwarde or inwarde cause / or yf the secondyne in the which the feature is contayned / do breake before his tyme and the humours and waterres of the same flowe and yssue forth / causeth the place to be slyppery / and so the byrth to slyde awaye vntymely / or yf the mother haue taken very greate colde / which maye sone chanse in the farre northe partes / or ouer greate heate / which weakeneth both mother and chylde And therfore ought women with chylde to eschue muche bathynge or goyng to the hote houses in theyr temyng for that maye do hurte
thre wayes / fyrst that it kenleth enflameth the ayre or brethe contayned in the body / and so styfleth the chylde and sometymes the mother to / secondly that it relaxeth / dissolueth / and loseth the cotylydōs / and so maketh the byrth to yssue forth / thyrdlye that the vtter hette of the bathe encreaseth the inwarde heate of the body / in so muche that the byrthe not beynge able to sustayne and abyde the heate naturallye procedeth for refrigeration colynge / but in the tyme or about the tyme of labor she may vse bathes / as I declared before for the redyar and more expedite delyueraunce ¶ Item the intemperancie and mutation of the ayre / and whether maye be cause of aborcemente / for as Hypocrates wrytteth / when so euer the wynter is hote moyst / the sprynge tyde after colde and drye / suche women in that sprynge tyde maye sone and of a lyghte cause haue aborcement / or yf they aborce not / yet they shall be delyuered with greate payne / and the byrthe shall be verye weake and syckelye / soo that it shall dye strayght / or yf it dye not by and by / it shall proue but verye slenderlye / the cause of the whiche thynge is this for when that suche wynterynge chaunseth / the hote and moyste whether heateth and moisteth the womans bodye / and by that the bodye is opened / vnloosed / and resolued / no lesse then thought she ware euery daye bathed / and vpon this when the sprynge tyde cometh / yf it be colde and drye fyndynge the body open and vnlosed after suche sorte / the colde entryth and percethe the bodye the soner and the more vehementlye / and the byrthe fealynge the soden colde and change of whether / pyneth awaye and dyethe in the mothers bellye / or anone after it is delyuered / or yf it lyue / it lykethe not / nor prouethe not / and greate payne shall it be to kepe lyfe in it ¶ Item aborcement maye happen by ouer muche stearynge of the bodye in laborynge / daunsynge / or leapynge or by some fall or thrust agaynst some wall / or beatynge / or by some sodayne anger / feare / dredde / sorowe / or some soden vnloked for ioye Thus haue I rehersed all the causes of the whiche most commonlye maye ensue aborcemente or vntymely byrth the which no doubte is muche more grefe and vayne to the womā then the verye naturall labor / for suche thynges as chaunse to man or woman contrarye to nature / or before nature doth require it / is farre greater grefe then the same happenyng and commynge in his due season Sygnes wherby ye may forsee aborcemēt When the woman shall labor before her tyme / these sygnes are wonte to go before Fyrste her brestes which before were hoole / sounde / and full / shall begyn to were lesse / to fall / and to flagge then euer for the moste parte aborcement foloweth But yf it be so that she go with two chyldrē at once / yf one of the brestes swage / whiche before was in good lykynge / the other remaynyng sounde and safe / then loke of what syde the brest is of / and the chylde of that syde is in parell / wherfore Hypocrates wryteth Yf the ryght breste slake or flagge / the masculyne or male byrth is in parel yf the left / the female byrth for because that for the most part whē there be two at once / the one is masculyne and the other femenyne / the man lyeth in the ryght syde / and the woman in the lefte ¶ Also an other sygne of aborcemente is / when the woman hath greate paynes dolours of the matrice / and that she begyn to wexe redde in the face / and all partes of her bodye to shake and tremble / as thoughe it ware in a feuer / or the palsye in the heade Item when she feleth greate ache in the ynner parte of the eyes towarde the braynes / the reste of the bodye taken as it were with a werynesse and languesshynge / these thynges portende and sygnifye aborcement to be at hande / spetiallye yf at the same tyme the flowres yssue also ¶ Item yf the womans body do swell and inflate with a certayne hardnesse or styfnesse and that she fele stytches and as it were ven tosyte or wynde runnynge frome one syde of the bodye to the other / and yet the belly not withstandynge / beynge nothynge the more ponderous or wayghtye / and that the same inflacion do persyst and continue any whyle the woman takynge and eatynge such thynges which haue vertue to discusse and vanqueshe ventosite wyndénesse this thynge I saye dothe betoken parell of aborcemente throughe ventosite