the 
COMPLETE MASTER-PIECE 
OF 
Aristotle, 
THE 
FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER. 
DISPLAYING THE SECRETS OF NATURE IN THE 
FORMATION OF MAN. 
.&V IMPROVED EDITION, 
PRINTED 
FOR THE PURCHASER, 
4823. ARISTOTLE’S MASTER PIECE. 
PAST I. 
The Secrete of Nature displayed. 
INTRODUCTION. 
IT is strange to see how things are slighted on- 
ly because they are common, though in themselves 
worthy of the most serious consideration. This is 
the very case of the subject I am now treating of. 
What is mow common than the begetting of chil- 
dren? And what is more wonderful than the plastic 
power of nature, by which children are formed? 
For though there is radicated in the very nature 
of all creatures a propension which leads them to 
produce the image of themsc' res yet how these 
images are produced after those propensions arc 
satisfied, is only known to those who trace the se- 
cret meanders of nature in their private chambers, 
to those dark recesses of the womb, where this 
embryo receives formation. The original of which 
proceeds from the divine command, “increase and 
multiply.’’ The natural inclination and propensity 
of both sexns to each other, with the plastic power 
of nature, is only the energy of the first blessings, 
which to this day upholds the species of mankind 
in the world. 
Now since philosophy informs us, that Noscc 
teipsum is one of the first lessons a man ought to 
learn, it cannot surely be accounted an useles* 
piece of knowledge for a man to be acquainted 
with the cause of his own being, or by what secret 
power of nature it was, that coagulated milk (as a 
divine author calls it) came to be substantiated in to a human body. The explanation of this myste- 
ry, and the unfolding the plastic powef of nature, 
in the secret workings of generation, and the for- 
mation of the seed in the womb, is the subject of 
the following treatise; a subject so necessary to be 
known to the female sex, that many, for the 
of this knowledge, have perished, with the fruit of 
their womb; who, had they but understood the se- 
crets of generation, which are displayed in this 
treatise, might have been still living. For the sake 
of such I have compiled this work, which I have 
divided"into two parts, in the following manner: 
Ist. I will shewfthat nature need not be ashamed 
of her work; and give a particular description of 
the parts or organs of generation in man, and af- 
terwards in woman; and then to show the vise of 
these parts in the act of coition; and how positively 
nature has adapted them to the end for which she 
ordained them. 
ARISTOTLE S MASTER-PIECE. 
2dly. I will point put the prohibition or restric- 
tion that the Creator of all things and Lord of Na- 
ture has put upon man, by the institution of mar- 
riage, with the advantage it bungs to mankind. 
Sdly. I shall show when either sex may enter 
into a marriage state, and be fit to answer the end 
of the creation, &c. 
4thly. I shall discourse of virginity, and therein 
show what it is, how it is known, by what means it 
may be lost,and how a person may know thatitis so. 
In the second part, which chiefly relates to mar- 
ried women, and the preservation of the fruit of 
the womb, for the propagation of mankind to the 
world, I shall show. ' • 
Ist. What conception is; what is prerequisite 
thereunto; how a woman may know when she hath 
conceived; and whether a boy or a girl. 2dly. Show how a woman that has conceived 
pught to order herself. 
"dly. Show what a woman ought to do that is 
near the time of her delivery, and how she ought 
to be assisted. 
ARISTOTLE S MASTER-PIE*, £• 
4thly. I shall show what are the obstructions of 
conception, and therein discourse largely about 
barrenness, and show what are the causes and cure 
thereof, both in men and women. 
4thly. Direct midwives how they could assist 
women in the time of their lying in, bringing 
several other material matters proper to be spoken 
of under each of .hese several heads; which will 
sufficiently render this book what Aristotle design- 
ed it, his Comjitete Master-Piece. 
A particular Description of the Parts and Instruments or 
Generation, both in Men and Women. 
CHAPTER I. 
SECTION I. 
Of i/te Ihstrume?its of Generation in Men with a 
particular dc scrip lion thereof. 
THOUGH the instruments or parts of genera- 
tion in all creatures, with respect to their outward 
form, are not perhaps the most comely, yet iivcom- 
pensation of that, nature has put upon them a mere 
abundant and far greater honour than on other 
parts, in ordaining them to be the means by whioh 
every species of being is continued irom one. gen- 
eration to another. And therefore, though a man 
or woman were, through the bounty of nature, en- 
dowed with angelic countenances, and the most 
exact symmetry and proportion of parts, that con- 
curred together to the making up of the most per- 
fect, beauty, yet, if they were defective it* the in- struments of generation, they would not, for all 
their beauty, be acceptable to either of the other 
sex; because they would be thereby rendered in- 
capable of satisfying the natural pvopensions which 
every one finds in himself. And, therefore, since 
it is but our duty to be acquainted with ourselves, 
and to search out the wonders of God in nature, I 
need not make any apology for anatomizing the 
secret parts of generation. 
The organ of generation in man, nature has 
placed obvious to the sight, and is called the yard, 
and because hanging without the belly, is called 
the penis, a pendendo. It is in form long, round, 
and on the upper side flattish. and consists of skin, 
tendons, veins, arteries and sinews, being seated 
under the ossa pubis, and ordained by nature for a 
iwo-fold work, viz. for the evacuating of urine, and 
conveying the seed into the matrix. The urine 
which it evacuates is brought toil through the 
neck of the vesica urinaria, and the seed which it 
conveys into the matrix, is brought into i from 
the vasicula seminales. But to be more particular. 
Besides the common parts, as the cuticle, the 
skin, and the memhrana carnosa, it has several 
parts proper to it, of which number there are se- ; 
ven, viz. 
The two nervous bodies; the sceptum; the 
urethra; the glands; the muscles; and the vessel; 
of each of these distinctly in the order I 
them, and first, of 
The two nervous bodies. These are called so 
from their being surrounded with a thick, white, 
nervous raembrance,though their inward substance 
is spongy, as consisting principally of veins, ar- 
teries, and nervous fibres, interwoven like a net. 
And nature has so ordered it, that when the nerves 
AnfSTOTLE's MASTER-PIECE. are filled with animal spirits, and the arteries with 
hot and spirituous blood, then the yard is distended 
and becomes erect; when the flux of the spirit 
ceases, when the blood and the remaining spirits 
are absorbed, or sucked up by the veins, and so the 
penis, becomes limber and flaggy. 
2. The second internal part is the Steptum Lu- 
cidum, and this is in substance white and nervous, 
or sinewy; and its office is to uphold the two.lateral 
or side ligaments and the urethra. 
3, The third is the Urethra, which is only the 
channel by which both the seed and the urine are 
conveyed out; it is in substance soft and loose, thick 
and sinewy, like that of the side ligaments. It be- 
gins at the neck of the bladder, but spring not from 
thence, only is joined to it, and so proceeds to the 
glands.. It has three holes in the beginning, the 
largest whereof is in the midst, which receives the 
urine into it. The other two are smaller, receiving 
the seed from each seminal vessel. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
7 
4. The fourth is the Glands, which is«tthe end 
of the penis, covered with a very thin membrane, 
by reason of a prseputium, or foreskin, which in 
some cbvers the top of the yard quite close, in 
others not; and by its moving uf> and'clown in the 
act of copulation, brings pleasure both to the man 
and woman. The extreme part of this cover, which 
I call proeputlum, and which is so called praeputan- 
do, from cutting off, as the Jews were commanded 
to cut off on the eighth day. The ligament by 
which it is fastened to the glands is called frsenum, 
or the bridle. 
5. The fifth thing is the Muscles, and these are 
four in number, two being placed on each side. 
These muscles (which are instruments of volunta- 
ry motion; and without which no part of the body 8 
can move itself; consists f fibrous flesh to make 
up thei. b>dy; of nerves for the sense; of veins for 
their vital heat; and of a membrane or skin to knit 
them together, and to distinguish one muscle from 
the other, and all of them from the flesh. I have 
already said there are two of them on each side; 
and now I will add, that one on each side is shorter 
and thicker, and that their use is to erect the yard, 
from whence they have obtained the name of erec- 
tors, and having told you that two of them are 
thicker and shorter than the other, I need not tell 
you that the other two are longer and thiner; only 
I lake notice, that the office of the two last is to 
dilate (if you will) open the lower part of the. 
urethra, both for making water, and voiding the 
seed, and therefore are called accelerators. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
6. The sixth and last things are the vessels, 
which consist of Veins, Nerves, and Arteries, of 
which some pass by the skin, and are visible to the 
eye, and others pass more inwardly. For indeed 
the arteries are dispersed through the body of the 
yard, much more than the veins, and the disper- 
sion is contrawise, the right artery being dispersed 
to the left side, and the left to the right; as for the 
two nerves, the greater is bestowed upon the mus- 
cles and the body of the yard, and the less upon 
the skin. 
What I have hitherto said, relates to the yard, 
properly so called; but, because there are some 
appendicesbelonging thereto,which, when wanted, 
render the yard of no use in the act of generation; 
it will also be necessary before I conclude the sec- 
tion, to say something of theim I mean the stones, 
or testicles, so called, because they testify the 
person to be a man; their number and places is 
obvious; and as to tjieir pse, ip them the blood brought thither by the spermaticce arteries is ela- 
borated into seed. They have coats or coverings 
oftwosorts, proper and common; the common are 
two, and invest both the tests; the outermost of the 
common coats consist of thecutacula. or true skin, 
called scrotum, hanging out of the abdomen like a 
purse; the membranacarnosa, is in the innermost. 
The proper coats are also two; the outer, called 
eiithroidus or vaginalies; the inner, albugiena; im 
to the outer are inserted the cremassers; tojhe up- 
per part of the testis are fixed the epidermis, or 
parastratce, from whence arise the vasa deferentia, 
or ejaculatonia; which, when they approach near 
the neck of the bladder, depbsite the seed into the 
sicule seminales, which are each, or two or three 
of them, like a bunch of grapes, and emit the seed 
into the urethra, in the act of copulation. Near 
those are the pnrastate, which are about the big- 
ness of a walnut, and join to the neck of the blad- 
der, These offord an oily, slippery, and salt hu- 
mour, to besmear the urethra, and thereby defend 
it from the acrimony of the seed and urine. Be- 
sides these vessels, by which the blood is convey- 
ed to the testes, or of which the seed is made, and 
the arterie spermatice, there are also two; and so 
likewise are the veins, which, carry out the remain- 
ing blood, which are called vene spermatice. 
And thus those nobler parts we see; 
For such the parts of generation be; 
And those w7ho carefully survey will find 
Each part is fitted for the use design’d. 
The purest blopd wfe find, if well we heed, 
Is in the testicles turn’d into seed; 
Which by th’ most proper channels is transmitted 
Into the place by nature for it fitted; 
With highest sense of pleasure to excite 
aristotle*s master-pieoe. 
9 10 
In amorous combatants the more delight; 
For in this work nature doth design, 
Profit and pleasure in one act to join. 
Aristotle’s master-piecS. 
SECTION 11. 
Of the Secret Parts in Women. 
WOMAN, next to man, the noblest piece of 
this creation, is bone of his bone and flesh of 
flesh, a sort of second self; and, in a married state, 
are accounted but one, as the poet says, 
Man and wife are but one right 
Canonical hermaphrodite. 
It is, therefore, the secret parts of that curious 
piece of nature that we are to lay open, which we 
will do with as much modesty as will consist with 
speaking intelligibly. 
The external parts commonly called pudenda, 
(from the shamel'acedness that is in women to have 
them seen,) are the Ups of the great orifice, which 
are visible to the eye; and in those that are grown, 
are covered with hair, and have pretty store of 
spongy fat; their use being to keep the internal 
parts from all annoyance by outward accidents. 
Within these are the nymphe, or wings, which 
presen' themselves to the eye when the lips are 
severed, and consists of soft and spongy flesh, and 
the doubling of the skin placed at the sides of the 
neck, they compass the clitoris, and both in form 
and colour resemble the comb of a cock, looking 
fresh and red, and in the act of coition receive the 
penis 01 yard betwixt them; besides which they 
give passage both to the birth ancl urine. The use 
of the wings and knobs like myrtle berries, shut- 
ting the orifice and neck of the bladder, and by the 
swelling up, cause tiiillation and delight in those paPlSj and also to obstruct the voluntary passage of 
the urine. 
ARISTOTLE S MASTER-PIECE. 
11 
The next thing is the clitoris, which is a sinewy 
and hard part of the womb, replete with spongy 
and black matter within* in the same manner as the 
side ligaments of the yard; suffers erection and fal- 
ling in the same manner, and both stirs up lust and 
gives delight in copulation: for without this, the 
fair sex .neither desire nuptial embraces, nor have 
pleasure in them, nor conceive by them; and ac- 
cording to the greatness or smallness of this part* 
they are more or less fond of men’s embraces; so 
that it may properly be styled the seat ot lust. 
