A profitable instruction of the perfite ordering of Bees

The final four chapters of the second Treatise, "Certaine husbandly coniectures of dearth and plentie for euer," are absent. No known copy of this edition is complete. Entries in the Table of Contents referring to them have been removed.

As it hath beene, and is yet (worshipfull Sir) a trade commonly vsed among most men, to choose out from a greate number, some one, vnder whose name and title they may publishe their workes: Euen so I (following the steps of the learned, though in all other poyntes most inferiour) hauing finished this little treatise of Bees, and casting with my selfe to whome I mighte presente it, founde my selfe much bounden vnto your worship, both for your gentlenesse which I haue of late tasted, and also for youre friendship which I finde alwayes readie towards me. And therefore hauing none other wayes to recompence the least parte of youre curtesie and gentlenesse, thought it best to gratifie youre worship with such a simple gifte as mine abilitie will suffer me to bestow on such a friend. And although Sir this Treatise is farre dissonant from youre studyes, yet considering your earnest desire to knowledge and learning, and agayne pondering the pleasantnesse of the matter, thoughte this might be made a recreation for your grauer studyes. For when your mind shall bee searching for profound reasons, and oppressed with deepe cogitations, then taking and reading this little Pamphlet, it will bring a forgetfulnesse vnto your former weerynesse, and cause a newe delighte vnto your mind: For heerein may you see, first the maruellous gouernement of the Bees, through the onely instincte of nature, as in theyr obedience to their King, and other officers, in punishing the ydle loyterers, in cherishing the true labourers in theyr manner of fighting, with suche like a greate many, as it is wonderfull to reade, and almost vncredible to beleeue: secondly, the liuely effectes and commodities that arise of theyr Honie and Waxe. And lastly, howe profitable they are for common wealth, and howe necessarie for mans vse, I mighte heerespeake muche in the prayse of the Bee, which all I will omitte, seeyng onely myne intente is to shewe my selfe myndfull of your good turnes and benefites, desiring you to take this in good parte, whyche proceedeth from a well willing minde. And I am sorie that at this presente I had none other matter more worthy to haue gratified your worship withall: but that whiche wanteth in power, aboundeth in good will. Thus troubling your worship no longer, I commit you to the keeping of the Almightie, praying him to increase in you all vertue and godlynesse, and to grant you the long yeares of Nestor.

Although (gentle Reader) I haue not given thee anye labour of mine owne, but rather haue collected the sayings and writings of manye aunciente authours, yet I trust they shall be well accepted of thee without offence. For as he that setteth forth vnto the view & reading of all men such knowledge, as by his long study & experience he hath gotten, is worthy to haue his due reward of commendation: euen so he is not to be discommended, who painfully reuoluing the bookes and volumes of many and diuers ancient writers, reduceth them into one little Treatise, for the commoditie and profyte of the simple and vnlearned sorte, for whose onely sakes I haue trauelled in the translation of this worthy matter, touching the right vsage and handling of Bees: a thing very rare, and seldome seene in the Englishe tongue, and yet verie profitable for a common wealth, and commonlye vsed among the poore husbandmen, though not in euery poynt as they ought to be, yet according to theyr knowledge and experience. But I, to the intente that a further learning mighte be added to their skill, haue so trauelled therein, that I trust their knowledge shal be increased, & such as haue no knowledge at all, may be instructed without any other teaching. I haue ioyned this little Treatise vnto my booke of Gardening, for that most men do ioyne them both togither, as when they place their Bees in their Gardens, whereas they may with lesse paine and easilier, gather of the sweete smelling flowers, their Honie, and Waxe. And for all these my paynes gentle Reader, I craue nought else of thee, but to giue me that which of dutie in a maner I ought to haue, for if thou doest receyue any commoditie or fruite eyther by this, or by my other Treatise hereto annexed, whiche hathe to name the Husbandly coniectures, with sundry rules of Phisicke, then giue me the reward of thy good report, and friendly accepting of these two Treatises, and if not, yet accept mine endeuours in good part, which be meant to do thee good. And thus leauing (gentle reader) to trouble thee farther, I commit thee to God, who giue thee the furtherance of knowledge, both in these and all other needefull artes.

Plinie nameth Bées Cleft beasts, bicause of the diuision or parting betwéene of the head & shoulders: and Aristotle nameth them plighted or ringed, in that their bodies are diuided with plightes and rings. And most men know, that the Bées haue neyther sinews, bones, fleshe, gristle, backe-bone, nor fat, but are only created of a certaine mixture, being a meane betwéen these, and hauing a very few intrailes. And againe, no man néedeth to doubte, but that the Bées be a kinde of beasts, greatly to be set by for mans vse, & for mans prouision, are nourished of the aire, passing throughe the diuided places, which they by great diligence and care preserue from being stopped, for as soone as they be stopped, they shortly after die, like as the same we may learne, when anye happeneth to fall or light into Oyle, which straight way after die, throughe the Oyle stopping then their powers. They haue and fly with foure wings, that they maye the better carrye in their bellies the stings of reuengement. For when two of them striue togither in flight, then do they hold and kéep their stings in their mouths by a gréedy desire, or for eagernesse sake. Now after the seauen starres named Vergiliæ, be once risen in sight aboue our horizon, then do they hyde them in their proper holes, so that they go seldome after abroade, vntill the Beanes doe bud, and if they happen to beginne at any tyme to flye abroade when as a fayre daye moueth them forwarde, then slacke they no suche dayes afterwarde, but occupy themselues. And firste they prepare and make their combes, which they fashion into apt houses, or rather celles of waxe, after this they haue yong, and then beginne they to gather hony. They liue also the longer by hauing their stings, for that once gone, or taken away, they dye forthwith through the lacke of their intrailes, whiche they lose togither with their stings.

The reporte goeth, that one Aristomachus first founde out and taught the increasing of Bées, whome Plinie writeth to be so earnest in the same, that setting apart al other affayres, he only studied night & day how he might best intreate and vse Bées, according to their kinde. But others ascribe this inuention to one Thassius, who (as they saye) deserued no lesse commendation, both for his diligence and skill among Bées: but this he specially followed in the fielde, and that farre from the Towne. And of this the common people (as by a nickname) no more named him Thassius, but Agrius, for his wilde or rather straunge life, whiche he then led in the fielde, Whome Plinie also affyrmeth to haue written a Booke of the increasing and multiplying of Bées. And Columella ascribeth this inuention, to the inhabitaunts of the hill (named Hymetus) being in the Countrey of Attica, for there (saieth he,) was one Ericthonius, who taught (as men write) the true and perfect ordering of them. Plinie againe ascribeth the inuention of Hony to one Aristeus a man of Athens. Diodorus Siculus in the sixte Booke of hys workes, writeth, that Curetes, a people of Creta, did firste finde out the Hony, Macrobius ascribeth the same to one Saturnus. Others to the Thessalians. And many to Melissus, an auntient King of Creta, others to Nassus Liber Pater, thus writing, that Liber hath obtayned the renowne for finding out of Honnye.

Firste the Bées procéede of Bées, by the actuall doing togyther, after whiche they lay egges, sitting vppon them, as the Hens do on their egs. And when they haue sit on them for the space of .xlv. daies, then do they hatch their yong ones, whiche yong (at the first) come forth, much like to white Worms, except the King, who onely as he is hatched, hath wings. At the firste time, one of them hatcheth fiue young togither, the nexte time fewer, and so fewer & fewer, vntill she commeth to one at a time, bicause the abundaunce whiche is in them, dothe in the continuaunce of time weaken. In the time of their sitting they make muche noise to gette them heate withall. And aboute the sides of the combes, be sometimes greater Bées bred, which men for their sound & noise do properly name Trumpeters, and they also haue whole hornes, of which come the bastarde Bées. There be also other Bées bigger in body, muche-like to the Kings, but they be ydle, and haue no sting, bicause of the heauinesse of their body. All which kindes, Guilielmus de Conchis didde obserue in the Hyues of a certaine Consull of Rome, whiche properly were made of verye thinne and cleare horne. Some write, that Bées are also engendred and bredde monstrously, and that contrary to Nature, without the mutuall coniunction, if that a whole calfe be buried in the earth, and there lye rotting whiles the wind blow out of the Weste, for by that meanes, as writeth Maro, doth the same bréede Bées. And not vnlike to this doeth Cornelius Agrippa in his firste Booke de Occulta Philosophia, and Hiero. Cardanus in hys ninth booke of Subtilties write, that of a rotten horse do waspes procéede: of an Asse, Humble bées: of a Mule, hornettes: of the haire of a woman (hauing then hir motherly courses) Serpents: and of Creuisses (the shelles plucked off,) Scorpions.