and inflacion / and that chieflye aboute the thyrde or fourth moneth after the conception Now haue I sufficiently declared euident sufficient signes where by maye be prouyded and forsene the aborcement before it come / nowe wyll I shewe you the remedyes / whereby it maye be auerted and let ¶ The chiefe remedy to auoyde aborcemēt is to auoyde shun all such thynges which maye be cause of it / the whiche I haue competentlye entreated of alreadye but yf ye feare aborcement because that the mouth of the matrice be ouer ample and large / then muste ye vse such thynges / whose operation is to contrahe / constrayne / and brynge to gether as bathes / fumigations / oyntementes / plasters / odours / and suche lyke / of the whithe I spake before in the seuenthe chapter / and suche thynges the whyche represse and stynte the flowres flowynge ouer muche after the byrthe ¶ Agayne yf ye feare this parell / because the mouthe of the matrice is moist and flypperye / other because that the cotylydons be repleate and fulfylled with vyscous humours / and with inflations or ventosytees then maye ye defende it by vsynge of suche thynges / whose qualitees be to purifye / clense / exiccat / or drye / and to represse ventosytees ¶ Howe be it / in all this matter lette not to make some experte physytyan of youre counseill / yf ye maye haue suche one / for because that manye suche thynges come / and not all by one waye or meane ¶ And yf ye doubte parell / for because that the matrice or other places aboute be infected / exulcerated / or appostumat / or hauynge the stone or strangurye / and such other thynges / then aske / and vse the aduyse of some well learned medycyne / and he shall shewe you howe all thynges shall be recured ¶ Yf agayne ye feare aborcement / because the partye is very weake and lowe brought / then let her feade on such thinges the which moysten and norysshe well or fatten the bodye / as capon flesshe / kydde / lamme / younge veale / partrige / and suche other ¶ Agayne yf the womā be taken with any sharpe and fell decease / then let her
be cured of the same as shortelye as can be with such thynges the whiche appertayne to the curynge of suche desease / or yf she haue sustayned any longe famyne or hunger then lette her be fedde with good meates and drynkes moderatlye taken / and yf she haue surfeted by ouer muche eatynge and drynkynge as nowe a dayes moste commenlye people do then let her absteyne for a tyme / yf it maye be conuenientlye done / let her receaue some casy gentyll medicine / which may alleuiat and lyghten her of her surfetynge burthen ¶ Now yf it so be / that the womaÌ„ abounde in bloude / then shall it be very good a lyttell to let her bloude / bothe for her selfe and also for the byrthe / whiche throughe ouer muche adoundance of it myght happen to be suffocated and strangeled / of the which thynge also I haue spoken largely before ¶ Farthermore yf the woman feare aborcement / by reason of contynuad coughe / or ouer muche vomyte and perbrakynge / or the fluxe / or of the desease called tenasmus / or of ouer muche yssuynge of bloude / whether it be by the nose / or other partes of the bodye axe thaduyse of a physitiaÌ„ for remedy / yf for the fragilite / tendernes / and bracke / of the secondyne she feare this aborcemente / for because that in this case the secondyne shall not be able to holde and contayne the byrth / as for this / there is no other medicine to defende it / but onelye that the partie take hede that she hurte not her selfe by ouer much mouynge or stearynge / as by laborynge / daunsynge / runnynge / standynge / faste goynge / or caryenge of ponderous and weyghtye thynges / or leftynge of the same And to be short / let her with all warynesse take hede and be diligent that she exchue and abstayne frome all such thynges the which might cause and induce aborcement ¶ Of deade byrthes and by what sygnes or tokens it maye be knowen and by what meanes it maye also be expelled ¶ Cap .ix. IT shal be nowe conuenient for vs to speake of deade byrthes / howe it shall be knowen that they be deade / and howe they maye be expelled from the mother Sygnes then that the byrth is dead in the mothers wombe be these j. Fyrste yf the mothers brestes do sodenlye slake / as I touched before in the .viij. chapter .ij. Yf it moue it selfe no more beynge wont before to steare it selfe in Yf when the mother torneth her from the one syde on the other / she feale it fallynge froÌ„ the one syde to the other lyke a stone or aded wayght .iiij. Yf her bellye and nauell begyn to were colde / whiche before was wont to be temperatly hote v. Yf anye stynkynge fylthye humours flowe from the matrice / chieflye after some fell desease .vi. Yf the womans eyes wexe holowe / that her color change from whyte to swarte and dunne coloure / and that her eyes and nose wexe astoned / and haue not theyr ryght vse / and her lyppes wexe wan