Blowing the coals of those amorous fires, 
Which youth and beauty, to be quench’d, desires. 
And it may well be styled so, for it is like a yard 
id situation, substance, composition, and erection, 
growing out of the body two inches, but that hap- 
pens not upon some extraordinary accident. It 
consists, as I have said, of two spongy and skinny 
bodies, which being a distinct original, from the 
os pubis, the head of it being covered with a ten- 
der skin, having a hole like the yard of a man, but 
not through, in which, and the bigness of it, only 
differs. 
The next thing is the passage of the urine, 
which is under the clitoris, and above the neck of 
the womb, so that the urine of a woman comes not 
through the neck of the womb, neither is the*pas- 
sage common as in men, but particular, and by it- 
self. This passage opens itself into the fissure to 
evacuate the urine; from the securing of which 
from cold, or another inconveniency, there is one 
of the four carbuncles, or fleshy knobs, placed be- 
fore it, which shuts up the passage. For these 
knobsy which are in number four, and in resem- blance like myrtle berries are behind the 
wings before spoken of, quudrangularly, one 
against the other. These are round in virgins, but 
hang flagging when virginity is lost: ’Tis the up 
permost of these that nature hath placed for se- 
curing tidy urinary passage from cold, and which 
is therefore largest and forked for that end , 
The lips of the worn!} that next appear, cover 
the.neck thereof, but being separated, disclose it; 
and then two things are to be observed, and these 
are the neck itself, and the hymen, more properly 
called the claustrum virginale, which I shall treat 
more at large when I come to show what virginity 
is. The neck of the womb, I call the channel, is 
between the forementioned knobs and the inner 
bone of the womb, which receives the man’s yard 
like a sheath; and that it may be dilated with the 
more ease and pleasure in the act of coition, it is 
sinewy and a little spongy; and there being in this 
concavity divers folds or orbicular plates made by 
tunicles, which are wrinkled, it forms an expanded 
rose that may be seen in virgins; but in those that 
have used copulation, it becomes by degrees to be 
extinguished; so that the inner side of the neck of 
the womb appears smooth, and in old women it 
becomes more hard and grisly. But though this 
channel be sinking down, wreathed, and crooked, 
yet it in the time of copulation; as al» 
so when women are under the monthly purgation 
or in labour, being then very much extended which 
is a great cause of their pains. 
The claustrum virginale, commonly called the 
hymen* is that which closes in the neck of the 
womb; for between the duplicity of the two tuni- 
cles which constitute the neck of the womb, there 
are many veins and arteries running along, that arise from the vessels of both sides of the thighs, 
and so pass into the neck of the womb, being very 
iarge: and the reason thereof is, because the neck''' 
of the womb requires to be filled with abundance 
of spirits to be dilated thereby, that it may the bet- 
ter take hold of the penis, such emotions requiring 
great heat, which being more intent by the act of 
friction, consumes a great deal of moisture, in the 
supplying of which large vessels are very necessa- 
ry: hence it is that the neck of the womb in women 
of reasonable stature, is eight inches in length.— 
But there is also another cause of the largeness of 
these vessels, because their monthly purgations 
make their way through them: and for this reason, 
women though with child, often continue them: 
for though the womb be shut up, yet the passage 
in the neck of the womb, through which these ves- 
sels pass, is open. And therefore, as soon as you 
penetrate the pudendum, there may be seen twro 
little pits or holes, and in which are contained an 
humour, which by being pressed out in the time 
of coition, does greatly delight the fair sex. 
I shall, in the next place, proceed to a descrip- 
tion of the womb, which is the field of generation, 
without which nothing can be done. The parts we 
have been speaking of being ordained by nature to 
convey the seed to the womb, whick being im- 
pregnated therewith, by virtue of the power of ma- 
gi.c nature, produces its own likeness. 
T.he womb is situated in the lower parts of the 
hypogastrion,being joined to its neck, and is placed 
between the bladder and the strait gut, so that it 
is kept from swaying or rolling, yet hath its liberty 
to stretch and dilate itself, as nature in that case 
disposes it. It is of a round figure, somewhat like 
* gourdflessening and growing more acute to- wards one end, being knit together by its proper 
ligaments, and its neck joined by its own substance, 
and certain membranes that fasten it to the os sa- 
crum and the share bone. It is very different in 
respect to its largeness in women, especially be- 
tween those that have had children, and those that 
have had none. It is so thick in substance that it 
exceeds a thumb’s breadth, and after 
augments to a greater proportion,and to strengthen 
it yet more, it is interwoven with fibres overth warty 
both straight and winding, and its proper vessels 
are veins, arteries, and nerves, among which there!' 
are two little veins which pass from the spermaticr 
vessels, to the bottom of the womb, and two bigger 
from the hyjpogastrics, touching both the bottom 
and neck, the mouth of these veins piercing so far 
as the inward concavity. 
The womb, besides what I have already inert1 
tioned, hath two arteries on both sides the sperma- 
tic vessels and the hypogastrics, which still accom- 
pany the veins, with sundry little nerves, knit and 
interwoven in the form of a net, which are also ex- 
tended throughout, even from the bottom of the 
pudenda themselves, being so placed chiefly for 
the sense of pleasure, sympathetically moving from 
the head and womb. 
14 
ARISTOTLE'S MASTER-PIECE. 
Here the reader ought to observe, that two liga- 
ments hanging on either side of the womb from the 
share-bone, piercing through the peritoneum, and 
joining to the bone itself, causes the womb to be 
moveable, which upon divers occasions either falls 
low or rises; the neck of the womb is of a most 
exquisite sense, so that if it he any time disordered, 
either with a scitrosfty, too much hot moisture, or 
relaxation, the womb is subject to barrenness. In 
those that are near their delivery there usually stays a most glutinous matter in the entrance, to 
facilitate the birth, for at that time the mouth of 
the womb is opened to a wideness in proportion to 
the bigness of the child. 
Under the parts belonging to generation in wo- 
men. are also comprehended the preparatory or 
spermatic vessels; the preparatory vessels differ 
not in number from those in man, for they are 
likewise four, two vessels and two arteries; their 
rise and original is the same as in man; on the side 
of them are two arteries which grow from them, 
differing only in their size and manner of insertion, 
the right vein issuing from the trunk of the hol- 
low vein, and the left from the emulgent vein; and 
on the side of them are two arteries which grow 
from the areata. These preparatory vessels are 
shorter in women than in men, because they have 
a shorter passage, the stones of a woman lying 
within the belly; but those of a man without; but 
to make amends for their shortness, they have far 
more writhings to and fro, in and out, than they 
have in men, that so the substance they carry may 
be the better prepared; neither are they united as 
they are in men, before they come to the stones, 
but are divided into two brar-ches, whereof the 
greater only passeth to the stones, but the lesser 
to the fecundated egg, and this is properly called 
conception. And then secondly, to cherish and 
nourish it, till nature has framed the child, and 
brought it to perfection. Thirdly it strongly oper- 
ates in sending forth the birth, when its appointed 
time is accomplished, there dilating itself in an 
extraordinary manner, and so aptly removed from 
the sense.«i'.at no injury accrues to it from thence, 
retaining itself a strength and power to operate 
and cast forth the birth. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
15 The use of the preparatory vessels is to convey tftr 
blood to the testicles, of which a part is spent in the 
nourishment of them, and the production of these 
little bladders in all things resembling eggs,through 
which the vasa preparantia run, and are obliterated 
in them.This conveyance of blood is by the arteries, 
but as for the veins,the.ir office is to bring back what 
blood remains for the forementioned use. 
The testicles in women are very useful, for where 
they are defective,generation work is quite spoiled, 
for though those little bladders which are on their 
putward superficies contain nothing of seed, as the 
followers of Galen, &c. erroneously imagine, yet 
they contain several eggs (about the number of 20 
in each testicle) one of which being impregnated by 
the most spirituous part of man’s seed in the act of 
coition, descends through the oviducts into the 
WOmb, where it is cherished till it becomes a live 
child. The figure of these ova or eggs, is not alto- 
gether round, but a little flat and depressed on the 
sides, and in their lower part oval; but where the 
blood vessels enter them, that is, on the upper part, 
they are more plain, having but one membrane a- 
boptthem that the heat may have more easy access 
to the womb, both to the nourishment of itself and 
the infant therein. Let me further add, these sper- 
matic veins receive the arteries as they pass by the 
side of the womb, and thereby make a mixture of 
the vital and natural blood, their work be more 
perfect. The deferentia, or Awrying vessels spring 
from the lower part of the stones, and are in colour 
white, substance sinewy, and pass not to the womb 
straight, but wreathed; they proceed from the womb 
in two pans, resembling horns, whence they are 
called the horns of the womb. 
16 
akistotle’s master-piece. The stones of women are another part belonging 
to the instructs.’ . s of generation; for such things 
they also have as well as men, but they are also 
differently place r, neither is their bigness, tem- 
perament, substance, form or covering the same. 
As to their place, it is the hollowness of the abdo- 
men, resting upon the muscles of the loins, and not 
so pendulous as in man. And that they are so 
placed is, that by contracting the heat they may be 
the more fruitful, their office being to contain the 
ovanapr egg which being impregnated by the seed 
of the man, is that from which the embryo is en- 
gendered. These stones differ also from men’s in 
their form; for though they are smooth in men, 
they are uneven in women} being so depressed or 
flatlish in them, though in men their form is more 
round and oval. They have also in women but one 
skin,whereas in men they have four, nature having 
wisely contrived to fortify those most against the 
injuries of the air that are most exposed to it; the 
stones of women being within, but those of men 
without the belly. They differ also in their sub- 
stance, being much more soft than those of men, 
and not so well compacted; their bigness and tem- 
perature differ ir that they are less and colder than 
those of men. Some indeed will have their use to 
be the same as men, but that is for want of judg- 
ment; for Aristotle and Scotus both affirm, that 
the women have no seed, and that their stones dif- 
fer also in their use from those of men; their use 
being, as I have already said, to contain that egg 
which is to be impregnated by the seed of the man. 
It now remains that I say something of the eja- 
culatory vessels, which have two obscure passages, 
One on either side, which in substance differ nothing 
from the spermatic veins. They rise in one part 
Aristotle’s masteu-piece. 18 
from the bottom of the womb, but not reaching 
from the other extremity, either to the stones or 
any other part, shut up and incapable, adhering to 
the womb, as the colon doth to the blind gut, and 
winding half way about; though the stones are re- 
mote from them, and touch them not, yet they are 
tied Lo them by certain mewbranes resembling the 
wings of a bat, through which certain veins and 
arteries passing from the end of the stones, may 
be said here to have their passages, proceeding 
from the corners of the womb to the testicles, and 
are accounted the proper ligaments by which the 
testicles and womb are united and strongly knit 
together. 
AniSTOTLE’y MASTER-PIECE. 
Thus the women’s secrets I have survey’d. 
And let them see how curiously they’re made; 
And that, though they of different sexes be, 
Yet, on the whole they are the same as we; 
For those that have the strictest searchers been, 
Find women are but men turn’d outside in; 
And men, if they but cast their eyes about, 
May fXid they’re women with their inside out. 
SECTION 111. 
Of the use and action of the several parts in Women 
appropriated to Generation. 
SHALL next take a survey of the parts of ge- 
neration, both in men and women, and show the 
use and action of these parts in the work of gene- 
ration, which will excellently inform us that na- 
ture has made nothing in vain. 
The external parts in women’s privities, or that 
which is most obvious to the eye.at first, commonly 
called pudendum, are designedly nature to cover 
the great orifice, nature intending (hat orifice to 
receive the penis or yard in the act of coition, and also to give passage to the urine, and at the time 
of birth, to the child. The use of the wings or 
knobs, like myrtle berries, are for the security of 
the internal part, by shutting up the orifice and 
neck of the bladder, also for delight and pleasure; 
for by their swelling up, they cause titilation and 
delight in those parts, being pressed by the man’s 
yard. Their use is likewise to obstruct the in- 
voluntary passage of the urine 
The use and action of the clitoris in women, is 
like that of the penis or yard in men, that is, erec- 
ting its extreme end, being like that of the glands 
in men, the seat of the greatest pleasure in the act 
of copulation, so is this of the clitoris in women, 
and therefore called the sweetness of love, and the 
fury of venery. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
19 
The action and use of the neck of the womb is 
the same with that of the penis, that is erection, 
which is occasioned sundry ways; first, in copula- 
tion it is erected and made straight for the passage 
of the penis to the womb. Secondly, while the 
passage is replete with the spirit and vital blood, it 
becomes more straight for embracing the penis. 
