Statutes of Canterbury, I: 1213-14

p. 31 [30] At baptism of a male, two males and one female should receive the baptised; whereas a female should be received by two females and one male.

p. 32 [36] Women should be instructed to breast-feed their babies carefully, and not place the delicate creatures next to them at night in case they crush them [i.e., overlay them in their sleep].

[37] And they should hasten with them to baptism and to confirmation. It should be announced to them publicly in church that unless they bring the child to be confirmed within a year, both the father and the mother will be suspended from entering the church.

[38] If anyone is not confirmed by the time that they reach adolescence, they and their father and mother should be suspended from entering church, until they are confirmed.

[39] Each priest should instruct their parishoners in the form of words for baptising, and when they ought to say them, i.e. when the child is immersed, and what they ought to do in confirmation and after confirmation.

[42] The confessions of women should be heard in the open, where they can be seen by men but not heard [to prevent accusations of harassment being brought against priests who hear confessions].

p. 35 [59] Each priest should instruct the pregnant women of his parish that when that when they know that the time of their delivery is approaching, they should make sure that they can get hold of water quickly and have it ready, in case of danger threatening the child. And they should give their confession to the priest, in case they are taken by surprise and they cannot get the help of a priest when they need it.

Statutes of Salisbury I, 1217-1219

p. 68 [20, at end: long section on baptism].... It can be surely be said that a child does not believe according to what they learn through faith but according to how they were baptised. Since, therefore, the virtue and effectiveness of this sacrament is so great, and since it was set up by Our Lord and authenticated by His blood, we order that this sacrament should be celebrated with great honour and reverence and with great caution, especially in the pronunciation and enunciation of words, on which all the strength of this sacrament and the child's salvation depend. This is the form of words [in latin]; 'I baptise you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit'; or in french or english with this form of words. Priests should frequently teach that laypeople ought to baptise babies in urgent situations. Either the father or the mother should do this in cases of necessity, without damage to matrimony.

p. 69 [23] When a layperson has baptised a child in a case of urgency, the priest should always carefully interrogate the layperson to find out what they said and what they did. And if he finds that the layperson baptised carefully and in the Church's proper form, either in french or in latin or in english, he should approve what was done. If not, he should baptise the child [because the first baptism was void].

[24] When a child is elevated to the holy font three people at most should receive it, viz, for a male child two males and a female, and for a female child two females and one male. More is to the bad. However, more witnesses may be added, if they can be had, for various reasons.

p. 70 [28] When a woman dies in childbirth and it is certain that she is dead, she should be cut open if it is believed that the child is alive, that is, if the woman's mouth is open [so that the child can still breathe!]

[29] Women should be instructed to breast-feed their babies carefully, and not to place the delicate creatures next to them at night in case they crush them. They should not leave them alone without someone to watch over them in houses where there is fire or alone next to water; and this should be said to them every Sunday.

p. 80 [63] Again, when women come after childbirth to purification, priest should give them only bread which has been blessed and in no way give them the Lord's Body [i.e., consecrated wafers used at communion] unless they expressly seek this and have previously given their confession.

p. 89 [88] Priests should instruct pregnant women of their parish that when they know that the time of their delivery is approaching, they should make sure that they can get hold of water quickly and have it ready, and because of the imminent danger they should give their confession to the priest, in case they are taken by surprise and they cannot get the help of a priest when they need it.

Statutes of Winchester I, 1224.

p. 136 [66] Priests should teach their parishoners that newborn infants who they believe are going to die immediately may and should be baptised by a lay person. and for this reason they should teach them the correct form of baptism, which is: 'I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit', so that the sense and form of these words provide the solemnity of baptism which cannot be performed [because of the lack of time].

pp. 182-3: 'Constitutions of a certain bishop', 1225-1230.

[2] On baptism.

Now, we order that baptism should be celebrated with reverence and with great honour and very carefully, especially in the pronunciation and enunciation of the words, on which all the virtue of the sacrament and the salvation of the children depends, i.e., 'I baptise you, N., in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit', where the name of the child to be baptised is inserted; and priests should frequently teach the laity that they ought to baptise children in cases of urgency using this form of words in the language which they know best. At a time of great necessity [i.e., when the child is thought likely to die shortly after birth], the father and also the mother of the child may baptise it without prejudice to matrimony.

