Chapter II: Part 2

The kéeper of Bées which mindeth to handle and looke into hiues, ought the day before to refraine the veneriall acte, not a person fearefull, nor comming to the hiue with vnwashed handes and face. And one that oughte to refraine in a manner from all smelling meates, poudered meates, fryed meates, and all other meats that doe stinke, like as the Léekes, the Onions, the Garlike, and suche like, whiche the Bées greatlye abhorre. Besides, to be then swéete of body, and clenly in apparell, minding to come to their hiues, for in all clenlinesse and swéetnesse the Bées are muche delighted. Nowe thus prepared & in a readinesse, open the hiues first of the Bées, about the .viij. or .x. day of Aprill, being then a cleare & warme day, & purge the hiues of all such filth which be gathered in them all the winter before, like as Spiders webs, which oughte especially to be wiped awaye, bicause they corrupt the combes, not with hands, but with a goose wing, the same ought to be done. After that, the Hiue oughte to be smoaked with Oxe or Cowe dung, for in that (as it were, by an affinitie of the kinde) do the Bées greatly delight. The little wormes also, whiche some name Maggots, that bréede in the combes, throughe the blowing of the Butterflies, and also the Butter-flyes ought to be killed and purged oute of the hiue. If the combes happen to fall throughe infection or corruption in them, then make a smoake with the drie dung and marowe of an Oxe or Cowe mixed togither, that the sauour may go vppe to them, whiche for that time will cure the weake combes, strengthen the Bées, & cause them to worke the lustier afterward. And from the beginning of May, vnto the last of Iune, the hiues ought then to be diligently looked vnto, that the yong swarmes flye not away. Also from the tenth of Iune, vnto the tenth of August, the hiues ought to be opened now & then, & to be smoked with such like as afore is taught. Whiche althoughe it be grieuous for the time to Bées, yet the same is very profitable, and strengthneth them. And from the beginyng of the Dog dayes, vnto the eightéenth of September, ought the Bées to be carefully looked vnto and defended, from the violence of the Hornet Bées, which often awaite before the mouthes of the Hiues, to set vppon and eate the Honny Bées. Nowe the kéeper in a fayre sunny daye, ought to clense the Hiues of al maner annoyances as before is taught, and diligently to stop the chincks, or clefts about, sauing the mouthes of the Hiues, with Oxe dung & clay mixed togither. And this ought to be done, for two or thrée daies before the change of the Moone, the better to defend the Butter flye and others, from créeping in. The Hyues besides ought to haue two bigge stickes cleane scraped, and running a crosse from side to side, and sprinckled rounde about within, and swéete and pleasant wine, or else the stickes to be harde rubbed ouer, with the gréene braunches of the Fennell or other swéete smelling herbs, or with a little hony & leaues of the Pere-trée, togither, or with the branches of the herb Time flouring, or Sanerie, or Maiorame, or the hearbe Balme, and Honny togither. Some annoint the stickes and hiue within, with the swéete creame of the newe Cowe milke, or with Water and Honnye sodden togither, and that sprinckled aboute within the Hyue, that the Bées maye be the rather and sooner moued to tarrie and dwell stil in the Hiues.

¶ How Bees lacking honnie may be fedde in that present
neede. Cap.xviij.

Bycause the boysterousnesse of the ayre doth sometimes constraine the Bées to abyde in their hiues, and that they may not only féede of Honny, but at the rysing of the constellation (named _Vergiliæ_) they maye be fed and cherished, and the same done in this manner without greate cost. As firste, if you take the number of ten figges, séething them in sixe pintes of fayre conduite or spring water, vnto a pynte wasted, whych after set the one side of the hiue within, laying many smal stickes a crosse ouer the Lycour, that those may serue in stead of bridgs, the apter for them to drinke of the Licour, without drowning in the same. Others wyll to séeth Honny and water togither, & the same to be poured into dishes set at the one side of the Hiue, in the whiche they will to put fine carded wooll, that the Bées maye the better drincke now and then, and be not cloyed with too much drinking of the licour, by lighting into it. Others take figs & raisons beating them togither, and after boyling them in the swéete lycour named Cuyte, they poure into dishes, couering the same with Oaten strawes a crosse. Others also will to take a little Hony, putting into the same a fewe Oate cornes, that the Bées lighting on them, maye so kepe their wings from wetting in the licour. Now all these meanes may well suffise to cherish and féed the bées in the Winter time, lacking then foode, beyng set neare to the mouthes of the Hiues. So that if a longer hunger oppresseth them, then with the hiues fast by the entring in, set little gutters made of halfe canes, or greate elder stickes cleft, into which poure of the swéete licours aboue taught, for by that meanes may they be wel recouered and strengthned in the déepe of Winter, when their foode fayleth them. Some wil to put fresh birdes cleane drawne, or the fleshe of a Henne finely shred into hiues, for the Bées to féede and sucke vpon in the déepe of Winter, & the fine feathers also they will put into the Hiue, that they may giue then a warmth to the Bées lying in them. And others also will to put the meate of rosted Chickens into their Hiues, to féede and sucke vppon, and not the boanes withall, least the sauour of the bones after the meate eaten off, might annoy the bées by lying still in the hiues, in that they so greatly abhorre all sowre and stinking sauors. Also these kinds of flesh ordered (as aboue sayde) may well serue the Bées in another drie Sommer, when as the most floures are then faded or quite gone away. Here note, that in the Spring and Sommer time, the bée-hiues ought to be loked vnto thrice in the moneth, gently smoking the Bées, to clense the Hiues of al maner filth, and to swéepe forth the wormes. Also _Menecrates_ willeth the kéeper of Bées, to kill the king blacke of colour, whiche by hys malice disquieteth the other king, and corrupteth the Hiue, in that he flieth out alone, or with a company of the bées folowing. So by that meanes (as _Virgil_ writeth) shall the battel of Bées be stayed. _Palladius_ writeth, that the swarmes be increased in the moneth of May, and that in the outmost sides of the combes be the drone Bées bred, which ought to be killed, in that those do muche disquiet the rest of the swarme. The Butterflies also do abounde, which he willeth diligently to kill, for their greate annoyaunce to the honny Bées.

