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.