[3] Priests should instruct pregnant women of their parish that when they know that the time of their delivery is approaching, they should make sure that they can get hold of water quickly, and because of the imminent danger they should give their confession to the priest, in case they are taken by surprise and they cannot get the help of a priest when they need it.

p. 183 [4] If a woman dies in childbirth and it is certain that she is dead, she should be cut open if it is believed that the child is alive, if the woman's mouth is open, and the child should be drawn out and baptised.

[5] Women should be instructed to breast-feed their babies carefully, and not place the delicate creatures next to them at night in case they crush them [i.e., overlay them in their sleep].

[6] And they should hasten to bring them to baptism and to confirmation. Similarly, their husbands should also be instructed to do this.

[7] They should also be instructed not to leave their children alone in the house where there is fire or leave them alone near water without someone to look after them; and this instruction should be said often.

[8] In the same way, the priest should interrogate a layperson who baptised a child in a case of urgency, to discover what they said and what they did. If they find that the layperson baptised the child carefully and in the proper way, and used the complete form of words in their own language, they should approve what they did. If not, they should baptise the child [because the first baptism was invalid].

[9] When a child is elevated to the holy font three people at most should receive it, viz, for a male child two males and a female, and for a female child two females and one male.

Mandates of Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln, to his archdeacons: 1235-6.

pp. 204-5 [v] Also, arrange for it to be instructed by frequent preaching in each church that mothers and wetnurses should not place their little ones next to them in their beds at night, in case by chance they carelessly suffocate them, as often happens - and then they would be the cause of death to these children while doing something which they thought was cherishing their tender little lives.

Statutes of Coventry, 1224-37

p. 214. [21] Again, firmly instruct that no women should place her baby in her bed with her, unless it is at least three years old or thereabouts.

[22] Again, if it is placed in a cradle, the cradle should be supported so that it cannot roll over and the child fall out on its face.

[26] Again, we instruct that each priest should teach his parishoners to baptise their babies in cases of urgency according to the proper form of the Church, using these words: I baptise you, N., in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. And these form of words may be used in french or in english.

Statutes of Coventry, 1224-37: Tract on the Seven Deadly Sins.

p. 220 (the writer is setting out the results of drunkeness.) And many times we see drunks drown themselves in water and kill themselves and kill others, burn themselves in the fire in their own houses and burn themselves up with their own children. Every day we see fathers and mothers smother their own dear children. What more need I say? This sin makes the people poor and cursed.

Statutes of Exeter I, 1225-37

p. 233 [16] When a child baptised by a lay person is brought to church, to receive from the priest what they were lacking in that respect, the priest should inquire diligently what the person who baptised the child said and what they did. If they find that the child was baptised correctly and in the proper form of the Church, and used the complete form of words in their own language, they should approve what they did, adding what the layperson was not able to give, i.e. anointing the child on the crown of the head, the chest and the shoulders, and do the other things which precede and follow the immersion. He should say, 'I do not intend to rebaptise you, but if you are not baptised, I baptise you N in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'

[19] When a child is elevated to the holy font three people at most should receive it, viz, for a male child two males and a female, and for a female child two females and one male. More is to the bad. However, more witnesses may be added, if they can be had, for various reasons.

p. 234 [23] If a women dies in childbirth, and it is absolutely certain that she is dead, she should be cut open if the infant is believed to be alive, so that something which could be saved does not die; however, first the mouth of the women should be open so that the child enclosed in the womb can get air.

pp. 234-5 [25] Because it sometimes happens that homicide is perpetrated where none is intended but someone is to blame for the death, we enjoin on those who are responsible for the duty of baptism to diligently instruct women to breastfeed their babies carefuly, and not to place them next to themselves at night in case they crush them or in case of suffocation, and that they should hasten with them to receive baptism and to confirmation, so that they may be fully made Christians. For canon law testifies that in baptism we are given new life, and after baptism we are confirmed to fight and are strengthened against the struggles of this life. If parents fail to carry this out, they should be compelled to do it...

Statutes of Lincoln, 1239?

p. 274 [41] It should be explained frequently when preaching that mothers and wet-nurses should not place their little ones next to them in their beds.