And for the necessity of erection there is a two- 
fold reason; one is, that if the neck of the womb 
was not erected, the yard could have no convenient 
passage to the womb; the other is, that it hinders 
any hurt or damage that might ensue through the 
violent concussion of the yard during the time of 
copulation. 
Then, as to the vessels that pass through the 
neck of the womb, their office is to replenish it 
with blood and spirits, that so as the moisture con- 
sumes through the heat contracted in copulation, 
it may still by these vessels be renewed. But their 
chief business is to convey nutriment to the womb* 20 
Thus nature nothing does in vain produce, 
But fits each part for what’s its proper use; 
And though of different sexes form’d we be, 
Yet between these there is that unity, 
That we in nothing can a greater find, 
Unless the soul, that’s to the body join’d; 
And sure in this dame nature’s in the right, 
The strictest union yields the most delight. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
CHAPTER 11. 
Of the Restriction laid upon men in the use of carnal 
copulation, by /he institution of Marriage, with 
the advantage that it brings to mankind, and the 
proper time for it. 
THOUGH the great Architect of the world has 
been pleased to frame us of different sexes, and for 
the propagation and continuation of mankind has 
indulged us in the mutual embraces of each other, 
the desires whereof, by a powerful and secret in- 
stinct is become natural to us, yet he would leave 
them to the law of the Creator, who has ordained 
that every man shall have his own wife; and though 
since man, by sinning against his Creator hath 
fallen from his primitive purity,and has multiplied 
wives and concubines, by which the first institution 
is violated, and the grossest affront given to the Di- 
vine Law-giver, for the Holy Jesus hath told us, 
that in the beginning, marriage was of one man 
to one woman: so that as the conjugal delights 
cannot be enjoyed but in a married state, so neither 
in that state can they lawfully be participated of 
with more than one wife. And it is the breaking 
of this-order that has filled the world with confu- 
sion and debauchery; has brought diseases on the 
body, consumption on estates, and eternal ruift (o tne soul, if not repented of. Let all those, there- 
fore, of either sex, that have a desire to enjoy the 
delights of mutual embraces, take care that they 
do it in a marriage state, with their own wives or 
husbands, or else it will become a curse to them, 
instead of a blessing; and to that end let them con- 
sider what is due to the transgressors of his law, 
who hath said—Though shalt not commit adul- 
tery.” Whatever is spoken of the venereal plea- 
sures, is spoken to those who have, or may have, 
a right thereunto by being in a married state, for 
Who to forbidden pleasures are inclin’d, 
Will find at last they leave a sting behind. 
ARISTOTLES MASTER-PIECE. 
2 i 
Of the Hafifiinees of the Married State. 
SECTION I. 
Matrimony, in the present age, is looked upon 
as the most insupportable yoke; wives and husbands 
are account the greatest clogs and burthens to those 
who give up the reins to their unbridled appetites. 
Notwithstanding the present mode of thinking is 
against me, I doubt not of making it appear, that 
a married state is the most happy condition (where 
persons are equally yoked) that is to be enjoyed on 
this side ol heaven. 
The author and institutor of marriage, and who 
first brought man and women together, w£s no 
other than he that made them, even the great Lord 
of the universe, whose wisdom being infinite, could 
not but know what condition was good lor us; and 
his goodness being equal to his wisdom, sufficient- 
ly shows the end of this institution was the happi- 
ness of the creature he- had made, and indeed man 
could not be happy without it; for he saw that it 
was not good that man should be alone, and there- fore made a woman to complete his happiness, 
which was not perfect whilst he wanted such a 
helpmate for him. 
The time of the institution is also very remaka- 
ble, for it was whilst Adam and his new made 
bride were clothed with all that virgin puriety and 
innocence with which they were created, before 
they had entertained the least converse with the 
tempter,or had given way to one discorded thought; 
and yet could curiously survey the several incom- 
parable beauties and perfections of each other 
without sin, and knew not what it was to lust. It 
was at this time that the Creator united Adam in 
the holy bands of wedlock. 
'A a iiiu i S MASTER-PIECE 
’Twas in paradise where the first match was 
made, and which could scarcely have been paradise 
without it* for paradise is known to be a place of 
pleasure, wherein they were surrounded with the 
quintessence of all delights; where there was no- 
thing wanting that might please the eye, charm 
the ear, or gratify the tase, and yet Adam was not 
happy with these pleasing sweets, ’till he enjoyed 
his Eve; so that it was a married state which com- 
pleted his happiness, and which was a paradise of 
pleasure itself. 
What an addition to happiness a good wife 
makes? Such a one is the best companion in pros- 
perity, and in adversity the surest friend! the 
greatest assistance in business, the only lawful and 
comfortable means by which he can have issue, 
and the great remedy against incontinence; and it 
we btdieve king Solomon, the greatest honour un- 
to him that has her; for he tells us she is a crown 
to her husband! Surely these are not small advan- 
tages. 
If married persons would be careful to do their respective duties, there would be but little com- 
plaining; nor would any condition in life be so 
agreeable as the married state. How much more 
Satisfaction a man receives in the embraces of a 
loving wife, than in the wanton dalliances of a de- 
ceitful harlot. 
AIUSTOTLE’s MASTERPIECE. 
s: 
Thus does this section unto all relate. 
The pleasure that attend a married state; 
And shows it does with innocence consist, 
And that so many have those pleasures miss’d'; 
’Tis their own fault, they will no wiser be, 
As in this mirror they may plainly see. 
SECTION 11. 
Jl( nohat age young men and virgins are cafiable of 
carnal copulation, and why they so much desire it. 
I shall, in the present section, make it my busi- 
ness to show at what age young men and virgins 
are capable of the marriage bed, which because so 
many desire before they attain to it, it will like- 
wise be necessary to show the cause of their im- 
petuous desires. 
The inclination of virgins to marriage is to be 
known by many symptoms; for when they arrive at 
ripe age, which is about fourteen or fifteen, their 
natural purgation begin to flow; and then the blood, 
which no longer serves for the increase of their 
bodies, does, by its abounding, stir up their minds 
to venery; to which also external causes may in- 
cite them; for their spirits are brisk and inflamed 
when they arrive at this age, and their bodies are 
often more heated by their eating sharp and salt 
things, and by spices, by which their desire of 
veneral embraces become very great, and at some 
critical juncture almost insupportable- The use of those so much desired enjoyments being denied 
to virgins, is often followed by very dangerous 
and sometimes dismal consequences, precipitating 
them into those follies that may bring an indelible 
stain on their families, or bring on them the green 
sickness, or other diseases. But when they are 
married, and those desires satisfied by their hus- 
bands, these distempers vanish, and their beauty 
returns more gay and lively than before. And this 
strong inclination of theirs may be known by their 
eager gazing at men, and affecting their company 
which sufficiently demonstrates that nature elites 
them to desire coition. Nor is this the case with 
virgins only, but the same may be observed in 
young widows, who cannot be satisfied without 
that due benevolence which they were wont to re- 
ceive from their husbands. 
At fourteen years of age, commonly, the menses 
begin to flow in virgins; at which time they are ca- 
pable of conceiving, and therefore fit for mamage, 
though it would be much better both for themselves 
and their children, if they would not mtarry till 
eighteen or twenty; if they are healthy, of strong 
body, and use themselves to temperance, they may 
continue bearing till upwards of fifty, though gen- 
erally they leave off between forty and fifty; for the 
menses flow longer in some than in others; but 
when they cease, they cease bearing: And there- 
fore Sarah bearing Isaac after it had ceased to be 
with her according to the custom of women, may 
be well termed miraculous. 
As for male youth, when they arrive at 16, or 
between that and 17, having much vital strength, 
they may be capable of getting children; which 
ability, be force and heat of procreating matter, 
constantly increases till 45, 56,65, and then begins to flag, the seed by degrees becoming unfruitful, 
the natural spirits being extinguished and the heat 
dried op. Thus it is with them for the most part, 
but many times it falls out otherwise in particular 
instances; as once in Sweden a mart was married at 
100 years old to a bride of 30, and had many chil- 
dren by her; but he was a man of so hale a consti- 
tution, and carried his age so well, that strangers 
would not have guessed him at above 60. And in 
Campania, where the air is clear and temperate, it 
is usual for men of 80 years of age to marry young 
virgins, and have children by them; which shows 
that age in man hinders not procreation, unless 
they be exhausted in their youth, and their yards 
shrivelled up. 
If any ask why a woman is sooner barren than 
a man?—let such know that the natural heat, which 
is the cause of generation, is more predominant in 
men than women: for the monthly purgations of 
women show them to be more moist than men, and 
so does also the softness of their bodies; and the 
man exceeding her in native heat, concocts the 
humours into proper aliments, by the benefit 
whereof tbey->are elaborated into seed; but women, 
though of a finer make, yet, not being so strong as 
men, their faculties are thereby hindered in their 
operation. 
Thus nature to her children is so kind, 
That early they those inclinations find, 
Which prompts them on to propagate the kind, 
Hence ’tis a virgin her desires can’t smother, 
But restless is, ’till she be made a mother. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
Of^Virginity, what it is, how it may be known, by 
what means it may be lost,and how a person may 
know that it is so. 
CHAPTER 111.  AHISTOTLe’s MASTER-PlEcfc 
SECTION I. 
Of Virginity, und wherein it consists, 
HAVING treated of the desire young men an'd 
virgins have to mutual embraces, and at what age 
they are fit for them; I have also shewn that these 
pleasures are only lawful to be enjoyed in a mar- 
ried state; and have also acquainted the reader 
with the advantage of such a condition. But since 
the desires of many after mutual embraces are so 
impetuous, that, not haying an opportunity to en- 
ter into the married state, they have anticipated 
the pleasures of matrimony, and lost their virginity 
before hand, and yet, perhaps, have afterwards pre- 
tended to bring their virginity to a marriage bed, 
by which means many an honest man has been de- 
ceived, and meretricious woman escaped with im- 
punity. And, on the other hand, some virtuous 
young virgins, that have come such to their hus- 
bands’ beds, have been accused by the ignorance 
and credulity of their husbands, to have lost their 
virginity beforehand, when there has been no such 
matter; therefore to do right in this case to both 
parties, my design in this chapter is to shew what 
virginity is, and wherein it consists; how many 
ways it may be lost, and how a man may know that 
it is so or not; so that woman may not be wrong- 
fully censured, or men imposed upon. 
Virginity untouched and taintless, Is the boast 
and pride of the fair sex; but they generally com- 
mend it to put it off; for as good as it is, they care 
not how soon they are honestly rid of it. And I 
think that they are in the right of it, for if kept it 
grows useless, or at least loses so much of its value; a 
stale virgin (if such a thing there be) being looked 
upon like an old almanac out of date. But to speak to the purpose, virginity is the chief, the prime, 
the best of any thing, and is properly the integrity 
of a woman’s privities, noc violated by man, or not 
known by him; it being the distinguished charac- 
teristic of a virgin, that she has not known man. 
To make this more plain, I must here observe, 
that there is in maids, in the neck of the womb, a 
membraneous production called the hymen, which 
is like the bud of a rose half blown, and this is 
broken in the first act of copulation with man; and 
hence comes the word deflora to deflower; whence 
the taking of virginity is called deflowering of a 
virgin; for when the rose-bud is expanded, virgin- 
ity is lost. Certain it is, there is in the first act 
of copulation something that causes pain and bleed- 
ing; which is an evident sign of virginity. Some 
say it is a nervous membrane, or thin skin with 
small veins, that bleeds at the first penetration of 
the yard. Others say it is the four carbuncles, 
knobs, or little buds, like myrtle berries, which 
are plump and full in virgins, but hang loose or 
•flaggy in those who have used copulation, being 
pressed by the yard. Some have observed the 
fleshy circle about the nympbe, or neck of the 
womb, Avith little obscure veins, which make the 
membrane not to be nervous, but fleshy. But set- 
ting aside conjectures, the hymen, or claustrum 
Virginale, is a thin membrane interwoven with 
fleshy fibres, and endowed with many little arteries 
and veins, spread across the passage of the vagina, 
behind the insertion of the bladder, with a hole in 
the midst for the menses to flow, so big, that it 
will admit of the top of one’s little finger. This 
is that which is called the zone, or girdle of chas-* 
tity; and where it is found in the form described, 
it is a certain note of virginity; but in the first acf 
ARISTOTLE S MASTER-PIECE. 28 
of copulation it is necessarily violated, and then it 
is generally accompanied with an effusion of blood, 
which blood is called the flower of virginity; and 
when onoe it is broke it never closes again. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
Honu Virginity may be lost. 
