A VOICE IN RHAMA: OR, The Cry of Women and Children.  
Echoed forth in the Compassions of PETER CHAMBERLAIN, Doctor in Physic, Fellow of the College of London, and one of his Majesty's Physicians Extraordinary.  
LONDON, ¶ Printed by WILLIAM BENTLEY: for John Martial, and are to be sold at his shop at the Hand and Pen in Cornhill, over against the Royal Exchange.  
Anno Domini 1647   

Imprimatur.  
JOHN DOWNAME.   

¶ A Voice in Rhama.  
Blood (which polluteth a land, and cries aloud to heaven) runs yet fresh from the innocent veins of Women and Children, for want of some charitable Samaritans to bind up the Wounds which Ignorance and Disorder amongst some uncontroled femal-Arbiters of Life and Death, and others daily make. The conscience whereof, as formerly it moved my pious Father to represent it to King JAMES, so hath it me to move it since unto the King my Master; who (by mediation of that truehearted Honour of Nobility, the Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomery) read the Petition, and vouchsafed a gracious reference. And it received the teste and approbation of those two learned Columns of our Faculty, Sr Theodore de Mayerne, and Sr Matthew Lister. The benefit being computed (over and above the bettering of health and strength to Parents and Children) to the saving of above three thousand lives a year in and about London, beside the rest of England, and all other parts where the same Order might have been propagated.  
A design (I thought) so full of Piety that no man would,— so full of Innocence that no man could,— so full of Importance and general concernment that no man durst have opposed.  
But the Prince of Darkness had an hour over the Lord of Life: much more might this find enemies, though to their own hurt.  
What discredit had it been for a Profession, which lies under common disgrace and contempt, to attain to the Gravity and Honour of Order and Government?  
What burden had it been for a Calling, which requires knowledge, to be made more knowing and full of experience?  
What loss had it been to increase the number of the Living, which cannot but be an increase of employment to all sorts of Trades and Professions whatsoever? yea, to the very Grave-maker, had he but patience to suspend his Harvest till the Young grew up to increase and multiply (not untimely but) more and larger Graves? What shall I conclude? Folly is as certainly wedded to Wickedness, as Wisdom is to Goodness.  
They sold their Quiet for Trouble, their Credit for Shame, and their Gain for Loss.  
Yet are not some weary of contriving mischief, who (as if the poison of Asps were under their lips) cease not to defame, slander, and condemn all I have, all I do: not sparing my very thoughts, and future intentions: degrading my Titles, disabling my Practice, misconstruing all my Christian designs, and limiting all my studies to the bare manual operations of Deliveries. And they also scandalised with Uncharitableness and Avarice.  
Nevertheless, I had patiented myself with silence had the Public Good gone on: but finding the Commonwealth still wounded through my sides and so much Blood at stake: I could do no less than remove that obstacle, by publishing a free Relation of so much of me as concerns these particulars, or so much of these particulars as may serve to satisfy all that love Truth: without barking at them that bark, or wounding their Names so much as with their own infamous Histories, or mention.  
I know to whom Vengeance belongeth, and I have not so learned Christ as to invade his Prerogative. My duty is to do good for evil, and to enthrone each Member of our Faculty in the true Orb it ought to shine in, were they as willing to accept as I to offer my endeavours. For (alas) it is too grievous to think what a Deluge of Blood lies on their Graves or Consciences since these thirty years that my Father attempted this Charity, and thirteen years since I, in his example, revived it. And it were a Querie worth laying to heart; Whether ever these Wars, Plagues, and Troubles will have an end, till some Compassion be had, and Remedy allowed against these Unprofitable unknown Cruelties: But that's above. I come unto myself.  
My birth was in May, sixteen hundred and one, in the Precinct of the Blackfriars, London. I boast not the Norman Family of Tankervile, nor any Lordly extraction of England. My rejoicing is to be of the Escapes of Parisian Massacres, and of honest Parents, fearing God, for which beloved, and well reported of by Neighbours.  