About the beginning of Nouember ought the Hyues then to be cleared of their filth, so that al the Winter following they may neyther be remoued nor opened. And this may not be done but in a warme sunny daye, the combes maye not be touched with hands, but with the feathers of a stiffe goose wing, or such bigge foule. After that to stoppe the chinkes round about wyth Oxe dung and clay finely laboured togither, and to lay strawe thicke ouer the toppes of the Hiues, the better to defende the Bées from the cold and tempestes.

¶ How the dead Bees may be restored to life
againe. Cap.xix.

The kéeper of bées ought to foresée and take héede, that the Bées perysh not through ouer great heate, or ouer mighty cold. If at any time by a sodaine showre in the séeking for foode, Bées happen to be beaten downe, or nipped wyth a sodaine colde (which seldome so commeth to passe that the Honny bées are so deceyued,) that harmed with the droppes, they lye grouelyng and flatte on the earth, as dead in a manner, then gather the Bées togyther, putting them into some vessel for the nonce, which after set in a warm chamber or Parloure, & couer warm ymbers, being somewhat more than hote, on the Bées, whiche gently shake with the ashes, but in suche sorte that you touche them not wyth your hande. And setting the Bées in the sunne, and neare to their hiues, they will after recouer, and flie again into their cotages.

¶ Of the battel that Bees sometime haue among
themselues. Cap.xx.

_Vergill_ writeth, that the Bées sometimes minding to fighte, do hastily brust out of the Hiues, and as it were in ciuill battels among themselues, do fight lyke strangers one against the other, & smite eagerly in their fight one at an other. If so be one hyue hath especially two kings bred vp in the same, whych very well may be knowne, when as the bées clustered and heaped togither, doe represente or represse as it were the forme of two beardes hangyng downe. Now theyr readinesse to fight is knowen, when in the ayre is heard a greate sounde and noyse among the Bées lyke to the manner of Trumpets, whiles they fiercely and cruelly fighte togither among themselues, & in this battell they glitter with the wings, sharpen the stings with their beakes, beare forth their breastes, and about the king they gather and swarme. So that they shoute wyth great noyse, flying and dashing togither, and that in heapes and rounde companies mixed or ioyned togither, and greate is the noyse made among them. And to be shorte, in this strong and eager battell, many of them fal headlong downe, and that thicker then haile stones to the ground.

The kings themselues in the meane time flying in the middel frontes, doe fight with a fierce courage within themselues, and they also are séene to flie hither and thither among thicke heapes and swarmes of the Bées, (like as valiaunte Capytaines are wont to do in the time of a battell) with their glistering wings and beakes, beating downe of the swarmes, here & there and on eche side of them, of both partes. So that of themselues not giuyng ouer this eager battell, untill the one part be forced to turne the backe to the other, and flye away with expedition. Therfore that this doubtful battel in the meane time may be ceased and quieted betwene them, the wise practisers wyll that the kéeper of Bées, do staye and appease this broyle of them, by the casting of fine earth ouer the Bées, whiles they be thus fighting, which (as the wise affirme) of experience doth forthewith pacifie the great stomackes and courages of both partes. But if this auayleth not, then with honny and water sodden togither, or raysons in like order, or with any other swéete licour sprinckled on them, is their furie appeased, whiche doth as it were with the pleasaunt swéetenesse, quiet the irefulnesse of the warriours, and wyth the same in this controuersie they are maruelously appeased. If neyther of these remedies do yet preuaile, then let the keper marke diligentlye those Bées whyche fyghte in the fronte, and bee moste eager Capytaines, that hee maye kill them with expedition, for by that meanes, and with the other remedies aboue taughte, maye the battels and fight of the wariours be throughly ceased.

Now after the Bées are thus quieted, and the swarme setled rounde on some gréene bowe nexte hande, then marke whether the whole swarme hangeth downe like a cluster of grapes, whiche so séeing, declareth there to bee eyther one king or two, by good agréement reconciled, whiche let alone on such wise, vntil they flye backe vnto their proper home. But if the swarme shal be deuided into two or many round clusters, then iudge that there be yet manye Captaynes lefte, and that their yre is not ceased: and in those partes, where you especially sée the bées to cluster moste thicke and rounde togyther, there diligently séeke out the Captaynes. Yet annoynt your hand before with the iuyce of the hearbe Baulme, that touching or handling the Bées, they flye not hither and thither, after which put in your fingers gently, and seuering the Bées asunder, seke diligently among them, vntil you finde out the author and procurer of the battell, whiche you oughte likewise to kill. _Vergill_ writeth, that the kings sometimes fly forth for a vaine delight, to sport them flying in the aire, which you may easily stay and let, if that you pluck of the kings wings, that he cannot afterward flye.

¶ How Bees, may be recouered and founde againe.
Cap.xxj.