vij Yf benethe the nauell and aboute the secreate partes she feale greate thronge and payne / the colour of her face changynge into worsse and worsse / otherwyse then it was wonte to do .viij. Yf she haue appetyte to eate suche thynges / the whiche be agaynste nature / and not wonte to be eaten or dronken .ix. Yf she be in her slepe vexed with bayne dreames .x. Yf she be payned contynuallye with the strangurye / or that she enforce her selfe muche to the stole / and with all her power / and yet can not do any thing xi Yf her brethe begynne to stynke / the whyche thynge lyghtlye happeneth two or thre dayes after the byrthe be deade xij Yf her handes put in to verye warme water / and then layde on the womans bellye / and the chylde steare not / is a sygne that it is deade ¶ Of all these sygnes nowe the more that come to gether of theÌ„ at one tyme in one ê‘son / the surer may ye be that the byrth is ded the which being ones ded / all diligence must be had that it may be expelled out of the womans body but here must ye se agayne whether it maye be expelled / the mothers lyfe saued or no / for some tyme it chaunseth that the mother dyeth with all / and sometymes the mother dothe well and prospereth ¶ Whether the mother shall be in parell withall or no / by these thinges shal ye know yf the woman beynge in the labor sowne or fare as thoughe she ware in a transe / yf her remembraunce fayle her / and she waxe feable and scant able to mouÌ„e or steare herselfe / yf she called with a lowde voyce canne answere nothynge at all / or els very lyttell and that verye softelye / as thoughe her voyce began to fayle her yf she be inuaded or taken among in the laborynge with conuulsion or shrynkeling to gether if she refuse or can not broke meate / yf her pulces beate verye faste / the which sygnes when ye se in the woman laborynge it is an ruident tokeÌ„ that she shal not liue long after her byrth / wherfore coÌ„mit the cure of her to the handes of almyghtye god / but yf none of these sygnes do appeare / then haue good hope / for the woman shall do well / the byrthe beynge once departed wherfore geue all diligence to the expultion of it / that the woman maye be delyuered of this dead burthen the whiche thinge maye be done by two wayes / other by medicines expulsyue / or elles by certayne instrumentes made for the nonce ¶ Fyrste without instrumentes with this fumigation take other the houe or dunge of an asse / and put it on coles / and lette the woman receaue the fume vndernethe Another take the skynne of an adder / myrrhe / castoreum / brymstone / galbanum / oppoponacum / madder that the dyerres occupye / pygeons dunge / or hawkes dunge beate all these to powder / and temper them with oxe gall / and make pylles of it eche of the quantite of a fylbert nutte / and then put one after another in the coles / and receaue the fume thorowe a pype or conduyte made for that purpose in to the priuities ¶ Another take encense / oppoponacum / galbanum / brymstone / of eche lyke muche / beate them to gether and temper them with oxe galle / and make pylles of them / and then of the same make fumigations / as before ¶ A potion for the same purpose take asafetida halfe a dramÌ„ / of rue iij. dramÌ„s / of myrrhe .ij. dramÌ„s beate them to powder / and geue to the woman at eche tyme a dramÌ„ of this powder with whyte wyne / or with water in the which sauyne is soden ¶ Another take fygges / fenegreke / organnye / and sethe them in water the which gene vnto the woman
to drynke / for this drynke wyl engendre lubrycyte and slypperynesse in the nether partes / and vse also some of those thynges whiche haue vertue to prouoke the byrth / wherof we entreated before ¶ Item certayn pessaries or suppositaries concernynge the same take gumme armoniacke / oppoponacum / helleborus niger / staphisagre / aristolochia longa / colocynthis without his kernelles beate all these thynges to gether / temperyng them with oxe gall and also with the iuyce of fresshe rue / then make a pessarie of wollen / and annoynt and wet the pessarie with the same / conueynge it into the secreate places ¶ Item another make a pessarie of wolleÌ„ of the lengthe thyckenesse of a fynger / and do it in the iuyce of rue in the which is dissolued a quantitie of scammome / and do with that pessarie / as before ¶ Item take aristolochia rotunda / sauyne / garde cresses / of eche lyke muche / beate them to powder / and temper them with oxe gall with this annoynt a pessarie made and ordered as before is spoken of Item yf the woman drynke the mylke of another woman / it wyll steare and expell the byrth ¶ Item take of the iuyce of dyttayne or of the powder of the roote of the same herbe .ij. dramÌ„s / and geue the same to drynke to the woman with wyne / excepte she be in greate heate / for then shall ye geue it her with luke warme water / and this shall expell the dead byrth without any parell