A midwife is the most necessary and honourable office, being indeed a
helper of nature; which therefore makes it necessary for her to be well
acquainted with all the operations of nature in the work of generation,
and instruments with which she works. For she that knows not the
operations of nature, nor with what tool she works, must needs be at a
loss how to assist therein. And seeing the instruments of operation,
both in men and women, are those things by which mankind is produced, it
is very necessary that all midwives should be well acquainted with them,
that they may better understand their business, and assist nature, as
there shall be occasion.
The first thing then necessary as introductory to this treatise, is an
anatomical description of the several parts of generation both in men
and women; but as in the former part of this work I have treated at
large upon these subjects, being desirous to avoid tautology, I shall
not here repeat anything of what was then said, but refer the reader
thereto, as a necessary introduction to what follows. And though I shall
be necessitated to speak plainly so that I may be understood, yet I
shall do it with that modesty that none shall have need to blush unless
it be from something in themselves, rather than from what they shall
find here; having the motto of the royal garter for my defence, which
is:--"Honi soit qui mal y pense,"--"Evil be to him that evil thinks.
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