They gave me education in Schools, Universities and Travels. The vacancy of Schooling was improved to galenical and Chemical Preparations, and some v Operations, by the assiduous care of an indulgent Father, of known fame and success in all the Parts of Physic, besides the opportunities I had from others of my Paternal and Maternal kindred, not lightly esteemed of in the same.  
At the University I piddled in Chirurgery, amongst my fellow-Pupils of Emmanuel College in Cambridge.  
I did Public Exercises in Heydelberg and Milan: and (ere nineteen suns had measured out my Nativity) received the Doctoral Robes of that University, and wore my Scarlet under that worthy Professor of Oxford Doctor Clayton, and the next year under the Doctor of the Chair in Cambridge.  
I confess, my Degree seemed big unto myself, and the pointings of the finger died my Cheeks with the reflection of my Robes, Yet I was led into Practice, which God blest with Gifts of Healing.  
Then Fame begot me Envy, and secret Enemies, which mightily increased when my Father added to me the knowledge of Deliveries, and Cures of Women. Yet I was admitted into the fellowship of the College of London, and became subordinat unto my Seniors. Thus I grew up to Titles and Privileges.  
But Titles give not Learning, nor Learning Experience: therefore if their Lincius Dragon-eyes could have justly pried into the Deficiency or Errors of my Practice, I had (no doubt) more loudly heard on't. But to have left little place to men of Learning and Experience to vaunt their Discoveries or Success, where I have been gravelled: and to have been constant to those Remedies which now the Generality and best approved of our Faculty incline to (as by Apothecary's books of thirty years past, compared with the present might appear) secure me from just taxations, and vindicate me from the Crowd of the Ignorant, where some pernicious tongues of impudence would rank me  
I might question them what gross stupidity they ever observed in me, that being nursed up (as from the cradle) to all the Parts of Physic, and that in Asclepiad-Families I should be wanting in the common knowledge of Clysters, Apozemes, Potions, Pills, Juleps, Cordials and the like, which they are ready (how ignorantly or unjustly soever) to allow to young Apothecaries, and to their very Apprentices. Or what supine neglect, that in twenty seven years I might not have benefited so much by all my Books, Conferences, Observations, and Practice, beside my former Studies and Travels, as to be valued with one of seven years' study of Physic in the University without Practice?  
I might admonish them of the indignity they offer to the Universities, and to the College of Physicians in London, by doubting my Title: intimating either a Disability in them all to judge, or a Dishonesty in them all, to testify so partially for Ignorance, and give it place among the Learned.  
And for the Limitation of this Title to Deliveries, in regard I obtained the one before I pretended to the other, and that none of the Professors were versed in that way, this might seem to judicious men the most ridiculous detraction of all the rest, and of greatest unlikelyhood. Yet this, by the politic malice of the Ungrateful, and wilful ignorance of the Envious, hath taken greatest place, even amongst many, who ought to be better acquainted with Academic proceed. They cunningly allow me a transcendency in the particular of Deliveries, that they may the more securely deny me my due in Physic, as if the one were privitive or destructive to the other. And, having thus denied me the general, some recoil back, and question even that particular, till they leave me nothing at all. But these are Backbiters, things, that hate the light: yet if any amongst them be of sufficient learning and repute to come in competition, and have an itch to prosecute this Calumny any further, I refuse not (the same as in former times) to enter the Lists (not so much of learned noise and scolding, which commonly gins in Words, multiplies to Names, and ends in Blows: being hardly determined by the learned, and which I neither love, nor refuse, as) of real Cures, and written Consultations, wherein both Learned, and Unlearned may be Judges.  
No doubt but all that know me would wonder much to hear me thus plead my Right, but that they cannot but wonder more that there is such occasion given.  