IN the former section I have shown in what vir- 
ginity consists, and that it is lost by the first pene- 
tration of the yard, which may be easily known by 
its being attended with an effusion of blood upon 
the rupture of the hymeneal membrane, or claus- 
trum virginale; but I must do the fair sex this jus- 
tice to let the world know,that although whenever 
tiiis is found, it is an undoubted token of virginity, 
yet it will not follow, that where this token is want- 
ing, virginity is deflowered; for the hymen may be 
corroded by acrimonious and fretting humours 
flowing through it with the menses; or it may be 
violated by the inversion or falling out of the uterus, 
or of the vagina, or sheath, which sometimes hap- 
pens even to virgins; or (which all virgins should 
beware of, for the preservation of their credit, and 
preventing of suspicion) perhaps the unwarybride 
has had her menses but a day or two before, in 
which case both the hymen and inner wrinkled 
membranes of the vagina are flaggy, weak, and 
relaxed, so that no such rupture or effusion may 
happen. It were better, therefore, that when vir- 
gins are about to marry, they would fix their wed- 
ding day at least six or seven days after the men- 
ses have done flowing. 
But further, nature hath given greater desires 
after enjoyment to some than to others, and such, 
though they abstain from enjoyment, yet so great 
is their desire after it that they may break the hy- 
SECTION 11. men or claustrum virginale: and sometimes it 
itches to that degree, that they p«t in their finger, 
and so break it. Sometimes the midwives break 
it in the birth; and sometimes it is done by stop- 
page of urine, coughing, violent straining, or 
sneezing; so that no bleeding at the first operation 
of the husband, is not always a sign of unchastity, 
or that any other has been there before him, seeing 
that the hymeneal membrane may be broken so 
many other ways: but where bleeding does flow, 
it is an undeniable token that the person was a vir- 
gin, and never knew man before. And indeed, 
though the hymen may be broke all these ways 
mentioned, yet it so rarely happens to be broken 
any other way, that Leo Africanus makes mention 
of it as a general custom of the Africans at their 
weddings, that, the marriage ceremony being over, 
the bride and bridegroom are shut up in a chamber, 
while the wedding dinner is preparing; an ancient 
woman stands at the door to receive from the bride- 
groom a sheet having the bloody token of the wife’s 
virginity, which she shows in triumph to all the 
guests, and then they feast with joy: but if their 
is no blood seen, the bride is to be sent home again 
to her friends v ith disgrace, and the disappointed 
guests go home without their dinner. 
There are others, that make the straitness of the 
privities a sign of virginity, but this is a very un- 
certain rule; for it depends much upon the age, 
habit of body, and other circumstances. But, 
though women who have used carnal copulation are 
not so strait as virgins, yet this cannot be a certain 
argument of virginity, because the privates may 
be made strait by the use of astringent medicines. 
I have heard of a courtezan, who, though she had 
bedn married, gave herself out to be a virgin, and 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
29 30 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
by help of a bath of comfry roots, deceived those 
with whom she had to do. 
Others judge of lost virginity by milk in the 
breast: but such, perhaps, are ignorant that there 
is a two fold milk; the one of virgins, the other of 
such as have conceived or brought forth children; 
that of virgins is a malady contrary to nature, made 
of blood from the womb, turned into milk by the 
faculty of the breasts; the other is natural, where 
there is a child either in the womb, or born; yet 
the milk, though both are white, differs very much, 
both in respect to the blood, and diversity of veins 
that bring it to the breasts; and that of virgins is 
thinner, less in quantity and not so sweet; there- 
fore, if virgins happen to have such milk, they are 
not, for that reason, to be reckoned unchaste. 
Upon the whole, the sum of what I have said up- 
on this head of virginity terminates in this; that 
when a man is married, and finds the tokens of his 
wife’s virginity upon the first act of copulation, he 
has all the reason in the world to believe her such; 
but if he finds them not, he has not reason to think 
her devirginated, if he finds her otherwise sober 
and modest; seeing the hymen may be broken so 
many other ways, and yet the-woman both chaste 
and virtuous. Only let me caution virgins to take 
all imaginable care to keep their virgin zone en- 
tire, that so when they marry they may be such as 
the great Csesar wished his wife to be, not only 
without fault, but without suspicion also. 
Thus have I virgin innocence survey’d, 
And show’d the difference ’twixt wife and maid, 
And that their chastity they need not fear, 
Whose virgin token plainly doth appear; 
Nor censure those in whom they do not so, 
Unless the contrary they plainly know; Aristotle’s master-piece. 
Si 
For they may yet unspotted virgins be, 
Although their virgin tokens none can see# 
ARISTOTLE’S MASTER-PIECE. 
PJtRT 11. 
The secrets of Nature displayed in the production of Man; 
CHAPTER I. 
What Conception is; what is pre-requisite thereunto; 
how a woman may know whether she hath conceive 
ed, and whether a Boy or a Girl. 
SECTION I. 
Having, in the first part of this work, described 
the instruments of generation in both sexes, and 
the use for which those instruments were intended 
by nature, I shall, in the part before me, proceed 
so show what conception is; the signs and tokens 
thereof, and what are the pre-requisites thereunto; 
for when once a woman has conceived, the work of 
generation is begun, time, with nature’s help, will 
perfect the work. 
Now in conception, that which is first to be re- 
garded, and without which it cannot he, is the seed 
of the man, that being the active principle, or ef- 
ficient cause of the foetus, the matter of which is 
arterial blood and animal spirits, which are elabo- 
rated into seed in the testicles, and from thence by 
proper vessels conveyed into the yard, and in the 
act of copulation, it is injected or emitted into the 
womb. The next thing is the passive principle of 
Uie fcetus,(for there must be both in order to con- 
ception,) and this is an ovum or egg, impregnated 
by lh§ man’s seed, or being conveyed to it, the 
Of Conception; what it is, Cfc. 32 
womb closes up, that no air may enter therein, but 
the impregnated ovum may swell into a foetus.— 
This is that which is truly and properly concep- 
tion, and the pre-requisites thereunto, I shall make 
the subject of the next section. 
Aristotle’s master-piece.’ 
SECTION 11. 
Of the Pre-requisites to Conception. 
I have shown in the former section, that there 
are two things to be regarded chiefly in conception, 
to wit, the active and passive principJe to be injec- 
ted into, and there must also be a passive principle 
to be impregnated thereby, so the woman has no 
active principle to impregnate and therefore, with- 
out different sexes there can be no conception. 
But this is not all; for it is not enough that there 
be different sexes, but these different sexes must 
unite, and there must be coition in order to concep- 
tion; and it is coition, or the natural embraces of 
both sexes, which nature has made so desirable to 
each other; which, when authorized in the way 
that heaven has ordained, there is no need of ra- 
vishing; for the fair bride will quickly meet her 
bridegroom wnh equal vigour. But since in that 
there may be overdoing, and such errors commit- 
ted by their giving way to the impetuosity of their 
desires as may be prejudicial to conception, it will 
not be amiss to give some directions to make this 
operation more effectual. 
SECTION HI. 
A Word of Advice to both Sexes; or, Directions re- 
sjicoting the act of coition, or carnal copulation, 
1 HOUGH there are some that desire not to 
have children, and are yet very fond of nocturnal 
embraces, to whom these directions will be no way acceptable, because it may probably produce those 
effects which they had rather be without; yet I 
doubt not that the generality of both sexes* wheat 
in a married state, have such a desire to produce 
the fair image of themselves, that nothing can be 
more welcome to them than those directions that 
may make their mutual embraces most effectual to 
that end; and therefore let none think it strange 
that we pretend to give directions for the promo- 
ting that which nature itselfteacheth all toper- 
form; since it is not solecism for art to be hand- 
maid to nature, and to assist her in her noblest 
operations. Neither is it the bare performing of 
that which we here direct to, but the perform- 
ing it so as to make it conducive unto the 
work of generation, and since this act is the foun- 
dation of generation, and without which it cannot 
he, some care ought to be taken, and consequently 
some advice given, how to perform it well; and 
therein I am sure the proverb is on our side, 
which tells us that what is well done is twice done. 
Bui-yet, what we shall advance on this nice sub- 
ject, shall be offered with such caution, as not to 
give offence to the chastest ear, nor put the fair 
sex to the trouble of blushing. What 1 shall offer 
will consist of two parts. First, something pre- 
vious to it, and secondly, something consequential 
to it. 
ARISTOTLE S MASTER-PIECE. 
For the first, when married persons design to 
lollow the propensions of nature for the production 
of the fair image of themselves, let every thing 
that looks like care and business be banished from 
their thoughts, for all such things are enemies to 
Venus; and let their animal and vital spirits be 
powerfully exhilirated by some brisk and generous 
restoratives; and let them, to invigorate their fan- 34 
cies, survey the lovely beauties of each other, and 
bear the bright ideas of them in their minds; and 
if it so happens, that instead of beauty there is any 
thing that looks like imperfection or deformity (for 
nature is not alike bountiful to all) let them be 
covered over with a veil of darkness and oblivion. 
And since the utmost intention of desire is requir- 
ed in this act, it may not be amiss for the bride- 
groom, for the eager heightening of his joy, to de- 
lineate the scene of their approaching happiness 
to his fair languishing bride, in some such amorous 
rapture as this: 
AaiSTOTLF/s MASTER PIECE. 
Now, my fair bride, now I will storm the mint, 
Of love and joy and rifle all that’s in’t; 
Now my ihfranchis’d hand on ev’ry side 
ShaM o’er -thy naked polish’d ivory slide. 
Freely shall now my longing eyes behold 
Thy bared snow, and thy undrained gold. 
Nor curtain now, though of transparent lawn; 
Shall be before thy virgin treasure drawn. 
I will enjoy thee now, my fairest, come 
And fly with me to love’s elysium. 
My rudder with thy bold hand, like a try'd 
And skilful pilot, thou shall steer; and guide 
My bark in love’s dark channel, where it shall 
Dunce as thd bounding waves do rise and fall, 
Whilst my tall pinnace in the Cyprian straight, 
Rides safe at anchor, and unlades the freight. 
Having by these and other amorous acts (which 
love can belter dictate than my pen) wound up your 
faces to the highest ardour and desire, 
Pei foi m those rights nature and love require, 
’Till you have quench’d each other’s am’rous fire. 
When the act of coition is over, and the bride- 
groom has done what nature prompted him to do, he ought to take care not to withdraw 100 precipi- 
tately from the field of love, lest he should by so 
doing, let the cold into the womb, which might be 
of dangerous consequence. But when he has given 
time for the matrix to close up, he mwy withdraw 
and leave the bride to her repose, which ought to 
be with all the calmness possible, betaking herself 
to rest on the right side, and not removing without 
great occasion, till she has taken her first sleep.— 
Coughing and sneezing, if possible, should be 
avoided, or any thing that agitates or causes a mo- 
tion of the body. These amorous engagements 
should not be often repeated till the conception is 
confirmed. And it may not be amiss to remind the 
bridegroom, that the fair lasts all the year, and 
that he should be careful not to spend his stock 
lavishly, as women in general, are better pleased 
in having a thing once well done, than often ill 
done. 
aristotle’s master-piece. 
35 
SECTION IV. 
How a Woman may know when she has conceived, 
AFTER the means made use of in order to con- 
ception, according to the directions given before, 
therevis reason to expect that conception should 
follow: but as things do not always succeed ac- 
cording to desire, so therefore conception does not 
always follow upon coition, for there are many 
women, especially those newly married, who know 
not whether they have conceived or not, after coi- 
tion, which, if they were assured of, they might and 
would avoid several inconveniences which they 
now run upon. For when, after conception, a wo- 
man finds an alteration ir> herself, and yet Knows 
not from whence it arises, she is apt to run to the 
doctor and enquire of him what is the matter, wire not knowing that she is with child, gives her a 
strong potion, which certainly destroys the concep- 
tion. There are others who, out of foolish, bash- 
ful coyness, though they know that they have con- 
ceived, yet will not confess it, that they may be in- 
structed how to order themselves accordingly.— 
Those that are coy, may learn in time to be wise; 
and for the sake of those that are ignorant, I shall 
set down the signs of conception, that woman may 
know thereby, whether they have conceived or not. 
If a woman hath conceived, the vein under her 
eye will be swelled, i. e. under the lower eyelid, 
the vein in the eyes appearing clearly, and the 
eyes something discoloured; if the woman hath not 
her terms upon her, nor hath watched the night 
before, it is a certain sign of her having conceived; 
and this appears most plainly justly upon the con- 
ception, and holds for the first two months after. 