If it so happeneth that bées are flowen away, & that you be in doubte whether they be lodged neare hande, or farre off, _Palladius_ doth instructe and teache many goodly wayes to finde them againe. First he teacheth to take red leade, or red Oker infused in water, or any other colour, stayning, and to carry the same wyth you in a little shallow dishe. Vnto suche a spring or running water as the honny bées haunte, especially in the moneth of Aprill. And there sitting downe, awayte the comming of the Bées to drinke, which after they be come, and there drinkyng, stayne in the meane whiles such bées, with your rush coloured redde at the ende, as you may well retche with the same, sitting yet stil, and watching the comming againe of those Bées marked to drinke, whiche if they shortlye returne, then is it an euidente note and token, that their lodging and cottages be neare hande, but if those Bées are long before they returne and come againe to the place, then maye you suppose and iudge them to be farre off, and the distaunce you may gesse, according to their long tarrying and soone comming againe. That you maye easily finde the place where the Bées lodge, whether the same bee farre or neare hand, _Palladius_ teacheth the same wittily in this manner.

Firste he willeth to take one whole ioynt of a bigge cane or Elder sticke stopped at the one end, and the other end left open, to annoynt within, with a little honny, whiche laye neare to that spring or running water, that the Bées daylye haunte vnto.

When Bées resort to the same, and that certayne be entred within the quil through the sauor thereof, then stop the hole with your thumb, letting one of the Bées afterward to flye forth, whiche dylygently marke, and follow that way it flyeth, for it wyll shewe you part of the way to their home. And after you can sée the same no further, then quicklye set forth another bée, whose flight in like manner marke, and followe after, for that it maye also shewe parte of the way vnto their home. And so let flie the bées by one and one, vntil they bring you vnto the place of the swarme. Nowe if the same place be déepe in the earthe, then with a smoake made eyther of drye flaxe or Brimstone, driue the Bées out, and when the swarme is come forthe, then ring on a bason or shrill panne, for being by and by feared with the shryll sounde of the same, the swarme eyther lighteth on a yong trée, or on the opener bowe of a bigge trée, which so founde out, couer ouer with a hiue prepared for the nonce. But if the swarm be placed in the hollowe of a trée, and hauing bowes, or in the stocke of the same trée, then with a verye sharpe sawe (if the meanes of the same will giue leaue) cutte it asunder. And in such sort, that the parte emptie aboue the bées be first cut, and the parte beneath it which it séemeth the Bées to be lodged, to be like cut asunder, and the stocke thus cut asunder, at both the endes, couer with a faire shéete, leaste any large cliftes appeare after the cutting, whiche also annoynt with honnye, for the better staying in of the bées, and after carrye the same home, which place by your other hiues making smal holes in the same, for theyr flying in and out (as afore was taught) in the ordering of the other hiues. But it behoueth the diligent sercher, to chose the morning times for the finding out of Bées, wherby you may haue the space & libertie of the day before you, to finde out the resort of Bées. For by loking late after them, it falleth out so, that although the Bées are neare hande, yet bycause they haue then done their busie and careful laboure, they flye no longer abrode to séeke foode, nor yet resorte to drinke.

Throughe whiche it so commeth to passe, that the searcher after Bées knoweth not then howe neare, or far off, the swarm is from the spring or running water. Some take the iuyce of the hearb Baulme in the Spring time, and annoint the same round about the hiue, whereby the sauour of the iuyce maye cleaue and abide on the vessell, whiche afterwarde being fayre within, sprinckle aboute with a little honny, setting the same hiue downe neare to the woodde or groue of trées fast by that spring or water running by it, and after the same be filled with a swarme, carry it gently home. Yet doeth not this like, but in such places where the swarmes of Bées do abounde, for that oftentimes it so hapneth, that vnlesse the hiues be dailye watched, that the goers by do take them away. But to lose sundrie hiues, gretly hindreth not, so that you may in the mean whiles enioy one or two of them full.

Nowe hitherto hathe béene sufficientlye taughte, suche remedies and helpes, as necessarily serue, to the taking, and recouering of Bées loste, and otherwise to finde oute straunge swarmes.

¶ That the Bees sting no person, comming
neare their Hiues. Cap.xxij.

_Plinie_ in his twentith book writeth, that the hearb Sperage, brused and mixed with oyle, and annoynted with the same, doth defende the person from being stinged, by comming nygh to their hiues. And in his .xxviij. booke he also wryteth, that if any happeneth to be stinged by a Scorpion, that he shall neuer after be stinged of any Bée, but yet being stinged, he teacheth to drinke the iuyce of Hearbe-grace and Rue mixed with wine, and to lay the leaues also in plaister forme on the stinged places. In the 21. booke he writeth the like, that bées stings are by nature venomous, against the which he teacheth to take & vse the iuyce of Mallowes, or the iuyce of Iuie leaues, and to annoint eyther of the two, on the stinged places, as a souerain remedy. And in the 23. booke, he teacheth wyne for a remedy, as boyled with bay leaues, and after drunke. In the 24. booke he teacheth to take a drop of that molten, whiche the honny Bées make at the entrye of the Hiue, to be a like remedy, as of the water _Bezoar_ to be vsed against venemous bittes. _Auicen_ in his seconde rule teacheth, that the decoction of the March Mallowes wyth vineger or wine, and the same anoynted on the stinged places, to be a perfit remedie.

Whiche also in his fourth rule affirmeth, that the Honnye Bée hath like dispositions to the waspe, sauing that they leaue their stings behinde them: wherfore for remedie of the wasps, you may vse those which we haue afore taught againste the stings of Bées.