The Drone Bées (as writeth Plinie) are vnperfect Bées, without sting, and the least weary, yet be they verye heauy of body, and slow in doing their businesse. They also doe the seruices and trauells of the true Bées, although the right and perfect Bées doe rule and gouerne them, yea and put them formost in their laboures, so that if they happen to be slow in their doings, then doe the right Bées punish them without pitie. Also these doe helpe the right Bées, so well in their workes as in their bréeding, for that the multitude of them, cause the more heat and warmeth togither. And howe muche the greater the multitude of them shall be, and so muche more will the increase come of the swarme. When the hony waxeth ripe, then are the Drone Bées driuen forth, and the kinde also of these are onely séene abroade in the Spring time.

Now some affyrme, that the clouen beasts draw no breth, in that they haue not the fan of the hart, which is the lights or lungs, for as they write, nothing without them can breath. But Aristotle writeth, that the same is possible among Bées, hauing the sting (although they haue no bladder) to breath by their sting. And the Bées haue no bloude, bicause they haue neither hart nor lungs: yet Plinie affirmeth, that nothing done by nature may be thought or iudged incredible: for the same is fully persuaded in wise men, that the Bées haue a certain liuely moisture, like as the Cuttle in the Sea, which hath a kinde of ynke in it, and is as the iuyce of it, with the whiche the Diers (at this day) do make their Purple colour.

A great profite ariseth by Bées, if they be set in a conuenient and fit place, and that both carefully & wisely guided, as Plinie writeth in his xj. booke, where he willeth, that of al other clouen beastes, the Bées to bee principallye cherished, bicause to mans vse they gather a subtile and wholsome iuyce, beyng very swéete, and besides they frame by a maruelous skill and cunning, theyr cotages of waxe vnto mans vse, that no workman (be he neuer so ingenious) can do the like. The profite also comming by them in a short time, if the weather hindereth not, is so greate, that they increase in a shorte time into manye swarmes, which swarmes againe increase others, so that the firste swarmes increased, they especially thrust forth from them in the moneth of May, or Iune, by whych meanes they cause a great increase of them. As Varro affirmeth the same of two head Gentlemen in Spaine, which only by the means of their Bées, gayned yerely ten thousand pound (but I rather thinke fiue thousand pounde, which also is very muche) yet here is to be noted, that the swarmes of syxe yeares olde, doe seldome encrease after other swarmes of themselues, although in waxe they giue a great yéelde and gayne to the owners.

First certain Bées as the skilfull practisers do write, stand in the day time at the mouthes of the Hyues, diligently loking to their businesse, like warders placed at the gates of a Castel, that they maye so defend in safegarde whom they will within. In the night time they setle themselues to rest vnto the morning, vntil one of them by humming twice or thrice about, doeth so styrre them forward to flye out after the other. For if they happen to kéepe themselues in the morning within the Hyues, then doth the same declare a tempest to insue that daye. But being a cleare and fayre morning, then do they flye forth and returne againe to their Hiues, laden with the substaunce of the floures on their legges, for their businesse, and this especiallye doe the yonger Bées, so that the other Bées besides do eyther carrye the water in their bils, or on the soft mossinesse of the whole bodie. The elder Bées remayning still within, do also folow their businesse, as in diligently laying vp, and aptly dressing the same, as they wold dispose their kindely foode. Such as be sluggish & not labouring they diligently note, which for their sluggishnes, they bitterly punish to death.

And flying abroade in a mightye winde, they maruelouslye stay and guyde themselues, by waying their bodyes down with little stones, caryed in their legges. They at the euening comming to rest, do make lesse and lesse noyse in the hyue, vntill one of them flyeth about, which by a like order as he moued them forewarde in the morning, euen so by the same noyse and humming doth he procure them to take their rest, and to be all silent within the hiue. If the Bées happen to scatter in their flying abroade, then do they call and gather them togither into a swarme, by the helpe of making a shrill sounde, eyther with pan or bason, or other loude cymball. They also followe their king whether soeuer he taketh his flight, who beyng wearie, and not further able to flie, they carrye hym betwéene them.

Wherfore that the king may not often attempte forth with the swarme, for feare of loosing them, the skilful practisers wil, the wings of the kings be broken off. Whiche féeling himselfe thus depriued of his wings, will not after attempt to flye forth of his boundes, but remayning still within, will so cause the other Bées to abide continually with him, not leauing the Hiue at any time after. They also haue counsels priuily and rulers among them.

And Aristotle declareth the Bées to be the clenlyest amongst all other beastes, bycause in flying abroad, they shed then their dung from them, leaste anye sauour or stincke of their dung be felte in their cotages or hoales. If these want honny at anye time, then doe they eyther kill, or driue quite away the drone Bées.

Nature hath not onlye committed hir lawes to bookes, the which men may lerne by, but hath especially set forth conditions and properties, as for an example of the lyke, by the bées, whose kings for doubt of reuenging, haue by the prouidence of nature no stings. Whereby is to be vnderstanded, that the kings ruling in power, thorough the lacke of their stings maye be by that meanes the slower to hurt, and offer reuengemente. Yet some affirme the kings to haue stings, but they suppose them not to vse their stings. And of this Plinie maketh a doubt whether the king be armed as the other bées, or lacketh a sting. Which Columella putteth out of doubt, writing of the king that he hath no sting, vnlesse any perhappes thinketh that big head as it were, whiche the king carrieth in his belly, to be his sting, with the which at no time they vse to sting or hurt anye. This king only do Bées reuerence, and honor him in such sort, that any of them is obedient and very ready at his bidding, to do whatsoeuer he assigneth them vnto. Also this obedience and seruice whiche they vse to their king, they do not the same for feare of punishment, but onely of a loue which they owe vnto him. Yet they punish one another in such sorte, that after their stings be lost, they dye forthwith. Aristotle writeth of two maner of kings, the one as he affirmeth to be red, which he iudgeth the better, the other king black of colour, which he confesseth to be lesser of body, yet howsoeuer the kings be, they are notwithstanding far bigger of body, than the honny bées, & haue a brighter and goodlier head then the other Bées, yet shorter wings. So that their king created among them, goeth not any time forth of the hiue, without the whole swarm folow him. The king flying forth of the hiue at anye time, the other folow him, in such sort, that eche couet to flie next him, & ioyeth to be séen of the king in office, and whersoeuer the king settleth him or resteth, there be other Bées placed like strong holds or castels about him. About the king also be placed certaine rulers, which wayte vpon him by a dayly aucthoritie, If anye happeneth, as writeth Plinie, to breake of the kings right wing, then from the king will not the swarme after departe, as the like was rehearsed afore. Besides these, the Bées haue a maruelous order among them, if their king happen to die, for then they shal bitterly mourne for their king deade, and for the lacke of another, as such whiche cannot be guided and ruled without a king among them, and of this they be in continuall mourning. So that for the time, they carry no foode into theyr Hyues, nor flye not forth, but with a sadde bewailyng and humming, after theyr King, they heape thicke togyther aboute the deade body, and vnlesse another King increaseth by little and lyttle among them, they dye for hunger. Theyr king laboureth not, but as the other flye foorthe, hee in the meane tyme as an exhorter moueth and encourageth forwarde euerye one to hys worke, by his flying aboute in the Hiue.

In this point, & for true knowledge of these, doth M. Varro discribe those Bées to be best, which be small of body, and diuerse and round, bycause they be earnest in labour, and make a thinne honny, and better endure labour, and gather their honny on hilles, but the worser Bées gather their honny of the garden floures onlye, whiche be somewhat long of bodye, lyke to waspes. Virgil doth especially commend the small Bées, beyng somwhat long, light, and clenly in their businesse, and glistering to golde. So that the greater and rounder Bée, is discommended of all writers. Although the fierce Bées are very ill, yet is their yrefulnesse, a note of the better Bées, whiche may easily be appeased, by the daylye haunting among them, for if the kepers do often handle the Hyues, then do they become gentle in a short time.

