Working Life of Women in the Seventeenth Century

by Alice Clark

[622]. Sharp (Jane), The Midwives Book, p. 3.

[623]. S.P.D. 1630. Sign Manual Car. I., Vol. VII. No. 11.

[624]. Mrs. Shaw’s Innocency Restored. 1653.

[625]. Sharp, Mrs. Jane, The Midwives Book, or the whole Art of Midwifery discovered.

[626]. Sharp, Mrs. Jane, The Midwives Book, pp. 2-4.

[627]. Culpeper, Nich., Gent., Student in Physick and Astrologie, Directory for Midwives.

[628]. Chamberlain (Peter), A Voice in Rhama, or the Crie of Women and Children. 1646.

[629]. Cellier (Mrs.). A scheme for the foundation of a Royal Hospital, Harleian Miscellany, Vol. IV. pp. 142-147.

The scheme was well thought out, and some details from it may be given here as showing the aspirations of an able woman for the development of her profession. Mrs. Cellier proposed that the number of midwives admitted to the first rank should be limited to 1000, and that these should pay a fee of £5 on admittance and the like sum annually. All the midwives entering this first rank should be eligible for the position of Matron, or assistant to the Government.

Other midwives may be admitted to the second thousand on payment of half the above fees.