Note 28 — SCENE I.—A Room in the Wise-woman’s House.

Those be kitchen-maids, and chamber-maids, and sometimes good men’s daughters, who, having catched a clap,[28] and growing near their time, get leave to see their friends in the country, for a week or so: then hither they come, and for a matter of money here they are delivered. I have a midwife or two belonging to the house, and one Sir Boniface, a deacon, that makes a shift to christen the infants; we have poor, honest, and secret neighbours, that stand for common gossips.[29] But dost not thou know this?