The Bées also endure if they be diligently loked vnto, for the space of ten yeares, and beyonde this age no swarme can passe, althoughe the kéepers supplye the Hyues yearelye with yong Bées, in the steade of the olde deade, for in the tenth yere, in a manner, of the generall death of them, the vniuersall kinde of the whole Hyue is then consumed. And therefore, that thys maye not happen throughe all the Hyues in that place you must alwayes increase your Hyues with yong Bées, which diligently Hyue in the springtime, or beginning of Sommer, when as the swarmes be first and newe thrust forth of the Hiues, and so maye the number of your Hiues be encreased. Agayne some wryte, that in the Countrey of Pontus, the beste Bées bée white, bycause they gyue theyr yéelde of Honnye twyce in a moneth. And Gulihelmus de couchis affirmeth the beste Bées to be aboute Thermodoon in Capadocia, abyding in the Earthe, for that these doe buylde and make a tryple yéelde of waxe, and giue also aboundaunce of Honny.

The foresayde Varro, affirmeth those Bées to be in healthe, which often kepe and be in a swarme togither, that be clenly & can do their businesse and worke alike, and that quicke & light in the same, beyng neyther hearie nor foule of body, or appearing dustie, such also which be not ouerleane of body, and that out of any of their cotages no dead bées be carried thence, & forth of their Hiues. For all these notes do declare suche like Bées, to be both euill and vnprofytable. Palladius declareth, that the best Bées may be knowen by the fulnesse or emptinesse of their vessels, for if the Hiues be full, then those Bées doth he best commende, if the Hiues be nothing so full stuffed, those Bées doeth he greatly dissalowe. And he also praiseth those Bées, whiche excelleth or passeth others in the loudnesse of humming, or do abound in the great haunte of the swarme, not broughte to the Hiues from farre places, so that there maye be such agrement, that they be not after feared awaye, with the newnesse of the aire and place.

Aristotle willeth the Hiues of Bées in the winter time to be placed in a warme place, and in the hotte season of Sommer, in a colde place. Palladius Rutilius in his firste Booke of husbandrie teacheth that the fittest place for bées, is that, whiche is in a Garden, not farre or rather neare to the owners house, which by that meanes suffereth not the windes, nor the accesse of théeues or beastes.

Which also nourisheth Trées growing on the Northside of the place, the better to defend the cold ayre from them, & cleare springs or faire riuer water running by. Columella willeth the Hiues to be set open toward the south, far from noyse, & haunte of people and beastes, neyther in a hote nor colde place, for eyther of these do molest and harme the bées. Also that the hyues stande in the bottome of a valley, or if not so possible, then placed neare to the valley, the better and easier for the Bées to bring their foode gathered to their hiues, and in anye case farre from stincking puddels, ditches, dung-heapes, and such like filthy stinckes, which greatly annoye and endamage the bées beyng neare hande to their hiues, M. Varro writing in his second booke vnto a huswife of the countrey, willeth hir also to set the Hiues close to hir house, and vnder some shed, & that far from the noyse of formes, whiche is mente from a groue or wood, leaste through the woodde or groue neare hande, the same may giue a sounding noyse, like to that whiche men commonlye name the Eccho, whiche sounde in verye déede the Bées do greatly hate. Virgil willeth bushie trées to be planted and stand right before their hiues, like as the Peare trée is, the Peach trée, the Oake trée, many kyndes of Apple trées, the birche trée, Holy trée, the Iuy trée also, not allowed for his goodnesse, but bycause the same giueth out muche honny, and al other trées which beare no bitter floures. And he willeth these plantes and hearbes to grow neare hande, as the Rosemary, the red and damaske Rose, the white Lillie, the Violets, the Flouredeluce, the Organye, the Time, the running Time, the Sauery, swéete Maiorome, the Saffron floure, which coloureth the honny and maketh it smel swéete, the beane floures, the French beane floures, the Mellylot floures, the hearbe Baulme, the white Poppie floures, the Bitonie floures, the Borage and Buglosse floures, and manye other swéete and wholesome floures, not here named. But the Boxe trée, the Masticke trée, the dogge or Gatten trée, or as some suppose the long and high Chéeri trée they greatly hate, for that tasting of the floures of anye of these, they die forthwyth. Maro wylleth standing waters, to be neare to their hiues, & so shallow, that smal stones thrown into them, may appeare aboue the water, & serue in stéede of bridges for their often recourse to them, & that they may aptly stretch their wings abroad on the stones, at the heate of the sun. The standings for hiues ought to be thrée foote distant from the ground, & wittily stopped about with red clay, least vermine, and Myse créepe into the hiues, and spoyle the honny combes. The Hiues also oughte to be set a little asunder the one from the other, least by loking into them, you shake one another by cleauing togither, and so disquiet the bées nexte to, which feare al manner of shaking least the same throw not downe their weake workes of waxe. And the mouthes of the hiues ought to stand somwhat stiper than the back part, leaste rain beating in, might not lightly run out again by their entry or hole. For remedy of the which, some make a couer ouer theyr hole the better to kéepe off the weather & raine. And no manner of heate so much harmeth them, as doth the bitter cold, & for this the faces of hiues ought to be toward the winter rising of the sun, that the Bées may so receiue the warme comfort, in the morning comming forth, & be the liuelier, for colde doth cause them to be sluggish, and for that cause their holes ought to be very narrow, that as little colde as is possible, may enter into them, and so narrowe made, that the Bées within may receiue the encrease but of one Bée at once, For by that meanes can neither the Béetil, butterflie, nor great moath enter, to annoye them. Besides for their often recourse home, Maro willeth to make two or thrée commings into the hiue, somewhat distant asunder.

To bées, is that (named the Eccho) vngratefull or much displeasing, which as Plinie writeth, doth greatly fear them, through the straunge sounde rebounding againe, and the miste also doth muche molest and trouble them, besides the spinner through hir web hanging downe before the Hiue, and the sluggishe butterflie (which Plinie nameth dishonorable) that is two wayes pestiferous, as the one, when he spoyleth the waxe, and dungeth within the Hiue, and the other, breading Magottes or little wormes within the combes. They greatly hate oyle, like as all the kindes of the other Bées doe, and a stinking sauoure, which euidently appeareth by that kind of herbe named Mugworte, that they especially hate, bycause the same is of a strange stincke to them. The hornettes also of the like sorte creast, but bazer of kynde, they greatlye feare, for that to the Hornets the Hony Bées are a speciall foode. Also they be meate to swallows, to sparrowes, and to all other small byrdes.

The frogs besides, they do greatly feare, which only lye in waite for them, both in Marishes, running springs, shallowe waters, and little ditches, and the like doe the Toades lye in wayte for the Bées, whiche destroye manye of them. And the shéepe doe greately trouble the Honnye Bées, if so be they happen to fall or lighte into the Wooll of theyr backes, out of whyche, they cannot easylye wynde or gette themselues againe.

And if any happeneth to boyle or seathe Riuer Creauisses, or sea Crabbes neare to the Hiues, and that the Bées féele the sauour therof, they die forthwith.

This is a speciall argument and note, that the Bées, are diseased, if that they fly scattering in the swarme, if they kéep not their proper colour, but be (as it were) of a strange and contrarie colour: if they also are ouer leane, if they appeare dustie and hairy, and that out of their cottages bée dead Bées carryed thence. When al these notes and signes are espied in the Bées, it is then highe time to séeke remedye for them, leaste helpe (by longer running) be sought too late. Therfore Palladius willeth to minister the kernels of Pomegranats, brused and mixed with swéete and pleasaunt Wine, and the same powred into the chanels or gutters of halfe canes, set nere to the mouths of hiues, or honny, with Rose leaues well beaten togither, and so ministred to them, or the berries of the Saruice trée brused, and mixed with Honny: for lacke of these helpes, a man may make a smoake of drie Oxe or Cowe dung, whiche smoake muche delyghteth and comforteth them, so that the same be often vsed vnto Haruest.