Stop the urine of a woman close in a glass or 
bottle, three days, at the expiration of which time, 
strain it through a linen rag; if you perceive small 
living creatures in it, you may instantly conclude 
that she hath conceived, for the urine, which was 
before part of her own substance, will be generative 
as well as its mistress. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
A coldness and chillness of the outward parts 
after copulation, shews a woman to have conceived, 
the heat being retired to make the conception; and 
then the veins of the breast are more clearly seen 
than they were before. The tops of the nipples 
look redder than formerly; the body is weakened 
and the face discoloured, the belly waxeth very fat, 
because the womb closes itself together to nourish 
and cherish the seed. If she drinks cold water, a 
coldness is felt in the breast; she has, also, loss of 
appetite, sour belching, and exceeding weakness of the stomach, the breasts begin to swell, and wax 
hard, not without pain or soreness; wringing or 
griping pains like the cramp, happens in the belly 
above the navel; also, divers appetites and longing 
are engendered. The veins of the eyes are also 
clearly seen, and the eyes seem some thin dis- 
coloured, as a looking glass will show. The ex> 
cretnents of the guts are voided painfully, because 
the womb swelling thrusteth the right gut together 
—likewise, let her take a green nettle and put in- 
to her urine, cover it closely and let it remain all 
night; if she is with child, it will be full of red spots 
on the next morning, if she is not with child, it 
will be blackish. 
ARXSTOTLb’s tfASTER-PIKCE, 
By these experiments, some of which never fail, 
a woman may know whether she hath conceived 
or not, and to regulate herself accordingly; for, 
When women once with child conceived are 
They of themselves should take especial care. 
How to know whether a Woman be conceived of a 
Male or Female. 
SECTION V, 
In the present section I shall endeavour to gra- 
tify the curiosity of many persons who are desirous 
to know whether they are conceived of a male or a 
female. For the satisfaction of such, I shall give 
the sign of a male child being conceived, and tho 
reverse thereof, that of a female. 
It is then a sign of a male child, when the woman 
feels it first on the right side; for male children lie 
always on that side of the womb; the woman also, 
when rising from her chair, doth sooner stay her- 
self upon her right hand than on her left. Also, 
the belly lies rounder and higher than when it is a girl. The right side is likewise more plump and 
harder than the left, the right nipple redder. She 
likewise breeds a boy easier and with less pain than 
a girl, and carries her burthen not so heavily, but 
is more nimble and stirring. 
1 will only, as to this, add the following experi- 
ments, which I never knew fail. If the circle un- 
der a woman’s eyes, which is ever of a wan colour, 
she is with child of a boy; if the mark be most ap- 
parent in her left eye, she is with child of a girl. 
The other is, let her drop a drop of her milk into 
a bason of fair water, if it sinks to the bottom, as ii 
drops in, round in a drop, it is a girl she is with 
child of; for if it be a boy it will spread and swim 
at top. This I have often tried and never failed; 
For whether male or female child it be, 
You have conceived, by these rules you’ll se®. 
Aristotle's master piece. 
CHAPTER 11. 
Section I. How a woman should order herself in 
order to Conception. 
I AM very well satisfied that many women de- 
sire copulation not from any delight or satisfaction 
they take therein, more than as the means appoint- 
ed by Him that bids us increase and multiply, for 
the obtaining of children, and the propagation of 
mankind. And though several make use of coition 
to obtain that end yet we find by experience, that 
in many it does not succeed, because they order 
not themselves as they ought to do; for, though it 
must be granted, that all our endeavours depend 
upon the Divine Blessing, yet if we are wanting in 
any vhing to ourselves, how can we expect that 
blessing to succeed our endeavours. My Business 
therefore, in this section, shall be to show how wo- men that desire to have children should order 
themselves. 
bristotle’s master-piece, 
First. Women that are desirous to have chil- 
dren, must, in order thereunto, give themselves to 
moderate exercise; for want of exercise, and idle- 
ness, are very great enemies to the work of gene- 
ration, and indeed are enemies both to soul and 
body. Those that shall give themselves the trouble 
to observe it, will find those city dames that live 
high, and do nothing, seldom have children, or if 
they have, they seldom live; whereas, those poor 
women that accustom themselves to labour, have 
many children, and those strong and lusty. Nor 
need we wonder at it, if we consider the benefit 
that comes by a moderate exercise and labour, for 
it opens the pores, quickens the spirits, stirs up the 
natural heat, strengthens the body, senses, and 
spirits, comforts the limbs, and helps nature in all 
exercises, of which procreation of children is none 
of the least. 
Secondly. Women, in order to conception, should 
avoid all manner of discontent, and the occasion of 
it; for discontent is a great enemy to conception, 
and it so dispirits either man or woman, that it 
hinders them from putting forth that vigor which 
ought to be exerted in the act of coition. When, 
on the contrary, content and satisfaction of mind 
dilate the heart and arteries, whereby the vital 
blood and spirits are freely distributed throughout 
the body; and thence arise such affections as please, 
recreate and refresh the nature of man, as hope, 
joy, love, gladness; and mirth. Nor does it only 
comfort and strengthen the body, but also the 
operation and imagination of the mind, whiefy is so 
much the more necessary, insomuch the imagina- 
tion of the mother works forcibly upon the concep* 40 
lion of the child. Women therefore, ought to take 
great care that their imagination be pure and clear, 
that their child may be well formed. 
Thirdly. Women ought to take care to keep the 
womb in good order; and to see that the menses 
come down as they ought to do, for if they are dis- 
coloured, they are out of order. But if the blood 
comes down pure, then the woman will be very 
prone to conceive with child, especially if she use 
copulation in two or three days after the monthly 
terms are strayed. 
Fourthly. A woman that would conceive should 
observe that she does not use the act of coition too 
often; for satiety gluts the womb, and renders it 
unfit for its office. There are two things which 
demonstrate this, i. e. that common whores (who 
often use copulation) have never, or very rarely, 
any children; for the grass seldom grows in a path 
that is commonly trodden in. The other is, that 
women whose husbands have been long absent do, 
after copulation with them again, conceive very 
quickly. 
Fifthly. Care should be taken that the time of 
copulation be convenient, that there may be no fear 
of surprise; for fear hinders conception. And then 
it were the best also that the desire of copulation 
be natural, and not stirred up by provocation; and 
if it be natural, the greater the woman’s desire of 
copulation is, the more likely she is to conceive. 
I will add no more, but what some authors re- 
port, that a loadstone carried about a woman, not 
only causeth conception, but concord between man 
and wife. If it be true, I would have no married 
woman go without cnc, both for her own and hus- 
band's quiet 
aristotlk’s master-piece. Let all the fair, who would have children from 
Their soft embraces, read what’s here laid down. 
Those that to exercise themselves incline, 
And in their love to be content design; 
Who have their monthly terms in order flow, 
And regulate them if they do not so; 
That love’s embraces moderately use, 
And to enjoy them a fit season choose; 
These may, content with what they’ve done, remain 
And need not fear their wishes to obtain. 
ABSSTOTLft's MASTER-PJP.CEi 
41 
SECTION 11. 
What a Woman ought to observe after Conception. 
After a woman has conceived, or has reason to 
think so, she ought to be very careful of herself, 
lest she should do any thing that may hinder na- 
ture in her conception. For, in the first two months 
after conception, women are very subject to mis- 
carriages, because then the ligaments are weak and 
soon broken. To prevent this, let the women eve- 
ry morning drink a draught of sage ale, and it will 
do her abundance of good: And if signs of abori- 
tion or miscarriage appear, let her lay a toast dip- 
ped in Tent wine (in case Muscatel cannot be had) 
to the navel, for this is very good; or, let her take 
a little green tanzy, and having bruised it, sprinkle 
it with Muscatel, and apply it to the navel, and she 
will find it much better. Also, tea infused in ale, 
take sage ale, and a draught drank every morning, 
is most excellent for such women as are subject to 
miscarriages. Also, take juice of tansy, clarify it 
and boil it up into a syrum, with twice i;s weight 
in sugar, and let a woman take a spoonfull or two 
of it in such cases, and it will be an excellent pre- 
servative against miscarriages. Also, if she can 
let her be where the air is temperate. Let i.er 42 
sleep be moderate; let her, also, avoid all watching 
and immoderate exercise, as also disturbing pas- 
sions, loud clamours, and filthy smells; and let her 
abstain from all things which may provoke either 
urine, or the courses, and also from all sharp and 
windy meats; and let a moderate diet be observed. 
If the excrements of the guts be retained, lenify 
the belly with clysters made of decoction of mal- 
lows and violets, with sugar and common oil; or 
make broth of borage, bugloss, beets, mallows, add 
a little manna; |but, on the contrary, if she be 
troubled with a looseness of the belly,'let it not be 
stopped without the judgment of a physician; for 
that matter, all uterine fluxes have a malignant 
quality, and must be evacuated and removed before 
the flux be stayed. 
ARISTOTt-R’a KASTKR-PIKC*, 
CHAPTER HE 
How the Child lycth, and how it growethup in the 
Mother after Conception. 
SPXTION X. 
How the Child is /owned in the womb ufter Conetfx- 
tion. 
AS to the formation of the child, it is to be noted, 
that after coition the seed lies warm in the womb 
for six days without any visible alteration, only the 
womb closes up itself, to prevent its issuing forth 
again, and for the securing it from any cold; and 
si! this time it lookslike butter,or coagulated milk. 
And it would be necessary for her who has con- 
ceived, to forbear the embraces of her husband all 
the time, lest the conception should be spoiled. In 
three days after, it is altered from the quality of 
thick milk or butter, and becomes blood, or at least, 
resembles it in colour; nataro having now begun to work upon it; in the next six days following, that 
blood begins to be united into one body, grows 
hard, and becomes a small quantity, and to appear 
a round-dump. And as in the first creation, the 
earth was void, and without form, so in this crea- 
ting work of Divine power in the womb; in this 
shapeless embryo lies the first mass. But in two 
days after, the principal members are formed by 
the plastic power of nature, and these principal 
members are four in number, viz. The heart, the 
brain, the liver, and the testicles or stones. Three 
days after, the other members are formed, and are 
distinguished from the shoulders to the knees, and 
the heart, liver, and stones, with their appurtenan- 
ces, do grow bigger and bigger. Four days after 
that, the several members of the whole body ap- 
pear, and as Nature requires, they coujunctly and 
severally do receive their perfection. And so in 
the appointed time, the whole creation hath that 
essence which it ought to have in the perfection of 
It, receiving from God a living soul, therewith 
putting in its nostrils the breath of life. Thus I 
have shewn the whole of Nature in the formation 
of th® child in the womb, according to the energy 
given it by the Divine Creator, Maker, and up- 
holder of all things, both in Heaven and Earth. 
By some others more briefly, but to the same 
purpose, the forming the child in the womb of its 
mother is thus described: Three days in the milk, 
three in the blood, twelve days from the flesh, and 
eighteen ol the members, and forty days afterwards 
the child is inspired with life, being endowed with 
an immortal living soul. 
SECTION It. 
Of the manner of the Child's lying in the womb from 
ths Concefition ie the Birth. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 44 
I now come to show in what manner the child 
licth in the womb of its mother, whilst it is confin- 
ed in the dark recesses; first giving the reader the 
testimony of two or three of the most learned on 
that head. 
Aristotle's master-piece. 
The learned Hippocrates affirms, that the child, 
as he is placed in the womb, hath his hands upon 
his knees, and his head bent to his feet; so that he 
lies round together, his hand upon his knees, and 
his face between them; so that each eye touches 
each thumb, and his nose betwixt his knees. And 
of the same opinion in this matter, was Bartholo- 
nius the younger. Columbvs is of opinion that the 
figure of the child in the womb is round, the right 
arm bowed, the fingers thereof under the ear above 
the neck, and the head bowed so that the chin 
toucheth the breast, the left arm bowed above 
both breast and face, and propped up by the bend- 
ing of the right elbow; the legs are lifted upwards, 
the right of which is so lifted up, that the thigh 
toucheth the belly, the knee the navel; the heel 
toucheth the left buttock, and the foot is turned 
back, and covereth the secrets; the left thigh 
toucheth the belly, the knee the navel, the heel 
toucheth the left buttock, and the foot is turned 
bach, and covereth the secrets; the left thigh 
toucheth the belly, and the leg lifted up to the 
breast, the back lying outwards. 
Thus the readers may see how outhors differ 
herein; but this ought to be noted, that the differ- 
ent positions which the child hath been seen in, 
hath given occasion to the different opinions of 
authors; for when the woman is young with child, 
the embryo is always found of a round figure, a 
little oblong, having the spine moderately turned 
inward, the thighs folded and a little raised to which the legs are joined, that the heels toucheth 
the buttocks, the arms bending, and the hands 
placed upon the knees, towards which the head is 
inclining forward so that the chin toucheth the 
breast; the spine of the back is at that lime placed 
towards the mother’s, the head uppermost, the 
hands forwards and feet downwards, and propor- 
tionable to its growth, it extends its members by 
little and little, which were exactly formed in the 
first month. In this posture it usually keeps till 
the seventh or eighth month, and then, by a natural 
propensity and disposition of the upper parts of 
the body, the head is turned downwards toward the 
inward critic of the womb, tumbling as it were, 
over its head, so that the feet are uppermost, and 
the face towards the mother’s great gut. And this 
turning of the infant in this manner, with its head 
downwards, towards the latter end of a woman’® 
reckoning is so ordered by nature, that it may be 
the belter disposed for the birth. The knowledge 
of these things being so essential to the practise 
of a Midwife, I could not omit them. 