Meum and Tuum divide the World into Factions, into Atoms: and till the World return to its first simplicity, or (as in the morning of the Gospel) to a Christian Utopia, there will be repine, and Covetousness will be the Root of all Evil. This, This is the true Cause that fills their hearts with Malice, and their mouths with Slanders: that what good soever I have done, or endeavoured to do is misconstrued, or forgotten; and the evil I never did is laid to my charge, though I am not free from evil.  
I am no Pharisee, yet I justify my deal with Men before God and Man, and plead not guilty of the sacrifice of Conscience to their grand Idol Avarice.  
First, My Possessions cry not out against me, they being reduced nigh to their first Principles, of mine and my wife's Portion. Only a better Portion is added to us, of nine small children.  
Secondly, The Poor cannot justly clamour against me, they having as freely enjoyed my Counsels and Labours, both in Medicines and Deliveries, as the Rich; even then when the burden of all the Midwives in and about London lay only on my shoulders, what ever the virulency of tongues have blazoned to the contrary; till some more eager of the employment than myself, and more knowing how to make it gainful (after I had discharged my Conscience in my offer to the Public) intruded into what I willingly refigned.  
An Argument of no small force to prove the discontents I found in that kind of Practice.  
Thirdly, I could not well be guilty of exaction: 1 For that I seldom bargained before hand, or not above twenty times when exceedingly animated by some fresh injuries and gross abuses; although I hold not bargains unlawful, so long as the Labourer is worthy of his hire. 2 They were entrusted with my Operations before they rewarded me with their Purse. 3 I never arrested any for what was due, whether by bargain, promise, or otherwise: although in all abused. 4 I never demanded the full value of the Operation, if equally compared with other matters of price, or other great Operations of Chirurgery, or mine own chargeable Education, or with any other Examples.  
That Operation merits 100 li. as well as other Cures or Operations, according to the value of Lives and Estates. Yet for one who hath paid me 10 li. I have delivered 100 for nothing, as many for little or nothing, and as many for less than nothing; such as thought it a point of wisdom to save their Purse and pay me with Lies and Scandals, insufferable Scandals, and so frequent till they caused me abhor the work itself. Yea, my very Charity hath been often, and is to this day retorted as an Argument against my due: as if it were a part of great Injustice to have given away or undervalved my Art to some, and not to do the like to all. Because I considered the Case of the Poor, therefore I ought not to be considered of the Rich.  
And who will be rich in matter of payment? Truly, scarce an Alderman's fellow. Perhaps some one Black Swan or Phoenix will be liberal, or pay his money without abatement, or grudging: but 100 for that one, will either slip out of the way, or pay half, or a fourth part (if any thing at all) and that repiningly, and sometimes reproachfully.  
This is the fruit of after-games, or prostituting an Art to the Candour of them that know it not: but it must be so no more. To prevent therefore, both discontent on the one side, and dishonesty on the other, I resolve (as others use to do, and as they have hitherto falsely reported of me) to afford my Labours to none but such as trust me with their money before I trust them with my Art, which I shall afford at 10 li. to any that are reputed worth 1000 li. and in lesser proportion to such as shall bring with them the testimony of their Minister, and Neighbours of their meaner condition: and if the Certificate rank them amongst the Poor I shall as freely as ever give them assistance. But if any (except Kindred, Friends, Patients, or Ministers) address themselves unto me without the former conditions, let them not think it strange if I turn my former affabilities into future denials, and that I lay myself less open to affronts in that kind than formerly.  
The Draper is not bound to find Cloth for all the naked, because he hath enough in his shop, nor yet to afford it at the Buyers price. The Lawyer is not obliged to spend his voice and spirits for all the Injured in Forma Pauperis, because he pleads well, and shall be heard. Acts of Charity are more due from Kindred than from Strangers. When a Husband of sufficient means shall not think his Wife nor Child's life worth 10 li. I am not bound to bestow that on them which is of more value. I could instance many such kind Husbands, and of late, one who valued his word at above 500 li. but the danger of his Wife not above 5 li. and that in question of cavilling, if need had required it. In sum, I am wholly tired out with the injuries, vexations, and losses of the business.  