But if throughe the Maggots or little wormes of the Butter-flyes the Bées be diseased, Rutilius then iudgeth it beste, to set a brasen Candlesticke, or suche like vessell, with lighte burning in it at Euening, within the hyue, that to the same light (the Butter-flyes gathering, and flying about) may so fall down into it, and be destroyed.

Aristomachus writeth, that the diseased Bées maye bée couered in this maner, if that all the corrupt combe within the hiue be taken forth, and freshe foode anewe put in of the whole, and the hiue after smoaked within. Also he affyrmeth, that Rosemarie sodden with water and honny togither, and beyng colde, poured into halfe canes or Elder stickes, made hollow like gutters, and the same set by the mouthes of the hiues, for the Bées to drinke on, doth recouer the Bées again. Hyginius affirmeth that eyther the Oxe or mans vrine set in like manner (as aboue saide) by the mouths of the hyues, doth also recouer the diseased Bées. Nowe all these, and suche like muste the kéeper of the Bées doe, whiche is bothe sober and chaste, and féedeth not vppon sowre or tarte meates, nor filthy or strong of sauour, nor any salt meates.

The Bées for that they muche abhorre all filthye stinkes and smells, Palladius willeth the kéeper of them to eschewe dilligently al strong and yll smelling sauoures, one also that delighteth to be chaste of body, and frée from filthinesse, among these not breathing sowrely, or of a stinking breath, not sweating, nor sauouring of sweat, not one besides of wicked conditions, or suche a person as standing among the flight of the Bées, doth not earnestly moue and procure them to fly to him, or as one stinged endeuoreth to defend himselfe from them, but rather as a flatterer among his acquaintance, and children, hath learned to entreate, and please the Bées by a more gentle manner. He also whiche mindeth to haue also in a readinesse the hiues vnto his vse, in which he may receiue forthwith the rude youth of the swarmes put forth, which if they be not diligently preserued, they flye quite awaye at the full heate of Sunne. But how these hiues ought aptly to be prepared, shall hereafter bée taught in the sixtéenth Chapiter.

If the Dorre Bées, or Bées without sting, be ouer manye in the Hiue, and that you woulde gladly ridde them forth, then do on this manner: first take and plucke off the wings of one of those Dorre Bées, which lay or put within the Hiue, and incontinent the Honny Bées espying the same, will fal vppon the other Dorre Bées, and both kill and driue them quite away.

Palladivs in his second Booke writeth, that the swarms of the honny Bées fly awaye especiallye in the moneth of Iune. But with vs the same oftner happeneth in the moneth of May, as hathe bin noted by sundrye, diuerse times, especially if the yong Bées be sounde and hartie within the Hyues. Therefore the kéeper muste diligently looke to the Hyues, and at no time be absent, especially when the young Bées increase and abound in the Hyues, for if they be not then carefully looked vnto, and stayed by the diligence of the kéeper, they al fly quite away. For such is the nature and propertie of the Bées, that as soone as the swarms of the yong Bées, are bred with the Kings, and that they be strong & able to flye away, then as disdayning the swarms of the olde Bées, they séeke the more gouernment. For that they be suche liuing things, that delight to rule alone, not séeking ayde and counsell of the elder Bées: and therefore do the newe kings flye forth, with the young swarmes following them, which for a day or two before their flying away, remaine heaping togither before the mouths of the Hyues, & right vnder the Hiues, so that by their comming forth, and heaping in suche order, they properly shewe the desire of a newe place, and be as yet contented to remaine thereabout, if so be the kéeper prouide for them a place and an apt Hiue. But if they haue no kéeper to looke diligently to them, then as it were by an iniurie repulsed, they after séeke a newe place. That this may not happen, let then the warye and diligent kéeper, looke circumspectlye to the Hyues in the Spring time, aboute the eight houre of the daye, (when as the swarmes are not yet flowen away,) that he maye the diligenter marke and sée the flying oute and comming in of the yong Bées.

Now the readinesse of the Bées in flying away, is known two waies, as the first is, when for certaine daies before, in a maner at the setting of the Sun, they plentifully or abundantly gather on a heape righte before the mouthe of the Hyue, like vnto greate clusters of Grapes, and doe hang togither on heapes one vpon another.

The other note is, that when they be minded within thrée daies after to flye awaye, they make as meruellous noise and sturring too and fro within the hiues at euening, as Souldiours at the Alarme within a Castell, whiche you maye easilye knowe, (this readinesse of them) if that you lay your eare to ech hiue. And when some of the Bées are flowen awaye, then doe those waite for the others, vntill the whole swarme be come togither. That the Bées fly not awaye, Plinie teacheth in the .xj. Booke of his Naturall Historie, that the hiues ought to be annointed about with the iuyce of the herb named Balme. Also other affyrme, that the swarme to settle and stay againe through the onely throwing of fine duste on them, if so be the same be throwen on light, and that ouer the bées. Some beside affirme, that the Bées will not flye awaye, if that the dung of the first calfe of any Cowe, be smeared about the mouths of the hiues. Plinie writeth, that by the only binding of the fresh white Vine (running in hedges) rounde about the bodies of the Hyues, it stayeth the swarme from flying away.

When the Bées are nowe in a tumulte in the ayre, by throwing fine earth on high ouer the Bées, or ringing a basen or kettle, they be with the shrill sound made astonied, that they maye the sooner settle downe neare to the kéeper, whiche if the same happen to be on the branch of a trée, or on a graft or yong set, then with a very sharpe sawe, gently sawe that off, and laye it on the grounde, and spéedily set a Hiue on the same prepared for the purpose. For by that meanes (without doubte) will the whole swarme flye vp to the toppe and head of the Hiue. Yet it often happeneth, that they doe not wholy cleaue on a heape to the braunch of a trée, but to the stocke or body of the trée, whych by that meanes muste néedes be cutte by a greater force, so that not able to be recouered by this meanes, the swarme muste be quickly swéepte off, either with the hand, or with a Gose wing, that they may so fall togither into the hiue. If the swarme happen to be clustred togither on the top of a trée, so high, that they cannot be climed vnto, to take them downe, then after the shaking of them into the Hiue (turned vppe) either with a pole or high forke, the hiue must spéedily be turned down to the earth. And if they be not thus taken or recouered, yet if the King shal be still in the Hiue, then doth the swarme fly in againe, if he remayneth not, then wil none of the swarme abide in the hiue, but flye forthwith vnto the former place. Wherfore, that they may be moued to abide, you muste then sprinckle the hiue with water and hony togither, and couer the same within with the gréene Nettle, or rather the gréene Fennell, or some such swéete herbe, annointed a little with Hony, and after set at the Euening in their proper place. For the hiue in the day time, after the recouering thus of the Bées, may not be stirred vntil the Euening, that the Bées so quietly resting all that night, may in the morning leisurely go forth. But for thrée daies togither in a manner, muste the kéeper dayly looke, whether the swarme kéepeth belowe in the Hiue, for if it doth, then are the Bées purposed to flye awaye. And if none of al these remedies, may yet moue the Bées to stay and tarry in the hiue, then be-smoke the hiue with flaxe, and they will after enter in and abide in the hiue. Which so staying in the hiues, set at the Euening in his proper place. Here learne a farther instruction, that if the swarme of Bées cannot be gathered and recouered togither all at one time then may you gather the swarme at two or more times togither, and alwaies put eche part gathered vnder the hiue. If it happeneth that you haue gotten the King, with a part of the swarme, then will all the others soone come to hiue (without further trauaile) of their owne accorde. If the Bées also be entred into the hollowe of a trée, then to the hole, whiche they vse to go in and out at, as their proper doore, sette a prepared hiue, and beneath their hole, neare to the roote and bottome of the hollow (as you can gesse) boare another bigge hole, that ye may wel put in a smoke of Brimstone to them, whiche may so cause all the Bées to fly out at their hole into the Hiue, set ouer the mouth of it. For no better deuise or inuention can be had in this matter, than by such a smoake made. If the same hollowe trée be so thinne, that it may easily be sawed asunder, then with a sharpe sawe lette that hollowe parte be cutte asunder, bothe aboue and beneath, and after couering it with a cleane shéete, carrie the swarme home, which at euening couer with a newe Hiue sprinckled with water and honny mixed togither. For so they will tarrye the willinglier, being all shaken forth of the body of the trée, and couered with the Hiue. Besides the hearbe Mugworte (whiche the Bées by a naturall hatred do abhorre) doth chase them with the onely smell from place to place.