¶ When and howe, the Hiues ought to be
gelded. Cap.xxiij.

_Palladius Rutilius_ in his first booke teacheth, that the hiues of Bées ought not to be gelded, before you consider and sée whether they be rype, vnto the comming of the true Honny, whyche in a manner (as hee teacheth) commeth to vse in the moneth of Iune, or as others affirme, in the ende of Auguste, vnto the midle of September.

Now there be certaine notes and tokens, by whyche we trye and fynde out the ripenesse of them, whiche be these, firste if the hiues be ful, then do the Honny Bées drive forth the ydle drone Bées out of the Hiues, and there is also hearde within a small or shrill humming of the Bées for that the emptie cottages of the combs, as they were hollow buildings, do receiue a sound & noise, procured then bigger, so that when there is hearde a big & hoarse sound of the humming of them, then is it not yet méet to geld the combs. _Varro_ writeth, that it is then time to geld hiues, when as you see within, that the Bées hang clustring round, & that the holes of the hony combes be couered ouer, as it were with thin caules, for then be they full of honny. Now the day of gelding the hiues ought to be done timely in the morning, when as the Bées are astonied throughe the colde aire, and not done in the heate of the day, when they be procured to fly forth of the hiues, and being then very angry, to sting those persons which come to the hiues. The maner of gelding the hiues is on this wise, first stop the holes of the hiues, that the Bées passe not forth, with grasse or some other hearbe, after that putte vnder fine linnen ragges, or strawe, making a little smoake with the same, whiche smoake so flying vppe, causeth the Bées after to breake & leaue their clustering togither.

After these, with two instruments or tooles of yron, made for the only purpose, of a foote and a halfe long, or rather somewhat longer made, of whiche the one ought to be a long knife, and broade of either side the edge, with a hafte, and hauing a crooked file on the one end. The other at the beginning plaine, and very sharpe, whereby with this the combes may the readier and quicklier be cutte downe, with that other instrument scraped cleane, and whatsouer filth falleth off, drawne awaye, and throwne aside. But where the hiue of the hinder parte, or parte behinde, shall haue no voide place emptie, then make a smoake (as _Varro_ commaundeth) with _Galbanum_ and drie Oxe dung, which ought to be made in a earthen fuming pan, filled with quicke coles, or a pan of earth with a narrow mouth, and a handle like to it. So that the one part oughte to be sharper or narrower vpwarde, by whiche the smoake may passe by the little holes, and the other parte where the coles are, broader, and with a large mouth of the one side of it, by which the person may blowe the coles: Nowe suche a pot when it is set within the hiue, and the smoake stirred vp to the Bées, whiche by and by not quieted with the sauour, flie vnto the foreparte of the hiue, & sometimes flie quite oute of the hiue, wherby any may looke into the Hiue without harme, in a maner, to the person. If there happen to be two swarmes in one hiue, then are there also two kindes or formes of honny combes. For euerye company of Bées in agréement togither, doth fashion & frame the waxe, as liketh them best. But all the honny combes being hollowe wrought, and a little cleauing to the sides of the hiue, do hang, whereby they may not touch the floure or bourde, for that otherwise it causeth the swarmes to flye quite away. Yet the forme of their waxe is such, as the condition of their cottages is. For that some Bées doe make both square and rounde spaces, and some long, so that eche frameth, as it were certain formes in the combes, according to his kinde. So that the hony combs, are not founde alwaies alike in fashion, but these combes of what forme soeuer they be, are not to be taken all out of the hiues. For in the beginning of Haruest, whiles the fieldes yet flourishe, take a fift parte of the combes, but after, when Winter is at hande, then leaue a thirde parte behinde.

_Palladius_ willeth the hiues to be gelded in the moneth of October, and that a third part be left behind. Yet consider, that if there be store, to take the more: if but a meane, then the halfe part of that leave for the winter time: if the cottages appeare but halfe full then take nothing away. But _Varro_ teacheth, that a third part of the combes maye be taken away, & the other parte left for the winter, although the combes be ful of honny. If you fear (saith he) a sharp winter to follow, then take nothing at al: & of the same mind is the learned _Vergil_ in this. But the expert practisers of our time in such matters, do affirme, that the honny ought to be taken awaye but once in the yeare, & this in the end of the moneth of August, vnto the middle of September. But the waxe being corrupt, then, both before and at any time maye be taken forth of the hiues. Also as touching the honny which the Bées giue, whether you maye take awaye either little or much, must be considered according to the finalnesse or plentifulnesse of the hony being in the hiue. And according to the smalnesse or greatnesse also of the swarm to be nourished, so that aboue the fourth part of the combes may not be taken from any hiue. Yet this order may not be vsed alike in countries, bicause a man must consider the dealing with the hiues, according to the multitude of floures, & plentifulnesse of foode for the Bées. If the waxie combes hanging down do run into a length, then with the same yron toole which is made like to a knife, being oftentimes dipped in water, that the waxe cleaue not to it, nor that the combs remaining may be harmed, & the hiue holden on the one side cut the combs away. After this, put both your armes into the hiue, gathering togither, and taking forth the combs. But if the combes hang ouerthwart in the hiue, then must you vse your scraping yron, that the combes of the further side thruste togither, may so be cut away. Also the old & corrupt combs are to be taken forth, the whole and full of hony to be especially left. And if there be any yong Bées in them, those kéepe or preserue to increase the swarm in that hiue. After that, carry al the store of the hony combes into one place, whereas you mind to make the hony, & stop diligently the sides and edges of the hiues round about, that none of the Bées may enter in, which for the hony and waxe taken away, do eagerly séeke after, and finding the same, do vtterly consume the same if they may.