I have served the Commonwealth now twenty seven years, toiling both early and late, not without the frequent hazard of my Life. I have spent my Youth and Industrey for Food and Raiment, never receiving any Public Encouragement, or Gratuity, but to be valued beyond my Condition or Demerit in Taxes. I have served these many years the King and Queen by special Commands, and in some especial services, receiving only one Reward and a Diamant-Ring from her Majesty, but not any stipend at all from Either. And if the same Diligence and Industrie had been employed with the same Stock either in Trade, Merchandise, or the Laws: or in Negotiations for the Court or State, I cannot think so meanly of God's endowments and blessings, as not to have culminated with the best of my Equals. But enough of boasting, if yet the Commonwealth may receive the benefit intended: for which I thus argue.  
First, If my Ways and Titles, are justifiable▪ why may not the State as well resent a Proposition of Public Good from me as from another? And if from me, than this is one Proposition I do yet recommend; That some Order may be settled by the State for the Instruction and Civil Government of Midwives.  
Secondly, Though my Ways and Deal were not justifiable, yet why may not so much good as I am able to do herein be accepted, and the evil that is found in me be restrained or punished?  
Thirdly, Though I were the worst of men, so as not worthy to be named, yet why are not some more worthy Persons employed in this Proposition, or it examined whether it tend to good or no, and so much as is good be retained, the rest waved and condemned?  
Doth the Argument sound well, that because I am said to be evil, therefore the Commonwealth must want a Benefit of no relation at all to that evil? because I am pretended to be Ignorant, or Covetous, or both, therefore some ignorant Women, whom either extreme Poverty hath necessitated, or hardheartedness presumed, or the Game of Venus intruded into the calling of Midwifery (to have the issues of Life and Death of two or three at one time in their hands, beside the consequence of Health and Strength of the whole Nation) should neither be sufficiently instructed in doing Good, nor restrained from doing Evil?  
Shall want of Precedent be here objected? May such, as will, nor be Wise, nor religious but by Precedent, ever want Precedent to be either? Yet this hath Precedent in some Foreign examples.  
The Objection infers thus much, Because there was never any Order for instructing, and governing of Midwives, therefore there never must be. Because multitudes have perished, therefore they still must perish. Because our Forefathers have provided no remedy, nor knew any, therefore we must provide none, though we know it. If all our Forefathers had subscribed to this Argument, there had never been beginning of those many conveniencies we now enjoy, and we had been left to the World's first ignorance and nakedness. And it follows also, That because our Forefathers adored Idols and Devils, therefore we must do the like.  
It may be when Bishops are restored again, their Ordinaries will come in to plead their care.  
Of what? Truly that none shall do good without their leave.  
That none shall have leave, but such as will take their Oath and pay Money.  
That taking this Oath and paying their Money with the testimony of two or three Gossips, any may have leave to be as ignorant, if not as cruel as themselves, and that none shall have the Privilege to be so certainly forsworn as these who swear impossibilities: but of Instruction or Order amongst the Midwives, not one word.  
O that Christians and well-minded People would lay these premises to heart. If this Voice in Rhama, If this Cry of Women and Children, be so: loud and lamentable, how ought every one to play the good Samaritane? how ought every man to play the wise Man to consider his own interest, lest his own health be at stake in it? And though it were a figment, yet ought it not still cry without a hearing.  
I call not particularly upon Magistrates and Ministers, they commonly are wise, and know best what use to make of such intimations, and how far they are engaged in Conscience to promote it, and by what ways. And for myself, I suppose I need not appear any further in it. I and my Family are out of Gunne-shot, of the forementioned dangers. I have formerly cast pearls before Swine, and found the issue.  
I now have unfolded my Talon from the Napkin. I have washed my hands, I have delivered my soul.  
The Mighty God of Compassions bless this Public Information to his Glory. Amen.  
FINIS.