Palladivs writeth, that the best Hiues be those, which are made of the barkes and light corke of trées, bicause they be neither too colde in the Winter time, nor too hote in the Sommer. And of this, those Hiues whiche be wroughte and made of the small Osier or Willow trée, or of the Vine stickes knit togither, or Canes cleft in the middes (whiche be of like condition to the barke) wroughte close togither, and stopped close aboute wyth flockes and clay, tempered togither with water and salte, may aptly serue, if you will. But if neither of those fashioned Hiues like you, then may you make the Hiues of the woodde of a hollowe trée, or of light bourdes made square, and stowpyng somewhat afore. The worste Hiues be those, which be made of turfes or earth, bycause they be ouer hote in the Sommer, and ouer colde in the Winter. There be other two kinds of hiues, as the one made of drie hard Cow dung, and the other of tiles. Of whiche the one doth Celsus rightly condemne, bycause the same is so lightly burned, and the other he alloweth, althoughe he dissembleth the speciall commoditie of it, bycause the same, if néede requireth, cannot easily be remoued and carried into an other place. And among these, I suppose oure forme of Hiues here in Englande, are not altogither to be disallowed, although they be in like daunger, to be easily burned, as the other Hiues aboue taughte, in that they be made with strawe. But to be briefe, for a greate swarme you ought to haue in a readinesse a greate hiue, and for a small swarme a little Hiue. And the Hiue also oughte to be a foote and a halfe, or two foote high, and in breadth aboue two foote and a halfe, or somewhat larger. Hauing besides two very small and narrowe holes, somewhat asunder, and so little ought the mouths to be, that neyther Béetle, Butterflie, gret Moth, Humble Bées, Euet nor Mouse may enter in, to spoile the Honny combes. Some suppose, or rather affyrme of experience, that the Bées are delighted with this closenesse, in that they more ioy to do their works and businesse in the darke, than otherwise.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now being on this wise, distill the same againe in Balneo Mariæ, and so often repeate this, vntill you haue distilled it sixe or seauen times ouer, that the coloure be chaunged, and in the ende, to the coloure of golde. Whiche then is moste pleasaunt of sauoure, and so swéete, that nothing maye be compared like to it, in flagrantnesse of smell. The Quintessence doeth dissolue golde, prepareth it apte to be drunke, and any Iewell put into the water, it doth also dissolue the same. Also this is named the Blessed Water, in that giuing to any two or thrée drams to drinke, being at the point of death, doth so sodainely recouer the person againe, as doeth the Quintessence of wine. And washing any grieuous wounde or stripe with the water, doeth in shorte time heale the same. Also this pretious water doth maruellously help the cough, the Rheume, the disease of the Splen, and many other diseases, whiche woulde scarcely be beléeued. The water also ministred daily vnto a person sicke of the Palsey, for the space of .xlvj. daies, he was by the mightie helpe of God, & this miraculous water, throughly healed of the disease. Also this Quintessence doth helpe the falling sicknesse, and preserueth the bodye from putrifying, so that by al those we maye learne, that thys is rather a diuine water from Heauen (and sente from God) to serue vnto all ages.

The Honny being drawen from the combes, although some Bées hang on them deade, yet putte all togither into a fayre panne or cauldron, into whiche poure so muche water or more, as the quantitie of the combes be. This set ouer a softe fire, vntill the same what it be, is throughly heated and molten in the panne, and in the melting continually sturre the same aboute, with a bigge splatter or some staffe, leaste the Waxe cleaue to the panne sides, throughe the flame or heate of fire, and appeare burned: after poure the whole substaunce into a course hairen bagge, pressing it forth into a troughe or other like vessell, made for the only purpose, on which poure twoo or thrée kettles full of hote water, that no dregs hang after on the Waxe, and by that means shall you haue the Waxe both pure and cleane. But if you wil haue it caste into faire round cakes, and to be cleaner and purer, then melte the Waxe againe, and being molten, poure it into a cleane vessell, which washed likewise with warme water (as aboue was taught) set after in the Sunne, by which meanes, the cake will continue verye long faire of couloure.

Waxe being the foode of lighte, and seruing vnto innumerable vses of men, of all the kindes, the same is beste allowed and commended, whiche is bothe newe made, meanelye redde of coloure, somewhat fattie, smelling swéete, hauyng some sauoure in it of the Honny, and cleare. Of the Waxe also in sundrie Counties, that in the countrie of Pontus is well commended, and the same in the Isle of Creta: nexte to these is the Waxe in the Isle of Corsica, which is made of the Boxe trée, and supposed to haue some good effectes in it for Medicine.

Waxe hath a meane among heating things, both in the cooling, drying, and moistning, as writeth Galen in the seauenth booke of Simples, and .22. Chapiter, whiche properly helpeth the roughnesse of the breaste, when it is ioyned or mixed with the oyle of Violets, for that bothe mollifyeth or softneth the sinewes, ripeneth and resolueth vlcers. The quantitie of a pease in waxe swallowed downe of Nurses, or such women as giue sucke, both dissolue the milke courded in the pappes. And tenne little péeces of pure newe waxe, vnto the biggenesse of a hempséede, drunke downe at one time, doeth cause the milke not to courde in the womans stomacke and breastes. If the priuie place or thereabout, of either man or woman, happeneth to swell, then by applying an ointment made of white waxe, it shortly assuageth and healeth the same. If anye also happeneth to be diseased with the bloudy flixe, by stuffing a yong Pigeon with newe waxe, after rosting the same, and eating the fleshe thereof, doeth in shorte time after staye the same. Also, if a Quince made hollowe and filled with pure newe waxe, be after rosted vnder hote embers, vntill the same be tender, and eaten fasting without drinking after it, doth in like sorte staye and helpe the perillous flixe, and scouring of bloude. The waxe besides serueth to all maner of plaisters, ointments, suppositories, and such like.

The same made of Bées at the entrie of the mouth of hiues, oughte to be yelowe of coloure, and swéete smelling, like to Storax, and drawne into a length, like to Mastike. Yet that is rather chosen, bycause in heating and drawing it is principallest. For of itselfe, this draweth forth thornes or splents of wood run déepe into the flesh by applying it plaisterwise on the grief, it helpeth an olde coughe by making a smoake thereof, and holding the mouth ouer it, and applyed in the forme of an ointment on ringwormes, doeth spéedily heale them. Nowe this matter (as aboue was taught) is the stay of the hony combes, by whiche Bées stoppe and kéepe forth al manner of colde and other annoyances which might endamage them, the same also being of so strong a sauor, that some vse it in the stéede of Galbanum. M. Varro nameth it a refuge of Bées, withoute their cottages, bicause Bées make the same at the entry of the hiue.

Waxe is made white in this manner, firste that kinde of waxe (fit for this purpose) ought to be whiter and purer, and broken into little péeces, putte after into a newe earthen panne, pouring vppon it sufficient salt or sea water, and a lyttle Nitre brused, which séeth altogither. When the same bath boiled twice or thrice vp, remoue the panne from the fire: the waxe being throughly colde, take forth of the panne, and scraping off the filth, if any suche hang on, putte againe into newe salte water, séething it againe. And when the waxe hathe so often boyled (as aboue was taughte) then take off the panne from the fire, and taking the bottome of a newe earthen panne, melt it with colde water, whiche dippe by little and little into the waxe, drowning it a little, and that the water be aboue the waxe, whereby the waxe maye become verye thinne, and be the sooner cooled it selfe. And taking by and by oute the moulde or bottome, drawe firste the rounde cake off, and wetting againe the bottome in colde water, dip it into the waxe, and the same so long doe, vntill you haue drawne off all that waxe into cakes of like sorte, whiche after stitche throughe with thréede, hanging the cakes on a rope one from another, and that in the daye time often wetting them in the Sunne, but in the nighte time, in the Moone light: and so long doe this, vntill the waxe be white. And if anye desireth to haue waxe whiter than this, then let him do the like, as abouesaide, but boyle the waxe oftner. Some in stéede of the salte seawater, take strong Brine water, in whiche they boyle the waxe in the same manner twice or thrice, as aboue was taughte. And Paulus Euerdus in his booke of Confections, teacheth the making of waxe white two manner of wayes.