Statutes of Worcester II, 1240

p. 320 [27] Each Sunday preachers should prohibit both mothers and wet-nurses from placing their delicate babies next to them in case they happen to suffocate their babies through injuring them or through their carelessness. Instead, babies should lie in cradles which are firmly supported [so that they can not tip up].

Statutes of Norwich, 1240-3

p. 351 [38] It should be explained frequently when preaching that mothers and wet-nurses should not place their little ones next to them in their beds.

Statutes of Winchester II, 1247?

p. 410 [49] It should be explained frequently when preaching that mothers and wet-nurses should not place their little ones next to them in their beds.

Statutes of Durham II, 1241-9

p. 432 [45] Mothers of small children should be instructed solemnly on saints' feast days [when they are in church] that they should not place their little ones next to them in their beds, as suffocation often occurs.

Statutes for Durham peculiars (i.e. churches of the diocese of Durham which were within the diocese of York), 1241-49?

p. 441 [22] When a woman dies in childbirth and it is certain that she is dead, she should be cut open if it is believed that the child is alive, that is, if the woman's mouth is open.

p. 444 [54] Priests should instruct pregnant women of their parish that when they know that the time of their delivery is approaching, they should make sure that they can get hold of water quickly and have it ready, and because of the imminent danger they should give their confession to the priest, in case they are taken by surprise and they cannot get the help of a priest when they need it.

[61] Women should be instructed to breast-feed their babies carefully, and not to place the delicate creatures next to them at night in case they crush them. They should not leave them alone without someone to watch over them in houses where there is fire or alone next to water; and this should be said to them every Sunday.

Statutes of Chichester I, 1245-52

p. 453 [10] If a woman dies in childbirth, she should be cut open if the infant is believed to be alive, and the infant should be baptised.

p. 457 [31] Priests should prohibit mothers from placing their infants with them in their beds.

Statutes of Ely diocese, 1239-56

p. 520 [24] Subjects should be instructed by frequent preaching by their prelates or priests that mothers and wet-nurses should not place their little ones next to them in their beds, on account of the dangers that are too frequently known to arise from this.

Statutes of Wells, 1258?

p. 590 [1]..... When a child is elevated to the holy font, through which godparentage arises, two males and a female should be admitted for males, and two females and one male for a female child. However, more witnesses may be added, if possible, for various reasons. And in order to be careful and avoid frequent hidden dangers, we order that pregnant women should be frequently instructed that when they believe that

the time of their delivery is coming, they should confess their sins to their priest while they can, so that they do not overtake them, and the means of confessing their sins is taken from them when they want to have it; and they should have water ready, so that the baby, if compelled by urgent necessity, as we said before, may be baptized. We also instruct that they should not presume to place their delicate babies next to them at night in case of accidents.

Statutes of London II, 1245-59

p. 635 [9] If a woman dies in childbirth, and it is absolutely certain that she is dead, she should be cut open if the infant is believed to be alive, so that so that something which could be saved does not die; however, first the mouth of the women should be open so that the child enclosed in the womb can get air to breathe; if it is alive it should be taken out and baptised in the aforesaid form.

p. 648 [65] We order the rectors, vicars and priests of churches to diligently instruct women that they should breastfeed their babies carefully and not place them next to themselves at night, in case they crush or suffocate them, and that they should hasten with them to baptism.

Statutes of Winchester III, 1262-5

p. 705 [21] Priests should instruct women that when they believe that their time for delivery is coming they should confess their sins to a priest, so that they will not be overtaken later, and will not be able to confess when they wish because they are prevented by the pains of childbirth.

PART TWO: 1265-1313

Statutes of Exeter II, 1287

p. 988..... we order that women should be enjoined by their parish priests that at the time of their delivery they have water ready to hand so that, in case of sudden necessity the baby can be baptised in the form which we have already set down by its parents, if no one else is present. Again, she should confess her sins to the priest face-to-face when she believes that the time of her delivery is coming, in case, when she wishes to confess the means of doing so is not available because she is prevented by the pains of childbirth. [Goes on to instruct that parents should bring their children to be baptised and gives details of how many godparents are needed.]

p. 992. Women should confess in the open and unveiled, so they cannot be heard but can be seen.