Therfore, of the former matters must a smoake be made, & that (at the entry) or mouth of the hiues, that the Bées assaying to fly in, may through the smoke be driuen to flye backe again. Now after the hiues be gelded, and that anye shall haue ouerthwart or crossed combes at the entrance of the hiue, those then shall be so conuerted, that the parts behind maye be emptied & left void for another time. So that when they shal be next gelded the old combs rather than the new are to be taken forth, & the waxe renewed, for that the older the waxie combes are, so muche the worser they be.

If it happeneth, that the hiue be so made, that the same may not be remoued out of the place then ought you to geld first the hinder parte, and after the foreparte: and this especiallye ought to be done afore fiue a clocke in the morning, and after nine of the clocke at night, or in the nexte morrowe. Nowe the Bées when they knowe this, all come to fill the emptie place, so that after they haue repaired and filled the same, and fulfilled all the reste aboute it, then flye they to the forepart, and do worke in like order. By whiche we may euidently learne, that they haue filled the same empty place also, by their abiding stil there. Besides these, as the great plentie of honny, doeth cause sluggishnesse in the Bées, euen so doeth the much abatement, and excéeding taking awaye of their honny, bothe dull the quickenesse and diligence of them, and cause them also to bée sluggishe.

¶ What the honny is, and howe from the hiues
the same maye be prepared to vse.
Cap.xxiiij.

As we firste gather the honny from the combes, so do we the waxe for the comforte of the light, and other commoditie besides. Nowe what the honny is, and howe the same taken from hiues, maye be prepared to vse, shall hereafter bée taughte.

Firste the learned _Isidore_ writeth, the honny to be of the deawe of some lyquide matter, and affyrmeth also the same to be founde sometimes in the leaues of the greate Canes. To whiche in a manner doth _Publius Maro_ agrée in this verse, writing, that hitherto the heauenlye giftes are of the Aereall honny. Others teach the honny in _India_ and _Arabia_, to be like to salte gathered there on the leaues of trées. Others do doubt whether the honny be a sweat from heauen, or a certaine spittle of the starres, or a iuyce of the aire purging it selfe. But whatsoeuer substance the same is, yet is it a moste swéete, subtill, and healthfull iuyce, _Plinie_ witnesseth, which at the first gathering of it, is as a cleare water, but after the boyling a while, and purging of it selfe, as the newe wine (after the pressing forth) is wonte to do, doth by the twenty day after come to a perfect thickenesse of honny, throughe the often repeating and working of it in the hote dayes, from the beginning of May and vnto the middle of Iune.

Nowe the honny is gathered in this maner: first, before the honny be pressed out of the combes, must those corrupt combes hauing red filth, and hauing yong in them (if any such be there) be pressed oute, bicause they bothe procure an euill taste, and with that iuyce corrupt the hony. The combs brused togither, ought to be put into a cleane presse, being yet warme, and new gathered out of the Hyues the same day, whiche lette lye there, vntil the hony by little and little be run forth, or rather for the more expedition, pressed forthe with a heauy waighte, and the same which is then come forth, is very faire rawe hony. After that the honny with the waxe muste be boyled togither, as hereafter shall be taught.

Nowe when the combes be thus brused togither, and the yong Bées killed and cast forth, then must you make youre hony in this maner. As first in the Moneth of September or October, take the heauier and older hiues, which are of two or thrée yeares olde, and not hauing bred swarmes in the Sommer before: and that ouer smoke and flame of strawe, drie flaxe, or yellowe Brimstone, the hiue a little whiles be holden, that the Bées may so flie vppe to the toppe of the hiue, or else suche remaining below burne their wings.

After that, turne downe the head of the hiue on the ground, and with a sharpe knife cutte the crossed stickes asunder in the Hiue, or plucke them forth with your hand. For by that meanes are the combes wel brused togither, and the Bées either killed with the fall of them, or else flye away. After this putte all the combes on a heape, being gathered oute of the hiues here and there into a presse, leaning somewhat on the one side, but some put the combs into a wine basket made of smal willow or Osier stickes finely knitte and wroughte togither, that hanged vppe in a darke place, the Honny maye runne thoroughe by little and little from it. After that the honny hathe thus runne forthe into a cleane earthen panne or boll standing vnder it, then the same after poure into an earthen potte, or pottes, being as yet rawe honny, but clearer and better than the other licour of the hony. Which for certaine daies let stand open, that the swéete licor may throughly coole, and the same in the mean whiles often skimme or purge with a spoone. Nowe after this, the fine péeces or crummes of the combes, which yet remaine in the bagge of wicker, or wine basket, or presse, putte into an earthen potte, panne, or kettle, ouer a verye softe fire, that the same may heate without boyling, and alwayes kéepe youre hande in the vessell, to stirre still aboute hither and thither the honny and waxe, and to open also the waxe by péece meale vntill the honny and not the waxe, shall be throughlye molten. When the honny through the heate, beginneth a little to pricke the hande, then poure all the whole Masse or substaunce into a strayner, and putting the same in a presse made for the onelye purpose, wring it harde about, yet it maketh no great matter, if that same be not so earnestly wringed or pressed out, that none of the Honny remaine yet with the Waxe, séeing that the Honny and Waxe haue effects in some causes alike. Now this Honny whiche is thus runne forth, is named the Sodden Honny, whyche oughte in like manner to be poured into earthen pots, and to stande open for certaine dayes, skimming it dayly with a spoone, vntill it be throughe colde. The nobler or worthier Honny is that which runneth oute in a manner of the owne accorde, before the second pressing out of the combs. And mixe not of this seconde Honny with the firste, but kéepe them diligentlye aparte, leaste by mixing the firste to the seconde, you make the beste (being the firste) the worser. After all this thus handled, the same whiche yet remaineth in the strainer, wash diligently with Conduit or faire Spring water, that you may so haue the Mulse or hony water, of which being sodden and diligently skimmed (as of this hereafter shall be further taught) is the Mulse made, that serueth to manye good vses.