ARISTOTLE1® MASTER >l*l EC E. 
Of the obstructions of which the cause 
and cure of Barrenness, and the signs of insuffici- 
encyr, both in men and women. 
CHAP. IV. 
Before*! proceed any further, it is highly neces- 
sary that I treat of the obstructions of Conception, 
which naturaly leads me to treat of Barrenness, 
the grand obstruction of Conception. 
SECTION I.—-Of Barrenness. 
Barrenness is a natural and accidental defect, 
which hinders Conception; for that which hinders 
conception causeth barrenness. There arc several 46 
causes why conception may be hindered; as too 
much heat or cold dries up the seed, and makes it 
corrupt; this extinguishing the life of the seed, and 
that making it waterish, and unfit for generation. 
It may be caused also by the stoppage or overflow- 
ing of the courses, and by swelling ulcers, or in- 
flammations of the womb, or by an excrescence of 
flesh growing about the mouth of the matrix, 
whereby the seed is hindered from being injected 
into the womb, and want of love in the persons co- 
pulating may also hinder conception, as is apparent 
from those women who are deflowered against 
their will, no conception following any forced co- 
pulation. 
And here let me caution parents against one 
thing that often couseth barrenness, and may be so 
easily prevented; and that is against bleeding vir- 
gins in their arm, before their courses come down; 
these come down in virgins usually in the four- 
teenth year of their age, seldom before the thir- 
teenth, but never before the twelfth. Now, because 
a young virgin is usually out of order before her 
first break down, the mother goes with her to the 
doctor, and finding that fulness of blood is the oc- 
casion of her illness, orders her to be let blood in 
the arm; upon which she becomes well for a time, 
the superfluous blood being taken away; and this 
remedy, which is worse than the disease, being 
repeated four or five limes, the blood comes not 
down atall to the womb as it doth in other women, 
but dries up and is for ever barren; whereas had 
she been let blood in the foot, it would have brought 
the blood downwards, and so provoke the terms 
and prevent mischief. 
Another cause of barrenness is a want of conve- 
nient moderate quality, which the woman ought 
Aristotle’s master-piece. to have with the man; if he be hot, she mut be cold; 
if she be dry, he moist; but if they are bot’ dry, 
or both of a moist constitution, they cannot ropa- 
gate, though in this case neither of them may be 
barren, singly considered; for he or she, joined 
with an apt constitution, may become fruitful as 
the vine. 
Aristotle’s master-piece, 
Another cause of barrenness may be the disuse 
of copulation, for there are some of that frigid con- 
stitution, that they either use not the means at all, 
or else perform it with so much languor that it is 
not likely it should prove efficacious; the act of co- 
ition should be performed with the greatest ardour 
and intenseness of desire imaginable, or else they 
may as well let it alone; a frigid disposition being 
the effect of a cold distemper, and must be cured 
by such things as heat and nourish—For 
Without good drink and feeding high, 
Desires of Venus soon will die. 
Such, therefore, ought to feed upon cock stones, 
and lamb-stones, sparrow, partridge, quail and 
pheasant’s eggs, for ’tis an infalliable aphorism in 
physic, that whatsoever any creature is extremely 
addicted to, they operate to the same end by their 
mutual virtue in the man that eats them. Let such 
persons eat such food as is very nourishing, as 
parsnips, allfanders, pine nuts, &c. 
Of the signs of insufficiency in men, and barrenness 
in women. 
SECTION 11. 
Alter married people have lived long together 
without children, there often arises discontent, and 
both are troubled for they know not whose the faul- 
ia; therefore if a man or woman in whom the in, 
stnlment of generation apperr no ways defective, would know whether the cause of barrenness be In 
themselves or bed-fellows, let them take a handful 
of barley, and steep half in the man’s urine, and 
half in the woman’s for 24 hours; then set the man’s 
by itself in a flower-pot, and the woman’s also, wa- 
ter them with their own urine every morning, and 
that which grows is most fruitful and that which 
does not grow denotes the person to be barren.— 
Nor let any despise this trial, for physicians will, 
by urine, undertake to tell a person his disease. 
But if in a man the instrument of generation is not 
perfect, it will be obvious to the sight, and if the 
yard be ao feeble, that it will not admit of erection, 
it can never convey seed into the womb, nor can 
there by any conception. 
ARISTOtLIt’s MASTfitt-PlECfi. 
SECTION 111. 
Of the Cure of Barrenness. 
In the cure of barrenness respect must be had 
to the cause—the cause must be first removed and 
then the womb strengthened, and the spirit of the 
seed enlivened by corroborating applications. 
If barrenness proceeds from over heat, let her 
use inwardly, succory, endive, violets, water lilies, 
sorrel and lettice, white syrups, and conserves 
made thereof thus— 
Take conserve of borage, violets succory, wa- 
ter-lilies, each one ounce, half an ounce of conserve 
of roses; diamagamion frigid, diatrition, sancalon, 
each half a dram; with syrup of violets, or juice of 
citron, make an electuary. 
Let her take endive, water-lilies, borage flower, 
each a handful, rheubarb, myrobalans, of each three 
drams; with water make a decoction; add to the 
straining one ounce of syrup relaxative of violets, 
half an ounca of syrup of eassia, and three drams manna; make all into a portion. Take of syrup 
mug-wort an ounce, syrup of maiden hair two 
ces, pulv. elect, trionsal, make all up into a ju- 
. Apply to the reins and privities of fomenta- 
ns of the juice of lettuce, violets, roses, mallows, 
x leaves and night-shade; let her also anoint 
zr secrets writh ointment of galls; let her have no 
atrong wine nor hot meat. 
It sometimes happens that barrenness is caused, 
by remission in coition; yet though there be no 
impediment on either side, if both meet notin the 
act with equal vigour, no conception follows, many 
limes the man is too quick for the woman, or ra- 
ther the woman too slow for the man, and not pre- 
pared to receive the seed with that delight she 
ought, when it is omitted by the man; and all who 
follow the opinion of the ancients, that the woman 
contributes seed in the formation of the child as 
well as the man, are of opinion that there ought 
to be a joint emission both of the man and woman 
at the same instant, which administering to both a 
very great delight, perfects the work of concep- 
tion. But if the woman be slack, it will be pro- 
per for the man to follow the advice given in chap. 
3. sec. 3. where both sexes are shown how to ma- 
nage themselves in the act of coition, that so by 
stirring up in the woman a desire to venery, she 
may meet his embraces with the greatest ardour. 
If this should prove ineffectual, let her before the 
act of coition, foment the privities with the decoc- 
tion olcelony, sage, hysop and calamint, anoint 
the mouth and head of the womb with musks and 
civit, and the cause of barrenness being removed, 
let the womb be corroborated by the following ap- 
plications. 
Take of bay-berries, mastic, nutmeg, frankin- conse, cypress nuts, zanani, of each one dram; s 
raris liquid two scruples; cloves half a scrur 
ambergrease, two grains; musk, six grains; t 
with oil of spikenard make a pessary. A wot 
should be careful to avoid excess in all things, i 
ing the greatest enemy to conception. For shod 
a woman conceive under care, study, &c. the chi. 
would probably be foolish. 
How women ought to govern themselvet during their 
pregnancy. 
CHAPTER V. 
First, let a woman that is with child, choose a 
temperate air, not infected with fogs, and for that 
reason not near any marshy grounds, rivers, &c. 
also let her avoid going abroad in too hot or too 
cold weather, and when the south wind blows hard 
Secondly, she ought to be very cautious in her 
diet, choosing only those means that create whole- 
some nourishment, and such as are immoderately 
dry; let her take care to prevent and avoid im- 
moderate fastings, for that will weaken the infant, 
and render it of a sickly constitution, sometimes 
causing abortion. She must take care not only 
of avoiding immoderate fasting, but likewise im- 
moderate eating, which will be apt to stuff up the 
child, and swell it up to birth. Let her avoid in 
general meats which are too hot, or too cold and 
moist, such as sallads, spices and hot meato, which 
often cause the child to be born before its time, 
and sometimes without nails, which foreshows a 
short life. The most wholesome meat is pigeons, 
patridges, pheasants, larks, veal, mutton, or other 
meat that yields a good juice; also, such fruits as 
SECTION I. are sweet, and of easy digestion, as cherries, pears, 
damsons, &c. Let her avoid as pernicious, all such 
things as create wind, and care ought also to be 
taken with respect to her evercise, which ought to 
be moderate, for violent motions, either in walking 
or working, is hurtful and disturbing to the womb, 
especially riding upon the stones in a coach; and 
in like manner, all extraordinary sounds and noises 
should be avoided, especially the ringing of bells, 
and the discharging of great guns; neither ought 
she to give way to either immoderate laughing or 
weeping, or anger, or other passions. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
51 
Farther rules for Women to observe during their 
firegnaucy. 
SECTION 11. 
Though the act of coition is that without which 
conception cannot be, yet the immoderate use of 
it hinders the brief end for which it was designed. 
In the first fourmonths after conception, she ought 
not to lie with her husband often, lest by shaking 
the womb the courses should again be forced 
down. In the fifth and six months, she ought also 
to abstain; but in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, it 
may freely be permitted, by reason it opens the 
passage, and facilitates the birth. To contribute 
the better towards which, the woman should be 
careful to keep her body soluble. 
When her belly is swelling, and the motion is 
great, which will be about the fourth month, she 
may swathe it with a swathe-hand anointed with 
pomatum, or any other thing of that kind, to keep 
it smooth, and free from wrinkles. For which end 
it will be best to take of the caul of a kid and a 
sow, of each three ounces, capon grease and goose 
grease, of each one ounce and a half, melt them and add a gill of water, after which, strain all 
through a linen rag into water, casting it to and 
fro therein, until it be white, then add of marrow 
of a red deer one ounce, and lay it in red rose-wa- 
ter twelve hours, and anoint the swathe belly. 
But if these ingredients are not easy to be had, 
make use of the following liniment—take of mut- 
ton-suet that grows about the kidnies, and dog’s 
grease, each two ounces, whale oil, and oil of 
sweet almonds, one ounce each, wash them well 
after they are melted together, in germander wa- 
ter, or new white wine; anoint the belly and swathe 
therewith. Those that care not to anoint may 
make use of the following bath or decoction: take 
of all sorts of mallow and mother-wort, each two 
handfuls, lime-seeds quince seeds, and fenugreek 
seeds, three ounces; boil them well in spring wa- 
ter, and bathe therewith. If the woman, after her 
quickening finds but little motion of the infant in 
her womb, let her make a quilt in the manner fol- 
lowing, and bind it to her naval, and it will much 
strengthen and comfort the infant, take the pow- 
der of roses, and coral and jelly flowers, of each 
two ounces, mastich a drachm, angelica seeds two 
drachms, ambergrease two grains; all being well 
beaten, put them into a linen bag, spread them 
abroad and quilt it, that they may be in every part 
of it, placing it upon the naval, and it will have the 
desired effect. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
CHAPTER VI. 
Directions for Mid wives how to assist Women in the time 
of labour, and how child-bearing Women should be or? 
dered when lying in. 
Koto a Midwife ought to be qualified, 
h Midwife ought to be of a middle age,and good 
SECTION I. habit of body, not subject to diseases, fears, or sud- 
den frights; nor are the qualifications assigned to 
a good surgeon, improper, viz. a lady’s hand, a 
hawk’s eye, and a hon’s heart; olso, activity, and 
convenient strength, with caution and diligence, 
not subject to drowsiness, nor apt to be impatient. 
She ought to be sober and affable, not subject to 
passion, but bountiful and compassionate, and her 
temper cheerful and pleasant, that she may the 
better comfort her patients in their sorrow. Nor 
must she be very hasty, though her business may 
perhaps require her another place, lest she should 
make more haste than good speed. But above all, 
she ought to be qualified with the fear of God, 
mhich is the principal thing in every state and 
condition. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
53 
SECTION 11. 
What must be done when the woman's time of labour 
is come. 
