[. . .] birth alwaies waiting and [t]aking your advantage that you maye have by every throw by which meanes you will have the bones to open without bruising the woman's boddy, which at such a time is usually very tender and cannot well endure the midwif's hand, as I have seene by expe[riance] when I have made use of an instrument the sick woman has wondred what I did to har. She said she did not feele that I touched har, though my instrument was not so good as this that is here prescribed. And at other times [. . .] and midwifes being presant wo[uld] wonder why the sick w[o]man should rather desire that a m[an] should doe that work for [. . .] then thay [. . .] was answered by [. . .]

and the enquiry ceased. But the treu reason is plaine: for by the help of an instrument the child is drawne right forward which by the hand only is but a litle stired to one side or other wherby nature is not soe st[i]red up to help itself as experiance dayly makes many fast. For when nature feells the child comming right forth it workes strongly, at such a time a woman will have kind and effectiall throws though before they could not be procured by the use of strong medisins. It is observed by very skilfull men that the womb hath a peculier monarky in itself and when in the time of travell [it] finds its labor in vaine it sitts [. . .] and cannot [. . .]