That you maye colour and make Waxe redde, take to one pounde of waxe, thrée ounces of verye cleare Turpentine, if it be in sommer, but if it be in winter, then take foure ounces. Now these disolue and melt togither ouer a soft fire, and taking it from the fire, let it coole a little, after which put in your Vermillian finely ground on a Marble stone, and of swéete Salet Oyle, of eache one ounce, mixing these well, stirre al togither, diligently. But some in stéede of Vermilion, doe take the reede leade, which is little commended, except there be thrée times so muche of the redde leade, as of the Vermilion putte in. And in the like sorte may you make the gréene Waxe, if instéede of the Vermillian, you take so much of the gréene Coporas finely ground, as you did of the Vermilian.

The Oile of Waxe, is myraculous and diuine in workyng, bycause it serueth in a manner vnto all griefes. Reymond Lully greatly commendeth this Oyle, approuing it rather as a celestiall and diuine remedie, and that this in woundes, doeth worke moste miraculously, which for his maruellous commoditie, not so well to be allowed of the common Chirurgions, bycause this pretious Oyle healeth a wounde, be the same neuer so wide and bigge, being before wide stitched vppe, in the space of tenne or twelue dayes at the moste. But those whiche are small, this Oyle healeth in thrée dayes, by annoynting onely on the cuttes or woundes, and laying after linnen cloutes, wette in the saide Oyle, vpon the woundes. For inward diseases the saide Oyle worketh myraculouslye (if that you minister or gyue a dramme at a time in white Wine to drinke) and stayeth also the sheading of haire, either on the head or beard, by annointing the places with this Oyle. Besides these, it is miraculous in the procuring of vrine, being mightily stopped, and helpeth also stitches and paine in the loynes, by drinking the like quantitie of the Oyle aboue taughte in white wine.

Now the making and drawing of this oyle, is on this wise: firste take a body of glasse, named a Retort, which stronglye lute aboute with clay and flocks, diligently tempered togither with salte water: after the body is thus fenced and thoroughe drie, putte in a pounde or more of pure newe waxe, so that the saide waxe filleth not aboue halfe youre body, and to euerye pounde of Waxe, poure in foure ounces, of the pouder of redde bricke, finely brused, whiche after set into an earthen potte, filling it rounde aboute with fine sifted ashes or sande. After this, set the potte with the bodye in it, on a fornace, making a softe fire at the firste vnder it, and after encreasing a little more your fire, distil them so long, vntill all youre Oyle be come, whiche after a while wyll congeale in the receiuer: but it maketh no greate matter, although the oyle so doe, for it is neuerthelesse in his perfection. Bycause that if you shoulde distill it so often ouer, vntil it will congeale or stiffen no more in the receiuer, then shall you make it ouer hotte, and so quicke in the mouth, that it is not possible by anye meanes to drinke it downe. But being once distilled, you maye either giue it in Wine to drinke, or annoint with the Oyle on any place of the bodye where you will, whiche will always doe good, and hurte in no manner.

And in consideration of these aboue taught, you maye evidently learne and perceiue, that this myraculous Oyle oughte to be hadde in greate veneration of the common sorte.

Take of pure newe waxe so muche as you please, which put into a panne ouer the fire to melte, and being molten, haue by you in a readinesse another panne well glased, and cleane within, filled with verie good and perfecte wine, into whiche poure youre molten waxe, letting it soake and drinke in well, and washe often in the saide wine. After this take the waxe forth, melting it againe ouer the fire, and molten, washe the same againe in the beste wine, so that euerie time melting the waxe, poure it into freshe new wine, washing and soaking it in the same diligently, after wringing it very wet with the hands. And vsed on this wise, both melt and washe againe in the abouesaide manner, and this also do for eighte times togither. Then set the same forth, being a cleare season and ayre, all the nighte throughe, after which put the waxe into a Retorte with a little of Mumia, and oyle of Ypericon or Saint Iohns wort, and a little olde Oyle: and although without these it maye doe good, yet mixed with these it worketh farre better, than vsed alone.

Nowe to retourne to the former matter this crooked bodye or Retorte set in fine sifted ashes, and a gentle fire made vnder it, vntill all the oyle do runne forth, and in this comming forth of the oile, shall appeare all the foure Elements, as Ayre, Water, Earth and Fyre, whiche will orderly appeare in the receiuer, right maruellous to sée. And the Oyle being thus fullye drawne, worketh miraculouslye in all diseases which procéed of a colde cause, like as we haue aboue taught.

Thus (gentle Reader) I haue (I truste) fullye satisfied thy desire in as manye things as are needefull to be knowen. And I committe this my little Booke to thy gentle iudgement: if thou mayste receiue any profite or commoditie thereby, I shal be gladde of it, and if not, yet fauourably let it passe from thee to others, whose knowledge and experience is lesse than thine herein, that they may gather suche things as to them are strange, though to thee wel known before. And thus brieflye I committe thee to God.

And first consider and marke, that howe the weather is a daye before the day presente, and the daye after the Sunnes entraunce into the signe Aries, and suche like shall the weather be (for the moste parte) in these thrée moneths, as in September, October, and Nouember.

And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the signe of Leo, as at the day of the entrance the daye before, and the daye after, and such commonlye shall be in the moneths of December, Ianuarie, and Februarie, for if the winde shall then blowe oute of the North, or Easte, and those daies drie, then shall followe a verye colde season in those thrée moneths: but if the winde blowe out of the South or Weast, and that it raineth in those thrée dayes, then yse to followe in those thrée moneths. And if the weather in these thrée daies shal be neither wholy drie, nor wholy moiste, then shall folowe an vnstedfaste Winter.

And like as the weather shall be at the Sunnes entraunce into the signe Libra, as at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the daye after, suche for the more parte shall be the Spring, as in the moneth of Marche, Aprill, and May.

And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the signe Aquarius, at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the daye after, (suche for the more parte) shall the weather be in the moneths of Iune, Iuly, and August.

And manye auntient men affyrme, that like as the weather shall be whiles the Sunne is running by the signe Libra, and vnto the .20. degrée of Scorpio, which time is from the daye named (the Exaltation of the crosse) vnto the day of al Saints, such for the more parte shall the yeare following be, as in diuiding that foresaide time into twelue moneths, and that foure daies doe aunswere to eche moneth, of the whiche foure dayes, that eache one of the foure, doeth declare the condition of the quarter following, and beginning also to recken November as the first moneth of the yeare.

And the generall signes of the dearth and plentie after the minds of the auncient husband men be these, as the ouermuch coldenesse drying, the ouermuch moysture softning, the ouermuche heate greatly burning, and the ouermuch drinesse putrifying and working into dust.

For when any of these qualities shall excéede in the proper time, but especially in that time, which to the corne and fruites do not agrée, then shall dearth and scarcitie both of fruites and corne ensue.

As for example, when the moneth of March shal be ouer moyst and wet, which rather ought to be drie, and that the moneth of April shal be drie, which then ought to be moyst, doth after pronounce the penurie of the fruites of the earth.

And if that part also of sommer shal be weat, in which the corne doth then fall vnto ripenesse, that rather ought to be drie, doth after signifie the scarcitie both of corne and other fruites of the earth.

And the like may be saide of the other constitutions, which when the Elementall qualities shal be in such a condition as do best agrée, then doe they promise both fruitfulnesse and plentifulnesse.

And if in the Spring be signes of colde and drought, and that in the ende of the spring neare the full moone be frostes, then shall follow very small yéelde of the fruites of the earth, and little wine that yere following.

And if the spring be drie, then fewe shall the fruites of the trées be, yet good, and the scarcitie of corne shal be that yeare.

And if the Spring shall be colde, the fruites of the Earthe shall be late ripe.

And if the Spring and Sommer shall be ouer wette, or mistie, or colde, with cloudie weather for manye daies together, whiles all the trées haue borne their blossoms, and the fieldes their floures, and beginne to shedde their floure, then shall follow the scarcitie of fruites of the earth in that yeare, or else a verie greate rot of them, and many sicknesses in that yeare.