¶ Which Honny is accompted best. Cap.xxv.

Certaine Countries doe excell in the perfecte goodnesse of Honny, like as the famous _Attica_ of Gréece, which for the excellencie of the Honny is hadde in great reputation throughout the world. _Hybla_ also & _Hymetus_ being hilles of the same Countrie, which the deceiuers applie to Honny, that the same maye both be named _Hymetus_ and _Hybleus_ Honny. _Creta_, _Cyprus_ and _Affrica_, as in goodnesse they are notable or worthy, so the abundant or maruellous plentie of the Honny is there commended. Also the newnesse of Honny is likewise commended, as the auntientnesse of wines, but the Spring and Sommer Honny, especially if the vessell or hiue stande in a valley or bottome, and doeth excell in the waight of hande. But the honny gathered of bitter hearbes is counted vnprofitable, as the same Honny which the Bées gather in the country of _Pontus_, where the Bées onely gather their honny of the Wormewoode. The white in all Countries is better estéemed than the blacke, but the beste honny is that whiche is very cleare, of a golden colour, of a moste pleasaunt and swéete taste, cleauyng somewhat to the fingers in the handlyng, and but little stiffening or waxing hard togither. And that the honny in the pouring forth, doth straightway breake here and there, and squirteth or sprinckleth (sodainely as it were) sundrie droppes abroad, which being on thys wise, _Plinie_ teacheth to be the triall and sure note of a good and profitable honny.

¶ Of the venomous Honie, and of the wonderfull Honye
of Creta. Cap.xxvj.

It so much forceth to vnderstande and know, what maner of foode the same is, with the which the Bées do liue, as the poysoned hony also, that may be gathered by them, whether it be euill or venomous. For the Honny of _Heraclea_ in the Countrey of _Pontus_, hath bin for certaine yeares, very dangerous, especially throughe a certaine hearbe growing white, whiche also vexeth their cattell by eating thereof, named of the dwellers there, _Aegellothron_. But by these notes is that Honnye founde out and tried to be venomous, as firste, that the same is not thicke at all, the colour brighter or more glistering, and hath a strong sauour, mouing forthwith often snéesing, and is also waightier. Also such persons, as taste somewhat thereof, doe couet to lie or fall hastily on the earth, séeking for coldenesse, and be all on a sweate, so that in sodaine daungers, muste some spéedy helpes or remedies be ministred, like as the olde Mulse of the best hony, and herb Grace, or other like confections, be often ministred to suche persons. There is also another kind of venomous hony, in the border of the country of _Pontus_, that for the madnesse which it engendereth, is named of the people _Neonomenon_: the same hony is supposed to be gathered of the floure _Rhododendros_, whiche groweth plentie there in the wooddes. _Plinie_ writeth of a maruellous honny to be in _Creta_, for that in _Carina_ being a hill of that Countrey, he affirmeth a honny to be gathered, whiche the flies will not touch, and supposed also to be a singular Honny, for the composition of euery medicine.

¶ Of the miraculous worthiness of Honny.
Cap.xxvij.

Most men in Italy prepare and make their medicines which they purpose to kéepe long, with honny, so that honny preserueth euery thing from putrifying, which you would haue in safety, and to continue for a season, through his clamminesse. And of this, auntient men did enbalme bodyes of the deade, which they would haue preserued, and to continue sound without corrupting many yeres, with hony only, and the same they also smeared within the tombes or sepulchres of the deade, for the longer kéeping of bodyes. The self same writeth the learned _Papinius_ of the body of _Alexander_, which was likewise embaulmed with Hony. And not vnlike to this writeth _Plinie_, in the xxij. booke, and xxiiij. Chapter of his Histories, of sundrye dead bodyes also embaulmed with hony. Which in another place also of his Histories writeth by _Claudius Cæsar_, that brought a monster out of _Egipt_ into his countrey, whiche was also embaulmed with Honny. _Ahanæus_ also writeth, that bodies subiect to sickenesses, maye both be kept frée from sicknesses, and from corrupting a long time, through the often smearing and annoynting of Honny ouer all the bodie. As the like wryters report, that the Isle of _Corsica_, or _Corse_ do, whiche liue a long time.

The _Macrobians_ being a people in _Affricke_, named also _Mœrein_, doe liue a long time, as certaine authours write, bycause with the meate of Honny, whyche is plentie with them, they dayly be fed, and vse continually. Some affirme that _Democritus_ which recreated by Honny, with the only breath and sauour of the Honnye made hote, liued (as they write) vnto a hundred nine yeares. _Aristoxenus_ writeth, that the table of _Pythagoras_ was dayly furnished with only breade and honny, and yet liued vnto the fourescore and ten yeres of the Philosopher _Heraclides_. The Honnye also is founde to auayle against surfettes, and of this accompted amongst the medicines putting awaye drunkennesse. And of this it is no maruel, that suche throughlye skilfull in Phisicke, when anye be ouercloyed or filled with Wine, do counsell firste to emptie their stomackes by vomityng, and after against the force of the fume euaporating of the remnaunt of the Wine yet remayning, they giue to them Honny spreade on breade, as it were by putting backe the euill, that is maye so remedie and putte awaye the grosse fume.