When the time of birth draws near, and the 
good woman finds her travailing pains begin to 
come upon her, let her send for a midwife, and 
get those things ready which are proper upon such 
occasions. When the midwife is come, let the 
first thing she does be to find whether the true 
time of birth be come. The want of observing 
this hath spoiled many a child, and eddangeered 
the life of the mother, for unskilful midwives, not 
minding this, have given things to force down the 
child, and thereby disturbed the natural course of 
labours; whereas nature works best in her own 
time and way. Ido confess it is somewhat kiffi- 
cult to know the true time of some women’s la* 
hour, they being troubled with pains so long before 
their labour comes, the reason of which is the heat of the reins, which is manifest by the swelling of 
the legs; therefore, when women with child find 
their legs to swell much, they may be assured 
their reins are 100 hot; my advice to such women 
is, to cool their reins before the time of labour, 
which may be affectually done by anointing the 
reins of the back with the oil of poppies and vio- 
lets, or water lilies, and thus they may avoid that 
hard labour which they usually undergo whose 
reins are hot, which, that they may the better pre- 
vent, let mp recommend to you the decoction of 
plaintain leaves and roots, thus made; make a 
strong decoction of them in water, and then hav-? 
ing strained and clarified it with the white of an 
egg, boil it into a syrup, with its equal weight of 
sugar, and keep it for use. The following section 
will show the time of a woman’s labour. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
SECTION HI. 
Signs by which the true time of Woman*s Labour 
may be known. 
WHEN women draw near the time of their 
reckoning, especially with their first child, and per- 
ceive any extraordinary pains, they immediately 
send for a midwife, expecting it is their labour, 
though perhaps those pains are only caused by 
cholic. These cholic pains may be removed by 
warm cloths laid upon the belly, and a clyster or 
two, by which all pains that precede real labour 
are rather aided than hindered. There are also 
other pains incident to women in that condition 
from the flux of the belly, which are easily known 
by the frequent stools that follow them. 
But to speak more directly of the matter, the 
signs of labour some few days before, are that the 
woman’s belly, which before lay high, sinks down,  hinders her from walking so easily as she used 
to do; there also flows from the womb slimy hu- 
mours, which nature has appointed to moisten and 
make smooth the passage, that its inward orifice 
may be the more easily dilated when there is oc- 
casion, which beginning to open at that lime, suf- 
fers that slime to flow away, which proceeds from 
the glands, called prestrata;. 
But when she is presently falling into labour, 
the signs are great pains about the reigns and loins, 
which coming and retreating by intervals, answer 
in the bottom of the belly by congruous throes; 
sometimes the face is red and inflamed, the blood 
being much heated by the endeavours a woman 
makes to bring forth the child; and likewise dur- 
ing the strong throes her perspiration is intercep- 
ted, which causes the blood to have recourse to her 
face; her privy parts are so swelled by the infant's 
head lying in the birth, which often thrusting, 
causes those parts to distend outwards. She is 
likewise, much subject to vomiting, which is also 
a sign of good labour, and speedy delivery, for 
good pains are thereby excited and redoubled; and 
vomiting is occasioned by the sympathy there is 
between the womb and the stomach; also, when 
the birth is near, most women are troubled with a 
trembling of thighs and legs; not with cold, like 
the beginning of an ague fit, but with the heat of 
the whole body. Also, if the humours which then 
flow from the womb, are discoloured with blood, 
it is an infallible mark of the birth’s being near; 
then if the midwife put her finger in the neck of 
the womb, she will find the inner orifice dilated, 
at the opening of which the membranes of the in- 
fant, containing the waters, present themselves, 
and are strongly forced downwards with each pain 
aristotlk's master-piece. 
55 she hath; at which time one may perceive them 
sometimes to resist the fingers; and then again to 
press forward, being more or less hard and extend- 
ed, according as the pains are stronger or weaker. 
These membranes with the water in them, when 
they are belore the head of the child, which the 
midwives call the gathering of the womb, to the 
touch of the finger resemble those eggs which 
yet have no shell, but arc covered only by a sim- 
ple membrane. After this, pains still redoubling* 
the membranes are broken by the strong impres- 
sion of waters, which presently flow away, and 
then the head of the infant is felt naked, and pre- 
sents itself at the inward orifice of the womb. 
When those waters come thus away then the mid- 
wife may be assured the birth, is very near, this 
being the most certain sign that can be; for the 
amnion and allantois being broken which contained 
those waters by the pressing fonward of the birth, 
the child is no more able to subsist long in the 
womb afterwards, than a naked man in a heap of 
snow. Now these waters, if the child come pre- 
sently after them, facilitate the labour, by making 
the passage slippery; and therefore let no midwife 
use means to force away the water, for nature 
knows best when the true time of the birth is, but 
if by accident the water breaks away too long be- 
fore the birth, then such things as will hasten may 
be safely administered. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
ffotu to provide the Birth, and Cause a speedy De* 
SECTION IV. 
livery. 
WHEN the birth is long deferred after the 
coming down of the waters, let her hasten it by a 
good draught of wine, wherein dittany, red coral* juniper berries, betony, pennyroyal, and feverfew 
have been boiled, or the juice of feverfew taken 
in its prime, and clarified and boiled in a syrup, 
and twice its weight in sugar, is very good upon 
this occasion: also, mugwort used in like manner, 
has a like effect: and so has a drachm of cinnamon 
in powder, given inwardly, or tanzy bruised and 
applied to the privities: also a decoction of savoury, 
made with white wine, gives a woman a speedy 
delivery: also the juice of leeks drank with warm 
water hath a mighty operation, causing speedy de- 
livery. There are several other things efficacious 
in this case, which I need not name. 
When any of the forenamed medicines have 
hastened the birth, let the midwife lay the woman 
in a posture for delivery. And first let the woman 
be conducted to a pallet bed placed at a conven- 
ient distance from the fire, according to the season, 
and place a quilt cloth with many folds, with such 
other things necessary, which may be changed ac- 
cording as occasion requires, that the woman may 
not be imeommoded with blood, Bcc. Let her lay 
the woman on her back, with her head, reins, and 
buttocks raised by a pillow; and let her keep her 
knees low, and thighs as far asunder as she can, 
her legs being bowed towards her buttocks, and let 
her feet be strayed against something firm; let two 
women hold her shoulders, that she may strain out 
the birth with more advantage, holding in her 
breath, and forcing herself in like manner as when 
she goes to stool, for by such straining the dia* 
phragm or midriff being strongly thrust down- 
wards, necessarily forces down the womb and the 
child in it. Let the midwife encourage her all 
she can, and be careful that she has no rings on 
her finger when she anoints the part; then with 
ARISTOTLES MASTER-PIECE* 
57 58 
her finger let her gently dilate the inward orifice 
of the womb, and, putting her finger in the entry 
thereof, stretch them from one another when her 
pains take place, by this means endeavour to help 
forward the child, and thrusting by degrees the 
sides of the orifice toward the hinder part of the 
child’s head, anointing those parts with fresh but- 
ter, if it be necessary. When the head of the in- 
fant is somewhat advanced into the inward orifice, 
it is usual among midwives to say it is crowned, 
because it both girds and surrounds it like a 
crown; but when it is gone so far, and the extre- 
mity begins to appear without the privy parts, they 
then say the child is in the passage; at this time 
the woman feels as if she were scratched with 
pins, and thinks the midwife hurts her, but is oc- 
casioned by the violent distention of those parts, 
which sometimes suffer laceration. When things 
are come to this, let the midwife seat herself con- 
viently to receive the child, and with her finger 
end let her endeavour to thrust back the crown- 
ing of the womb over the head of the child. As 
soon as it is advanced as far as the ears, let her 
take hold of the sides, and wait till the good pain 
comes, then quickly draw forth the child, taking 
care that the naval string is not entaugkd about 
the child’s neck, lest the after burden be pulled 
with violence, and perhaps the womb also, to 
which it is fastened, and so may either cause her 
to stool or to break the naval-string, both of which 
are of very dangerous consequence to ihe woman, 
and renders her delivery the more difficult by far. 
Great care should be also taken that the child’s 
head is not drawn forth straight, it should be 
shaken a little from one side to the other, very 
gently, that the shoulders may the sooner and the 
AUISTOTLE’s MASTER-PIECE. easier take its place immediately after it is past; 
which must be done without loss of time, lest the 
head being past, the child stop there by the large 
ness of the shoulders, and so be in danger of being 
suffocated in the passage, as it has sometimes hap- 
pened. When the head is born, she may slide in 
her ffngers, under the armpits, and the body will 
follow without difficulty. When the midwife has 
drawn forth the child, she must lay it on one side, 
lest the blood and water which follows may do it 
an injury, by running into its mouth and nose. 
The next thing is to bring away the after burden, 
but first let the midwife be very careful to ex- 
amine if there be any more children, for some 
times the woman may have twins, of which the 
midwife may be satisfied by the continuation of 
her throes, and the bigness of her belly; but this 
is not as sure as to put her hand up the entry of 
the womb, and feel whether there be another child 
presenting to the passage, if so, she must have a 
care how she goes about the after-birth, till the 
woman be delivered. The first string must be cut 
and tied with a thread three or faur double, and 
the end fastened to the woman’s thigh, to prevent 
the inconvenience it may cause by hanging. 
Aristotle’s master fiecb. 
SECTION V. 
Until after the burden is brought away; which 
sometimes is more difficult to do than the child, 
and as dangerous, if it be not speedily done. 
Therefore when the child be born, before the 
midwife either Vies or cuts the naval-string, lest 
the womb should close, let her wind it once or 
twice about one or two of the fingers of the left 
hand joined together, with which she may only 
Of the After-burthen. 60 
take single hold of it above the left, near the pri- 
vities, drawing likewise with that very gently, rest- 
ing awhile, with the fore finger of the right hand 
extending and stretching along the string towards 
the entry of the vagina, always observing lo draw 
it from the side to which the burden least inclines, 
for in so doing the rest will separate the better- 
extraordinary care must be taken that it be not 
drawn forth with too much violence, lest by break- 
ing the string near the burden the midwife be 
obliged to put her whole hand in to deliver the 
she had need to take care that the womb, 
to which soipetimes this burden is fastened very 
strongly, be not drawn away with it; it is there- 
fore, necessary to assist nature with proper reme- 
dies, which are in general what has been before 
mentioned, to cause speedy delivery; whatever has 
magnetic virtues to bring away the birth, has the 
same to bring away the after-birth—the midwife 
should order good jelly broth, and a little wine 
with a toast in it; sneezing being conducive to 
bring away the after-birth, she may take a little 
white hellebore powder; the smoke of marygold 
flowers received up a woman’s privities by a fun- 
nel, will bring away the after-birth; or, boil mug- 
wort till it be very soft, and apply it as a poultice 
to the naval, it will bring away the birth and after- 
birth, as soon as they are come it should be taken 
away instantly, lest it bring away her womb. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
Horn to cut the Child't "Saval-etring. 
SECTION VI. 
After the birth and after-birth is safely brought 
away, the midwife ought to take care to cut the 
naval string with caution.—As soon as the child is 
born, let her consider whether it be weak of strong, if weak, let her gently put back part of the 
'vital and natural blood in the body of the child by 
the naval: many children that are born seemingly 
dead, may be recovered by giving it six or severs 
drops of blood inwardly, out of that part of the na- 
val string she cuts off. 
*Tis a received opinion, that the parts adapted 
to generation are cither contracted or dilated, ac- 
cording to cutting the naval-string; but whether it 
be so or not, great care should be used in cutting 
it, and that it is not suffered to touch the ground,, 
for the child will not be able to hold its water.— 
Let the midwife take a brown thread three or four 
times double, of an ell long, a single not tied at 
each end, and tie the naval string within an inch 
of the belly, with a double knot, turning about the 
ends on the thread, let her tie two or more of the 
side of the string, then cut off the naval string 
another inch below the ligature, towards the after- 
birth, so there remains but two inches of the 
string. Some children have miserably lost their 
lives before it was discovered that the naval string 
was not well tied. 
As soon as the naval string is cut off, apply a 
Tittle cotton or lint in the place, lest the cold enter 
into the body of the child, which it will unavoida- 
bly do if not tied fast; then having put another 
email rag, four double, upon the body of the child, 
above the naval lay the string so wrapped upon it' 
ti ‘.t it may touch the naked belly. Upon the top 
of all put another small bolster; then swathe it in 
linen four fingers broad, to keep it steady. Mid- 
wives usually apply burnt rsg, but bole armonia m 
better because of its drying quality. 
SECTION 111- 
Of Monsters and uMonstrous Births, MONSTERS arc properly depraved conctjv 
lions, and are deemed by the ancients to be excur- 
sions of nature, and are always vicious either the 
figure, magnitude, situation or number. 
