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.
When you haue thus done, then make a gentle fyre at the firste vnder
it, but after increase the fire or heate more and more, vntill certaine
white smoakes appeare in the head of the glasse bodye, which do you
workemanlye coole and turne into water, by the wettyng of lynnen
clothes in colde water, and layed on the heade and nose, towarde the
receiuer, for that turneth into a water so red as bloud: and being all
come, putte it into another glasse, stopping the mouth close, whiche
let stande so long, vntil the water become verye cleare, and in coloure
to the Rubie.