¶ How profitable the vse of Honny is in medicines.
Cap.xxviij.

Firste the white Honye is to be vsed in cooling Medicines, but the yealowe in heating medicines: also the nature and propertie of honny, is to clense and open, and to expel humors. Therefore it is profitably applyed in filthy vlcers, being boyled and annoynted vpon. It closeth also loose and gaping fleshe, through his wholenesse. Also with Liquid Alume & honny sodden togither, are Ringwormes, and cornes or swelling of the féete healed, by annoynting therewith. Against the vncertaine soundings and noyse of the eares, and grieuous pains of them, the hony grounded with that salte digged out of the earth, and dropped warme into the eares: the selfe same killeth both nits and lyce, by only annointing the heade therwith. Also the hony purgeth the eyes dimme of sight, healeth the swellings, and other defaultes and griefes of the iawes, the swellings and kernels vnder the iawes, neare to the throte, after the preparing to vse, the same be gargelled in the throate, and the mouth washed therewith. The honie eaten causeth vryne, helpeth the cough (being cleane skimmed before) and the byte of a Snake or Adder. The hony also helpeth those which haue drunke vnwares the iuyce of blacke Poppie, so that againste the same euill and daunger they drinke rosed honny warme. Also the same drunke helpeth the malice and daunger of Mushromes eaten, and the byte of a madde dogge, or otherwise melting in the mouth, after the forme of an _Eclegma_. Yet all the sortes of rawe Honny be windie and swell the bodie, mouing a rumbling or noyse in the belly, procuring the cough, easily conuerted into euil humors, stopping the liuer and the milt through the clamminesse, and hurtfull to chollericke bodies, if so be the honny before (as _Dioscorides_ writeth) be not throughly skimmed and clensed as the same ought to be. The honny also boyled both better nourishe than the rawe, yet lesse mouing the belly to solublenesse, and to the stoole. And the honny of it selfe, or mixed with others, helpeth the sore in the lungs, and all other diseases of the lungs. The honny is rightly ministered to such as haue the impostume in the lungs and the pluresie. And the hony in which dead Bées are, is applyed to the venemous honny. The hony drunke with wine helpeth the corruptions which are engendered of the meate fishes. But to colde and moyste bodies the honny is more profitable, therfore verie fitte for olde persons, as _Galen_ affirmeth. And to persons being twentie yeares of age, and of an vntemperate hotenesse, or others hote of qualitie, the honny to them is hurtefull, bycause it is soone conuerted into choller in them. _Democritus_ was on a time asked, by what meanes men might both continue in perfite health, and liue vnto very old yeares, to which he thus answered: if so be men annoint their bodies outwarde with Oyle, and apply their bodies inwarde with honny. Further honny profiteth weake persons, being applyed as the Mulse water, of which shal after be taught in the next chapter. To persons cold of nature, the honie may aptly be ministred in hote broth, but to hote persons ministred in warme brothe, the honie is not rightly giuen. The honny mixed with _Camphora_, & lying to settle thrée dayes before, with the which annointing the face, doth spéedily clense the spots in the face: the self same doth the honie, mixed with the gall of an Oxe. The pure white honie clenseth the breast, softneth Impostumes, being as well without, as within the bodie. The hony also mundifyeth, openeth the stoppings of the Liuer and Mylte, helpeth dropsie bodies, and strengthneth weake members. The Aromaticke honny much auayleth in sundrie diseases, being thus prepared, as the pure redde Rose leaues finely clipped, and after boyled in pure white honnie, being often and diligentlye skymmed. For such a Honnye doeth comforte and mundifye, dissolueth in the clensing the clammy swellings, digesteth the fleumaticke and grosse humors, and drunke also with colde water, it bindeth the bellie, but ministred with warm water it looseth the bellie.

¶ Of the drinke of Honny which they cal the Mulse
water, or sweete water of the Romaines.
Cap.xxix.

By the aunswere of _Pollio_ the Romaine vnto _Augustus_ Emperour, we may euidently learn, that the Mulse made of hony, is healthfull drinke in strengthning the bodie. For _Augustus_ on a time demaunded of him by what meanes a man might liue to great yeares, and all that season frée from sickenesses, to whome he thus aunswered, that applying the Mulse water within, and annoynting Oyle without the bodye, doeth worke the like. The Mulse truly is a drinke made of water and hony mixed togither, which the Gréeks properly name _Melicrate_, & some _Hydromel_, as the drinke made with wine vnlayde, or without water, and hony, they aptly name _Oenomel_. Now the Mulse water drunke, doeth ease the passage of winde or breath, softneth the belly, and the long time of oldenesse changeth it into the kinde of Wine, moste agréeable and profyting the Stomacke: but the same contrary to the Synowes, yet it recouereth the appetite lost, and is a defence against the dangerous drinke of Henbane, if it be ministred with Asses milke. Thys drinke truely (_Aegineta_ wryting therof) is thus made: let eight times so muche water be mixed vnto your Honnye prepared, whyche boyle or séeth so long, vntill no more fome aryseth to be skymmed off, then taking it from the fyre, preserue it to youre vse. But the same _Paule Aegineta_ affyrmeth, that the Mulse profyteth nothing in manner the collericke, bycause the same in them is lightly conuerted into choller.

