Wise. Why, often-times it is attended with Murder, with the murder of the Babe begotten on the defiled bed. How common it is for the Bastard-getter and Bastard-bearer, to consent together to murder their Children, will be better known at the day of Judgement; yet something is manifest now.
☞ I will tell you another story. An ancient man, one of mine acquaintance, a man of good credit in our Country, had a Mother that was a Midwife: who was mostly employed in laying great persons. To this woman's house, upon a time, comes a brave young Gallant on horseback, to fetch her to lay a young Lady. So she addresses herself to go with him; wherefore, he takes her up behind him, and away they ⟨p. 87⟩ride in the night. Now they had not rid far, but the Gentleman lit off his horse, and taking the old Midwife in his arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and then set her up again; then he got up, and away they went till they came at a stately house, into which he had her, and so into a Chamber where the young Lady was in her pa••s: He then bid the Midwife do her Office, and she demanded help, but he drew out his Sword and told her, if she did not make speed to do her Office without, she must look for nothing but death. Well, to be short, this old Midwife laid the young Lady, and a fine sweet. Babe she had; Now there was made in a Room hard by, a very great Fire: so the Gentleman took up the Babe, went and drew the coals from the stock, cast the Child in, and covered it up, and there was an end of that. So when the Midwife had done her work, he paid her well for her pains, but shut her up in a dark room all day, and when night came, took her up behind him again, and carried her away, ⟨p. 88⟩till she came almost at home; then he turned her round, and round, as he did before, and had her to her house, set her down, bid her Farewell, and away he went: And she could never tell who it was.
This Story the Midwifes son, who was a Minister, told me; and also protested that his mother told it him for a truth.
Wise. Why, often-times it is attended with Murder, with the murder of the Babe begotten on the defiled bed. How common it is for the Bastard-getter and Bastard-bearer, to consent together to murder their Children, will be better known at the day of Judgement; yet something is manifest now.
☞ I will tell you another story. An ancient man, one of mine acquaintance, a man of good credit in our Countrey, had a Mother that was a Midwise: who was mostly imployed in laying great persons. To this womans house, upon a time, comes a brave young Gallant on horseback, to fetch her to lay a young Lady. So she addresses herself to go with him; wherefore, he takes her up behind him, and away they ⟨p. 87⟩ride in the night. Now they had not rid far, but the Gentleman litt off his horse, and taking the old Midwife in his arms from the horse, turned round with her several times, and then set her up again; then he got up, and away they went till they came at a stately house, into which he had her, and so into a Chamber where the young Lady was in her pa••s: He then bid the Midwife do her Office, and she demanded help, but he drew out his Sword and told her, if she did not make speed to do her Office without, she must look for nothing but death. Well, to be short, this old Midwife laid the young Lady, and a fine sweet. Babe she had; Now there was made in a Room hard by, a very great Fire: so the Gentleman took up the Babe, went and drew the coals from the stock, cast the Child in, and covered it up, and there was an end of that. So when the Midwife had done her work, he paid her well for her pains, but shut her up in a dark room all day, and when night came, took her up behind him again, and carried her away, ⟨p. 88⟩till she came almost at home; then he turned her round, and round, as he did before, aud had her to her house, set her down, bid her Farewell, and away he went: And she could never tell who it was.
This Story the Midwifes son, who was a Minister, told me; and also protested that his mother told it him for a truth.