And if the sommer be drier than customably, then shal follow the scarcitie of corne, yet the Sommer fruites shall that yeare be sound, the fishes then die, and most sharpe sicknesses shall raine that yeare.

And if the Sommer shal be hotter than customably, then shal followe many sicknesses or diseases, yet great plentie of the Sommer fruites that yeare.

And if the Sommer shal be colder than customably, then shall follow a healthfull yere, but the fruites of the earth shal late ripe that yeare.

And here further note of the spring, that if in the same season of the spring, there shal be a more plentie of all floures and fruits toward than customably, doth after signifie a scarcitie of corne that yere, vnlesse the heate of sommer doth otherwise reforme the same.

And the wise and auncient husbandmen haue obserued, that when the winter shal send downe store of raine on the earth, so that the same excéede not or bée too much, and that the March following be drie, and the Aprill wette by often shoures, and that the same part also of Sommer bée drie in which the corne falleth to ripenesse, then doth the same promise a plentifull yeare.

And when that part of the Haruest shal be faire and drie, in which the wheat is sowen, and the parte of sommer in which corne falleth too ripenesse shal be faire and drie, the spring also meanely warme, doth then not only promise fruitefulnesse, but a plentifull yeare of corne.

And nowe the Haruest moyster than customably doth putrifie the Grapes, and causeth a small yéelde of wines that yeare, with the scarcitie of other fruites.

And if in the latter part of Haruest it be moyster, then in the yere following shal ensue the scarcitie of corne.

And if the Haruest bée drier in the first part, then in the yeare following shal Rie, and that smal graine named Mill, and suchlyke, be deare.

And if the haruest be hoter than customably, then shall followe a diseased yeare and that dangerus.

And if the Haruest be colder than customably, then shall follow the losse of the Haruest fruites both in the store and tast of them.

And the Winter colde and drie, is of all husbandmen commended, but extréeme colde, doeth then flea the trées, especially those which ioy in a warme aire, as the Pomegranade trée, the Oliue trée, the Lemmon trée, the Figge trée, the Peach trée, and such like.

And if the Winter excéede in the extremitie of coldnesse, then doth it signifie harme both vnto the Vine and the Oliue trée, the Cherie trée, and the yellow Quince trée.

And if the Winter be hote and moyst, then the same doth pronounce an vnhealthfull yeare, and daunger to séedes and fruites of the earth.

And the excesse qualitie, and distemperature of any of the foure quarters, is euill and daungerous to the fruites of the earth.

And the plentie of snowe falling in the due season of the yeare, doth batten the earth, (and if the others do helpe) then doth it signifie the plentie of corne and other fruites of the earth.

And if any washeth the handes with snowe, it doth then make them stedie, in that the snowe is ingendered of a vapour somewhat drie and earthly.

And the snowe nourisheth shéepe & other beasts in that the snow is ingendered of the moyst aire, in which life consisteth.

And the snowe increaseth the corne and other growing things on earth, in that by his coldnesse it so doth shut the poures of the earth, that the heate with the whiche the séedes of the earth be cherished, cannot then breath forth.

And the snow heateth and cherisheth the earth, by the thicke couering of it, and defendeth the gréene wheat and other séedes sowen, from the sharpe and vehement colde then of the ayre.

And the snowe may be kept all the yeare under the earth, couered with strawe, and profitable it is to mixe with the wine in hote sommer, and necessarie also to coole the ayre about sick persons.

And the vnprofitable falling of the deawe, mistes, or fogges (especially when all crescent thinges doe bud foorth, and shewe theyr floure) as in the Moneth of Aprill and May, as well on the trées, corne and grasse, which beastes then feding on be greatly harmed, through the deaw fallen, and all other thinges also much harmed by the same, as hath bene often obserued by the ancient and wise husbandmen.

And the ouermuch falling of raine, frostes or haile, especially in the spring time, and in the winter time, whilst the corne is yet as grasse, the excesse of raine also doth then threaten the scarcitie of vittailes to ensue that yeare.

And the great plentie of beanes, after the opinion of the common husbandmen, through the much raine fallen, doth fore shewe the scarcitie of corne, and especially of wheate that yeare.

And a like iudgement may be giuen of the Oke and Holly trée, which if they beare plentifully, then a fruitfull yeare followeth, and contrariwise bearing but few, then a deare yeare of corne to ensue.

And the great plentie of Grashoppers, wormes and Catterpillers appearing in their proper time more than customably, doe not only declare harme to vines and séedes sowen, but to all fruites that yeare.

And the great store of windes, not only cause little fruites, but scarcitie of corne to ensue that yeare.

And a stilnesse in a manner throughout the yeare, doth declare a likelyhode of the plague to ensue shortly after.

And the auncient Hipocrates writeth, that when in the Sommer the North winde long continueth, and in the Harvest, the South winde with store then of raine, it doeth after threaten in the Winter the headache, hoarsenesse of voice, the coughe, consumptions or impostumes to ensue.

And if after a drie Sommer (as write the auntient Phisitions) the North winde doeth long continue in the Harueste, then the bodies of women, and suche diseased with a moiste sicknesse, doe then in that season the rather recouer health, in that the drinesse of the seasons and windes is contrarie to the excesse, and to the rottennesse of the humors, by whiche the sicknesses were caused.

And if the Winter shall be hote and moiste, and the Spring colde and drie, then doth the same threaten sicknesse to men in the Sommer, and that women with childe shall haue vntimely birthes of a light occasion.

And Hypocrates writeth, that when in the Winter be longer Northerly windes, and in the Spring longer Southerlye windes, and that raynie and wette in the Sommer following, then doeth followe Agues, and the Diseases of the eies.

And when after a colde Winter, and that South windes and raynie in the Spring, and that the Sommer be drie then in the Haruest following doe agues ensue, paines also of the bowels thoroughe the greate scouring of the bodie, and Sicknesses, with the whiche olde men, diseased persons, and children be then more pained.

And when the Southwest winde doth long blowe aboute the end of Haruest, then those persons diseased with a long sicknesse, do shortly after die.

And a further knowlege of dearth and plentie of victualles, and of sickenesse may be had on this wise.

Firste in the end of Haruest, cutte open two or thrée Oke apples, looking whether there be in them either Flyes, Worms, or Spiders.

For if in the Oke apple be founde Wormes, or Magots, then they signifie (after the opinion of auncient husbandmen) to the dearth and scarcitie in that yeare.

And if the Oke apple cut open be founde like to flies, it doth after threaten battel to ensue in that yeare.

And if in the Oke apple be founde like to Spiders, then doe they foreshewe the plague or pestilence to ensue in that yeare.

And to conclude, the onely proofe of the former taught, shal moue the Reader better to credite these.

And nowe, when the first day of Ianuary shal happen on the Sunday, then the Winter shall be temperate and good, yet windie, the Spring wet, the sommer drie, and the Haruest hurtfull throughe windes. So that victualles shall be reasonable good cheape, plentie of Wines, the good health & encrease of shéepe and other cattell, and the indifferent plentie of hony, and the like plentie also of Peason, Beanes, Vetches, and the herbes and fruites of the Gardens. Also yong men shal die that yeare, and a discorde to be feared betwéene Kings, or else some manifest perils to happen to Kings and greate Prelates in aucthoritie, and that diuers robberies shall be attempted that yeare. And if controuersies happen betwéen Princes, then a conclusion of peace to be looked for in that yeare.

And if the firste day of Ianuarie shall happen on the Monday, then shall the Winter be warme, the Spring very colde, with Snow and Frostes that season, the Sommer boisterous through winds, and haile oftentimes, and lande floudes shall be somewhere, and the Haruest very drie. So that sicknesses shall ensue, throughe which many of the simple sorte shal then die, and diuers also shall die, throughe the sodaine plague then happening. Also the likelihoode of greate alteration to ensue, & that auntient women to mourne, Kings to die, and a greate slaughter to be feared by the sword. Also small store of wines, the death of Bées, and little hony that yeare.