¶ Of the drinke Oenomel, which is made of pure wyne
and Hony. Cap.xxx.

The _Oenomel_, which is a swéete wine made with Honny, _Aegineta_ teacheth the same, not only for the preseruation of helth, but also to expel the torment of sicknesses, through this most wholesome drinke, as that whiche giueth, not onely strength of body and courage, but the long race of yeares. Also it expelleth an olde griefe of the Reines, being often drunke with Parcely séedes. But the beste _Oenomell_ is that which is made of olde and tarte wine, and the beste purified hony, for the same doth lesse swell. The same also harmeth drunke after meales, but before taken, doeth procure an appetite. _Dioscorides_ teacheth that maner of making the _Oenomell_ in this order: first he willeth to take one gallon and a quarte of Wine, and mixing it with halfe a gallon, and a pinte of the beste hony, to prepare the same orderly. But some prepare or make the drinke spéedilier to vse after this manner, as the hony they boyle with Wine, and after poure foorth the same into other vesselles.

¶ Of the singular water of Hony gotten by order of
distillation. Cap.xxxj.

The Hony of Bées méete to distillation, ought especially to be white of coloure, which before the distilling muste bee mixed with pure and white and well washed sande, but not drie in any case, after that, putte the same either into a common Rose Limbecke of Tinne, setting a hearie siue close vppon it, that it may touch the Hony in the distilling, or else into a body of Glasse, sette into a potte of fine sifted ashes or sande, making at the firste a softe fire vnder it, vntill the first water bée come, whiche is white, and after the yelow water appeareth, then put vnder another receiuer, setting aside the white, and so long distill vntill the redde beginneth to shewe: at the appearaunce of whiche, put vnder another receiuer, letting that remaine vntill no more will come. Which red water being the last, serueth for sundrie vses, as to die womens haire yellow, by often wetting the haire with a Spunge, and drying the same in the hote Sunne. Also it causeth fayre and long haire, and stayeth the sheading of haire: besides (this thirde water) doeth clense the foule corruption and matter being in filthye woundes, and olde vlcers, if they be washed twice a daye with the same, causing also newe flesh to grow in those places, if you dayly washe them with the sayd water, or otherwise dip linnen clouts in it, laying them aptly on the sores. The selfe-same healeth places grieuously burned, without appearaunce of anye scarre afterwarde, by often applying lynnen cloutes dropped in it. And the seconde water being of a golden coloure dipped into the eyes, doeth not onely helpe swollen and bleared eyes, but the pinne and webbe in them, by the dayly and often dropping of the same into the eyes. But as touching the white and firste water, there is no worthy matter mentioned in thys place by any of the old Practisers.

¶ Another manner of distilling the Honie, more at large
taught. Cap.xxxij.

Take a pinte, or as much as you wil, of the pure rosed hony, which put it into a bodie of glasse close couered & luted about, setting the same after into hote horse dung with a square stone on the head, & couering it ouer with the horse dung for 14. dayes, after which time, take the body forth, setting it into a fornace of fine sifted ashes, well a finger bredth or more aboue the hony, presupposing on your part, that little péeces of flint stones be put into the hony, & then distilled with a soft fire into a receiuer well luted at the mouth, for doubt of the ayre breathing forth. When the same beginneth to distil, then draw forth part of the fire (vnlesse you can otherwise gouerne your fire by the help of the fornace) whiche comming forthe white, let so long distill, vntill there appeare yealow droppes like to gold. Vpon the sight of this, set vnder another receyuer, kéeping diligently this firste water by it selfe, and increasing the fire, let that long distil, vntill certain white smoakes appeare, running into the receiuer: that spéedily take away, putting to another receiuer, which let so long distill, vntil no more will droppe forth, and this laste, is of a rubie colour in rednesse, so that if a woman often wetteth the heares of hyr head with this thirde water, setting then in the hote Sunne, both to drie and wette them againe, wearing in the meane whiles a large strawne hatte with an open crowne, to spreade the heares vpon, for the spéedier drying of them, whiche so ordering, doeth not onely cause the heares to grow long and very fayre, but dyeth them in time so yealowe as gold. Also to diuerse other vses, doth this red water serue, as afore is taught in the other Chapter. The white water (which commeth firste) by washing the face orderlye with it, doeth cause it to become cleare and fayre, and keepeth the skinne from loking olde, for a long time, as the same hath ben experienced often by the worthy dames of _Rome_, _Naples_, and _Venice_. And the yealow lyke golde being the second water, doth especially serue to this vse, that if any person happeneth to be infected with the plague or Pestilence, then to take two ounces of this yealow water, of _Aloes_ Epaticke, of redde Myrre, and of the east saffron, of each ten graines, and a leafe of the best gold, all which grinde into fine pouder, mixing the same with this water: after that giue it vnto the sicke to drinke, whiche no doubt wil both helpe this & many other diseases.

¶ The manner of distilling a water of Hony named
the Quintessence. Cap.xxxiij.

To make this singular and precious water, you must take two poundes of the purest white honie, being both cleare and pleasaunt in taste, whiche put into a body of glasse, being so bigge, that foure of the fiue partes of it maye remayne emptie, the same lute stronglye aboute, letting the heade after on it, and a receyuer aptelye to the nose of the Still.