As to the cause of their generation, it is divine 
or natural; the divine cause proceeds from the 
permissive will of the great Author of our being 
suffering parents to bring forth such deformed 
monsters, as a punishment for their filthy and cor- 
rupt affections, like brute beasts that have no un- 
derstanding; yet there are many born depraved, 
which ought not to be ascribed to the infirmity of 
the parents. The matter may be in fault two 
ways, by defect, or excess; by defect, when the 
child hath but one arm or leg; by excess, when it 
has three hand or two heads, Some monsters 
arc also begotten by women’s bestial and unnatu- 
ral coition. The womb may be in fault three 
ways; first, in the forming faculty, which may be 
too strong, or too weak, and sometimes produce a 
depraved figure; secondly, the evil disposition of 
the instrument or place of conception, will cause 
a monstrous birth; thirdly, the imaginative power 
at the time of conception, is of such a force as to 
stamp a character of the thing imagined upon 
the child; thus the woman beholding the picture 
of a blackamoore, conceived and brought forth a 
child resembling an Ethiopean; by this the chil- 
dren of an adultress, though begotten by another 
man, may have the nearest resemblance to her 
own husband. The power of imagination was well 
enough known to the ancients, as is evident by the 
example of Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes 
of Israel, who having agreed with hi* faiher-in- 
law to have all the spotted sheep for the keeping 
his flock, to crscrease his wages took hstel rode. 
imsforMb s hasteA-piec*. peeling them with white streaks, and laid them 
before the sheep when they came to drink, and 
they coupled together whilst they beheld the rods, 
conceived and brought forth spotted young. Nor 
docs the imagination work in the child at the time 
of conception only, but afterwards also; as was seen 
in the example of a worthy gentlewoman, who be* 
ing big with child, and passing by a butcher kil* 
ling meat, a drop of blood spirted on her face, 
whereupon she presently said the child would have 
some blemish on his face, it was marked with a 
red spot. 
ARISTOTLE a MASTBR-PIBCB. 
Monsters are produced by the undue coition of 
man and wife when her monthly flowings arc upon 
her; which being against nature, no wonder that 
it should produce an unnatural issue. 
There has been some contending among au- 
thors whether those who are born monsters have 
reasonable souls, the result of both sides at last 
came to this; those who according to nature, arc 
descended from our first parents by the coition of 
man and woman, tho* their outward shape be de- 
formed and monstrous, have reasonable souls; 
But these monsters not begotten by man, but 
are the product of a woman’s unnatural lust, copu- 
lating with other creatures, shall perish as the 
brute by whom they were begotten- 
The first I shall present is a most frightful mon- 
ster indeed.— 
It was covered over with hair. Its naval was 
where its nose should be, its eyes where its mouth 
should be, and his mouth was in the chin. It wa* 
* male child* bom in France in the year |597« A Boy was born in Germany, with one head and 
body, having 4 ears, 4 arms, 4 thighs, 4 legs, and 
4 feet. 
Aristotle's master-piece. 
This birth, the learned, who beheld it, judged 
to proceed from the redundance of the seed there 
not being enough for twins, nature made the most 
of it. 
This child lived some years, and though he had 
four feet, he knew how to go, by which we may 
seoihe wisdom of Nature, or rather the God of 
Nature, in the formation of the body of a man. 
Heaven in our first formation, did provide, 
Two arms and legs; but what we have beside, 
Renders us monstrous and unshapen 100, 
Nor have we any work for them to do, 
Two arms, two legs are all that we can use, 
And to have more, there’s no wise man will choose. In the time of Henry the 3d, a woman was, 
delivered of a child, having two heads, four arms 
and the rest a twin under the naval, then beneath 
all the rest was single, as appears in the following 
figure. The heads were so placed they looked 
contrary ways, and each had two distinct arms and 
hands, They would laugh, speak, cry, and cat 
together; sometimes one would speak and the 
other would keep silence. It was of the female 
sex, and though it eat with two mouths there was 
but one fundament; it lived several years, yet one 
outlived the other three years, carrying the dead 
one, for there was no parting them, until it fainted 
'with the burden of the dead carcass. 
AfcISVOTLE’* UASTEE-rxeeß. 
A child was born in Flanders, with two heads, 
and four arms, seeming like two girls joined, hav- 
ing two arms, lifted above their heads, the thighs 
Were placed across each other, according to the figure. How long it lived we have no account of. 
Nature to us sometimes does Monsters show 
*That we by them may our own mercies know, 
And thereby sin’s deformity may see 
Than which there’s nothing can more monstrous be. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
PAUT 111. 
Displaying the Secrets of Nature relative to Phy 
siognomy. 
Of the Judgment of Physiognomy. 
HAIR that hangs down, is of a fair complexion, 
thin and soft, denotes a man naturally faint hearted, 
of a weak body, and a harmless disposition. Hair 
thick and short, denotes the man of strong consti- 
tution, bold, secret, deceitful, and for the most part, 
uneasy and vain, lusting after beauty. Hair partly 
curled §ed hanging down, is commonly a wise 
CHAPTER I. mad, a very great tool, or else a knave; Hair 
growing thick on the brow and temples, denotes 
a man simple, luxurious, lustful, dull of appre- 
hension. Hair that curleth very much and bush- 
eth out, denotes a >ian proud, bold, dull, soon an- 
gry, and given to lying. Hair thick all over the 
head, denotes a man vain, easy of belief, of weak, 
memory, venerous, and full of envy. Hair of a 
brownish colour and curling a little, denotes a well 
disposed man, a lover of peace and good manners. 
Whatsoever signification hair has in men, hath 
the same in women also. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
Thus does wise nature make our very hair 
Show all the passions that within us are; 
If to the bottle we are most inclin'd, 
Or if we fancy most the female kind. 
Jf into virtue's paths our minds we bend, 
Or into vicious ways ourfootsteps tend; 
A skillful artest can unfold the same, 
And from our hair a certain judgment frame. 
The forehead that riseth in a round, signifies a 
man liberally merry, of a good understanding, and 
inclined to virtue. He whose forehead is fleshy, 
the brow bone jutting out, without wrinkles, is in- 
clined to suits of law, contentious, vein and addict- 
ed to ill courses. He whose forehead is low and 
little, is of good understanding, and a great pre- 
tender to love and honour. He whose forehead is 
sharp and pointed in the corner of the temples, so 
that the bone seems to jat forth a little, is a man 
naturally weak and sickly. Hr. whose brow is 
"tinkled, is of great spirit, void of deceit, and yet 
°f hard fortune. 
Who view men well may on their vices hit, 
Tor some men's crimes are on their foreheads writ, But the resolved man outbraves his/ate, 
akistotl*’* wAST«antcr. 
Eye-brows much arched, in man or women 
which elevates themselves, shows the person to 
be proud, vain-glorious, bold and threatening. He 
whose eye-lids hang down when he speaks, and 
has a shulking look, is a penurious wretch, of few 
words, and full of malice. He whose eye-brows 
are thick, and but little hair on them, is weak and 
credulous, sincere and sociable. 
And will be good although unfortunate. 
77ms by the eye brovm women’s minds we know, 
Whether they’re white, or black, or quick, or slowj 
And whether they'll be cursed or be kind, 
By looking in their eye-brows we may find. 
Great and full eyes either in men or women, de- 
notes the person slothful, bold,envious given to ly- 
ing and of a bad memory. He whose eyes arc hol- 
low, is suspicious, furious, perverse in his convey 
sation and cruel. He whose eyes are small and 
conveniently round, is bashful, weak and cred- 
ulous. An eye rolling up and down, denotes a 
vain, simple man, lustful and treacherous. He or 
she whose eyes are twinkling, and move forward 
or backward, is unfaithful, treacherous, and hard 
to believe any thing,. He whose eyes are blood- 
shot, is naturally choleric, proud, disdainful, cruel 
and shameful. They whose eyes are neither too 
little por too big, and inclined to black, signifies a 
man peaceable, honest, witty, and of a good un- 
derstanding. 
Thus from the eye we several things may see, 
By nature'1 a art of physiognomy; 
That no man can scarce make a look awry. 
But we thereby, some secret symptoms may 
Discern of his intention, and for see. 
Unto which path his steps directed bej And this may teach us goodness more to prize, 
For where one's good there's twenty otherwise. 
Aristotle’s master-piece. 
69 
A long thin nose denotes a man bold, curious, 
angry, weak and credulous, easy to be persuaded 
to good or evil. A bottle nose denotes a man im- 
petuous in his desires, vain, false, weak and credu- 
lous. A nose sharp on the top, neither too long 
nor too short, too thick nor too thin, denotes a man 
of peevish turn, always pining and fretting. A 
nose that turns up again, and is long and full on the 
tip, shows the person to be bold, proud, covetous, 
a liar, and deceiver, vain glorious and unfortunate. 
Thus from the nose the physiognomist, 
Can tell men's inclination if we list; 
And from its colour and its make 
Of vice and virtue a survey can take, 
When the nostrils are close and thin, they de* 
note a man to have little testicles, and very desir- 
ous of the enjoyment of women, blit modest in 
conversation. He whose nostrils are great and 
wide, is well hung. 
Thus those who chiefly mind the brutal part, 
May learn to choose a husband by this art. 
A great wide mouth shows a man warlike,stout, 
a great eater, and liar. A little mouth shows the 
person to be quick and of a specific temper, some- 
what feai'fui, secret and modest. 
Thus from the mouthdlsdf we likewise see 
What signs of good and bad may gathered be; 
For let the wind blow east, west, north or south, 
Both good and bad proceed out of the mouth. ' 
The lips, when they are large, denotes a person 
foolish, dull and stupid. Lips well coloured, and 
more thin than thick, shows a person to be good 
humoured, and easier persuaded to do good than 
evil. The Hfia they so much dote on for a kiat, 
AKItTOTLB « HASTER-MHC*. 
Oft tellfond lovera when they do amiss. 
When the teeth are small, and weak in perform- 
ing their office, especially if they arc short and few, 
denotes a person of a meek disposition, honest, 
faithful and secret. To have some teeth longer 
than others, denotes a person to be of good appre- 
hension, disdainable, envious and proud. Teeth 
thin and weak, show a weak, feeble man, of short 
life and weak apprehension. 
Thus from the teeth the team'd cau for tend 
Whether man's stefis to vice or virtue bend. 
A tongue too swift in speech, shows a man fool- 
ish, or a very vain wit. A flamering tongue sig- 
nifies a man of weak understanding, of a weak 
mind, soon enraged, and easily pacified. A thin 
tongue shows a man of wisdom and sound judg- 
ment, very ingenious, yet sometimes timorous and 
100 credulous. 
No wonder 'tis that from men's sfieech we *eet 
If they are wise, or if they foolish be; 
But from a silent tongue our authors tell 
The secret passions within men that dwell. 
A great and loud voice in either sex, denotes 
the person of a great spirit, confident, proud, and 
wilful. A faint and weak voice denotes a person 
of a good understanding, a little eater, weak of 
body and timorous. A loud shrill voice denote* 
the person sagacious and ingenious, yet capri- 
cious, vain glorious and too credulous. A strong 
voice when a man sings, denotes a strong consti- 
tution, a good understanding, and amorous. 
Then by our voice 'tis to an artist known 
Unto what virtue or what vice we're pronei 
And he that qf a good wife will make choice% 
May choose her by observing qf her voice.. CONTEXTS. 
THE secrets of nature desplayed • - J 
Of the instruments of generation in Men - • S 
Gf the secret parts in Women - - • - 10 
Of the use and action of the several parts in Women, 
appointed to generation • . . • 18 
Of the restriction laid upon Men, fee. - • 20 
Of the happiness of the married state » « 21 
At what age young Men and Virgins, Sec. - • 23 
Of virginity, what it is, fee. . - • 35 
How virginity may be lost - . - 28 
What conception is; what is pre-requisite thereunto; 
how a Woman may know whether she bath 
conceived, and whether a Boy or a Girl - SI 
Of pre-requisites to conception - 32 
A word of advice to both sexes, fee. • » S3 
How & woman may know when she has conceived • ZS 
How to know whether a Waman ke conceived of a. 
male or female - - - . 3f 
How a Woman should order herself in order to 
conception - 38 
What a Woman ought to observe after conception . 41 
How the child is formed in the womb after con* 
ceptio.i * * - * * 42 
T>f the manner of the child lying in the womb from 
tha conception to the birth * . 43 
Of the obstruction of conception, with the cause 
and cure of barrenness, fee. . .if 
Of the signs of insufficiency in Men and barrenness 
in Women - . . 4y 
Of the cure of barrenness . . . 4s 
How Women ought to govern them*ekes during 
their pregnancy . - ; , , sr) CONTENTS. 
Further rules fer Women to observe during their 
pregnancy - - • . 51 
How a midwife ought to be qualified - . .53 
What must be done when the Woman’s time of la- 
hour is come • - • -53 
Signs by which the true time of Women’s labour 
may be known • - - 54 
How to provide the birth and cause a speedy delivery 56 
Of the after burden .... 59 
How to cut away the Child’s naval string . 60 
Of monsters, and monstrous births • • 61 
Of Urn judgment of Physiognomy • • • 66