It was this danger which led to the prosecution of women who practised without licences. The Churchwardens at Lee presented “the Widow Goney and the wife of Thomas Gronge being midwives & not sworne.” In Hadingham they report “We have two poore women exercising the office of midwives, one Avice Rax and the wife of one John Sallerie,”[640] and elsewhere “Dorothye Holding wief of Jo. Holding & Dorothye Parkins wief of Wᵐ Parkins” were presented “for exercising the office of midwives without License.”[641] Footnote 640: _S.P.D._, ccxcvi., 17. August 21, 1635. _Visitation presentments by the Churchwardens._ Footnote 641: _S.P.D._, ccxcv., 6. August 19, 1636. The fees charged by midwives varied from £300 in the case of the French Midwife who attended the Queen, to the sum of 1s. 6d. paid by the Parish of Aspenden to the midwife who delivered a woman “received by virtue of a warrant from the justices.”[642] In most cases the amount paid by the parents was supplemented by gifts from the friends and relations who attended the christening.[643] Thus the baby’s death meant a considerable pecuniary loss to the midwife. An example of her payment in such a case is given in Nicholas Assheton’s diary; he enters on Feb. 16, 1617. “My wife in labour of childbirth. Her delivery was with such violence as the child dyed within half an hour, and, but for God’s wonderful mercie, more than human reason could expect, shee had dyed, ... divers mett and went with us to Downham; and ther the child was buried ... my mother wᵗʰ me laid the child in the grave.... Feb. 24, the midwyfe went from my wyffe to Cooz Braddyll’s wyffe. She had given by my wyffe xxs and by me vs.”[644] Footnote 642: _Hertford County Records_, Vol. I., p. 435. 1698. Footnote 643: The Rev. Giles Moore “gave Mat [his adopted daughter] then answering for Edwd. Cripps young daughter 5s. whereof shee gave to the mydwyfe 2s. & 1s. to the Nurse. Myself gave to the mydwyfe in the drinking bowle 1s.” (_Sussex Arch. Coll._, Vol. I., p. 113. _Rev. Giles Moore, Journal._) Later is entered in the Journal, he being god-father “1674. Mat was brought to bed of a daughter. Gave the mydwyfe, goodwyfe & Nurse 5s. each.” (_Ibid._ p. 119.) After Lady Darce’s confinement at Herstmonceux Castle, is entered in the accounts “paid my Lord’s benevolence to Widdow Craddock the midwife of Battle £5. 0. 0.” (_Sussex Arch. Coll._, Vol. xlviii. 1643-1649.) Entries in a similar book of the Howard family give “To my young ladye’s midwyfe xxˢ (p. 227-8). To Mrs. Fairfax her Midwife by my Lord xxˢ ... by my Ladie xxˢ. More to Mrs. Fairefax her midwife by my Ladie’s commaund iijˡⁱ” (_Howard Household Book_, p. 263. 1629.) Sarah Fell records the presents given to her sister’s midwife—Jan yᵉ 1st 1675