of the mother ¶ Item take of myrrhe .iiij. drammes / of cinamome / galbanum / castoriuÌ„ / of eche two drammes of oppoponacum one dramÌ„ all those beaten / and tempered to gether with oxe gall / make pylles of them / wayenge eche of them a dramÌ„ / and with the fume of those perfume the nether partes / by this vapoure the deade byrthe is broughte forthe / inflamation and suffocation of bloude is expelled ¶ Item take of water mynte / sothernwood / muggewort / of eche a handefull / of asphaltum halfe an ounce / of madder two ounces and an halfe / of camomell / barotum / fenegreke / of eche two ounces sethe all these thynges to gether in rayne water in the whyche lette the woman bathe her selfe / then take of hensgrece and duckes grece / of eche .iiij. dramÌ„s to the which adde two ounces of oyle of anues sede / with this oyntmeÌ„t annoynt the womaÌ„s head comminge out of the bath then take datestones beate them to powder a dramÌ„ and a halfe / with a scruple of safrane tempered to gether with whyt wyne the which let her immediatlye drynke after she come forthe of the bathe ¶ Item take oppoponacum / make there of a pessarye the quantitie of a fynger / conueye it into the priuities / this expelieth the dead byrth ¶ Item take of galbanum a dramÌ„ or some what lesse of gotes mylke an ounce and a halfe or two ounces in the which the galbanum beynge dissolued / geue it to the woman to drynke ¶ Item a plaster for the same take galbanum beaten and tempered with the iuyce of motherworte / and of this make a plaster by puttyng to of wexe a certayne quaÌ„tite / than take a lynnen cloth of suche length bredth that it maye couer all the belly vnder the nauel to the priuities froÌ„ one syde to the other / on this cloth spred this plaster of the thyckenesse of a strawe / and laye it to the bellye Item take the tryacle which is called diatessaron and geue of it to the woman for to drynke / and it wyll expell this dead byrth ¶ But yf all these medicines profette not / then muste be vsed more seuere and harde remedyes / with instrumentes / as hokes / tonges / and suche other thynges made for the nonce And fyrst the woman must be layde a longe vpryght / the myddell parte of her bodye lyeng hyer then all the reste / companyed of women assistynge her aboute to comforte her / and to keape her downe / that when the byrthe is plucked oute she ryse not withall Then let the mydwyfe annoynt her left haÌ„d with the oyle of whyte lyllyes or other that may make it sople and smouth and holding out her fyngers shytting to gether her hand let her put it to the matrice to feale and perceaue after what fasshion the dead byrth lyeth in the mothers wombe so that she maye the better putte in hokes and suche other instrumentes to plucke it out with all ¶ Yf it be so that it lye the head forewarde / then fasten a hoke other vpoÌ„ one of the eyes of it / or the rofe of the mouthe / or vnder the chyn / on one of the sholders / whiche of these partes shall seme moste commodious and handsome to take it oute bye / and the hoke fastened to drawe it oute verye tenderlye for hurtynge of the woman ¶ But yf it lye the fete forewarde / then fasten the hoke on the bone aboue the priuye partes / or by some ribbe / or some of the backe bones / or of the breste bones / and when this hoke is thus fastened / the midwyfe may not by and by drawe and plucke at it / but holdynge it in her lefte hande / lette her with her ryghte hande fasten another in some other parte of the byrthe ryght agaynste the fyrste / and then tenderlye let her drawe both to gether / so that the byrth may procede and come forthe on bothe sydes equallye / mouynge it from one syde to another / tyll ye haue gotteÌ„ out alto gether / and nowe and then to helpe it in the comming forth with the fore fynger well annoynted / if it chanse to stycke or to be let any where and as it commeth forthe / alwaye to remoue the hokes farther and farther on the dead byrthe ¶ Agayne yf it chanse that one of the handes onely of the byrth do appeare / that it can not conuenientlye be reduced returned vpwarde agayne / by reason of the narownesse of the place / then byndt it with a lynneÌ„ cloth / that it slyp not vp agayne / and then to plucke it outwarde / vntyll suche tyme that the hole arme be out and then with a sharpe knyfe cut it of from the body / and euen so do yf both handes appeare fyrste at once / or one legge or bothe / yf they can not be returned backe / to be otherwyse taken out conuenient lye / as ye cutte the arme frome the sholders / soo lykewyse cuttinge the legges frome the thyghes / for the which purpose the surgeoÌ„s haue meâ—e instrumentes made for the nonce with the which such legges and armes may sone be cut frome the bodye / these partes beynge once reseâ—te and cutte frome the bodye / then turne the teste / so that it maye easylye procede with as lyttell payne to the mother / as maye be ¶