And if the firste beginning of the moneth of Ianuarie shal be on Tuisday, then that Winter shal be long, and much snow in that season, and the likelihoode of land floudes, throughe the muche raine then falling, the Spring windie, the Sommer verye wette, and the Haruest abounding in grosse and rotten humors (so that a moste gréeuous plague is to be feared, and especially of women, and the likelihoode of many shipwrackes, and very greate cares and troubles to happen vnto Princes, with the scarcitie of fruites of the trées: and corne shall be deare, with the sodaine death of cattel to be feared that yeare. Also wood shal that yeare be deare, and the likelihoode of fearefull fyres, and that the plague to be grieuous that yeare. And yet shal there be store of Peason, Beanes, and Vetches, & plentie of hearbes and floures. Also there shall be plentie of Hony, Oyle, and wines that yeare.

And when the firste of Ianuarie beginneth on the Wednesday, then shall the Winter be warme and calme, the Spring wette, and disposed to sicknesses, the Sommer hote, and the Haruest vnprofitable, so that long sicknesses are to be feared, & the Quarten Ague with them. Also yong men shall then be sick, and in ieopardie of death, and women the like, & in sundrie places shall happen a famine, with a greate brute of straunge newes. And there is also to be feared the grieuous passions of the hearte, the ydlenesse of minde, or rather distraught, and the diseases of the matrice in women. And yet the plentie of Oyle and Wines, but the scarcitie of corne to be doubted that yeare.

And if the beginning of Ianuarie be on Thursedaye, then shall the Winter be calme, & temperate, the Spring windie, the Sommer vnseasonable, and the Haruest drie, so that corne and victualles shall then be deare, yet store of Oile and Wines that yeare. And there is a likelihoode of lighte sickenesses to happen vnto the common people, but more dangerous sicknesses vnto the richer sorte. And the blearednesse of eies also is to be feared, and that yong children shall then die, battels procured, and the sedition of souldiours, and an earthquake to be doubted that yeare. Also great talke of newes shal be in Kings and Princes houses, and greate perills also be doubted to happen vnto Princes in that yeare.

And if the firste daye of Ianuarie happen on Fridaye, then shall the Winter be verie cold and drie, the Spring boysterous and wette, the Sommer temperate, the Haruest more wette than drie. So that the blearednesse, and other diseases with the filthinesse of matter running in the eies is to be feared, and the pinne or web is likewise to be doubted to happen in that yeare. And yong children shall ther die, and a likelihoode that young women shall be allured vnto a wanton loue, throughe the flatterie and great perswasions of men. Also a suspition of battels to ensue in that yeare, and the plague and robberies then to happen. Also the plentie of fruites is then promised, althoughe muche haile fall that yeare.

And if the beginning of Ianuarie happen on Saterdaye, then the Winter shall be windie and vnstable, the Spring windie, and vnconstant of weather, the sommer vnstable with manye tempestes, and the Haruest drie: So that victualls shall be deare, small store of corne, and little fruite that yeare. Also shéepe shall not well prosper that yeare, and a likelihoode then of the death of swine, and that woode shall be deare.

Also there shall be manye tertian agues, and diuers other diseases rayning among men, so that olde men shall then die, and a likelyhoode of the death of many men, by the plague. Also many fires shall be hearde of, little store of Wines, Oyle, and Hony, yet plentie of hay that yeare.

And if Neweyeares night (being the first night of Ianuarie) shall be calme and cleare, as withoute winde and raine, then doeth the same promise a prosperous yeare following.

And if in the same night the winde happen to blowe oute of the East, then doth the same signifie the death of cattell to ensue that yeare.

And if the same night the winde happen to blowe out of the West, then a likelyhood of the death of Kinges or Princes to ensue that yeare.

And if in the same night the wind happen to blow out of the South, then doth the same signifie the death of manye persons to ensue that yeare.

And if in the same night the wind happen to blow out of the North, then doth the same signifie the small yéelde of all fruites of the earth that yeare.

And about the knowledge of this, there is to be considered and noted, in what signe the Moone shall then be, at the first appearance of the dogge starre aboue the Earth in our Realme of England, which generally to be reckened is about the seauenth day of Iuly.

And nowe if the Moone runne then in the signe Aries, at the first appearance of the Dog starre, it doth after declare the death of Cattell and much raine. So that small yéelde of corne yet plentie of Oyle shal be that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Taurus, at the first appearance of the dog starre, then doth it signifie much raine, fogges and mistes that shal harme much that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Gemini, at the first appearance of the dogge starre, it doth after promise the plentie of corne and wine and all other fruites of the earth, a yet diseased yeare, and to be doubted that a King shal then die, and that rebellion also shall be moued that yeare.

And if the Moone run then in the signe Cancer at the first appearance of the dog starre, aboue the earth, it doth after threaten drought, with the great scarcitie of corne to ensue in that yere:

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Leo at the firste sight of the dogge starre, it after promiseth the plentie both of wines and Oyle, and the good cheape of corne and other victuals that yeare. And yet to bée feared the commotions of the common people, and slaughter of the same to ensue, with an erthquake, and land floudes to happen in that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Virgo, at the first appearance of the dogge star, it after signifieth the plentie of showers, and the greate store of fruites of the earth, and the cheapenesse also of cattell. And yet to be feared, that women shal be deliuered before their time in that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Libra, at the first appearance of the dogge starre, it after declareth the stirring vp of a king, and a commotion of the common people. And yet the plentie of fruites of the trées, although there be a likelyhood of the scarcitie of corne and oyle in that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then the signe Scorpio, at the first appearance of the dogge starre, it after declareth the commotion of priests, the destruction of Bées, and an infectiue aire to ensue that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Sagitarius, at the first sight of the dogge starre aboue the earth, it after signifieth a raynie yeare, yet fruitefull, and the plentie of corne, and ioy among men. And yet is to be feared the death of cattell, & the multitude of foules in that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Capricornus at the first appearance of the dogge star aboue the earth, it after declareth the commotion of souldiours, and greate store of raine, and yet the plentie of corne, wines and Oyle, and al other thinges good cheape in that yeare.

And if the Moone run then in the signe Aquarius, at the first appearance of the dog star aboue the earth, it after signifieth of a most likelyhood, the death of a king or Prince, the scarcitie of corne, and the plentie of such flyes with the long hinder legges, that burne corne by the touching of it. And yet little raine, with the plague to ensue in that yeare.

And if the Moone runne then in the signe Pisces, at the first appearaunce of the dogge starre aboue the earth, it after declareth much raine, and the death of byrdes. And yet doth it promise a sufficient store, & laudable plentifulnesse, both of Wines, Oyle, and corne, but manye persons shall be diseased in that yeare.

And first if the horne of the Ramme (nere his eare) be boxed, the same doeth tame his fiercenesse. And if his right genitour be trussed vp before he goeth to couer the Ewe, then doeth he beget an Ewe lambe. And if the left be thus straite trussed vp, and the righte hanging downe, then doeth he begette a hée lambe.

And if in the time of the South wind blowing, the Ram doth then couer the Ewe, he doth after beget a shée lambe.

And if when the North wind bloweth the Ram doth then couer the Ewe, doth after beget a hée lambe. And of what colour also the vaines shal be vnder the tongue of the Ewe, suche shal the colour of the skinne of the lambe be, for if she hath black vaines vnder the tong, then the Lambe shall be blacke of skin, and if white vaines vnder the tong, then shall she haue a white lambe: and if of diuerse colours, then the lambe shal be of diuerse colours on the skin. And that antient Isaac writeth, that Rams in their yong yeares be of lesser moysture and clammynesse, than be the sucking lambs, and this is, through their age and qualitie then ruling.

And therefore the fleshe of yong weathers be better, and ingender better bloud than the sucking lambes.

And this is héere spoken of such Rammes as be gelded, in that their moysture and hotenesse is then temperate.

And the wethers ouer old are to be refused in eating, in that they be then cold and drie without moysture, and they smallye nourish and hardly disgest.

Also béefe and other fleshe of beastes being olde, be euill to eate, through the coldenesse and drynesse, and through the lacke of the moysture and hotnesse. And when the olde Rams in their time to couer the Ewe, be sooner moued thereto, than the yong Rammes, it doeth then signifie a good and profitable season to ensue in that yeare, and a good season and prosperous also for shéepe. But if in the proper time to couer the Ewe, the yong Rammes be sooner prouoked thereto than the olde Rams, then doeth followe the greate rotte or murreyne of shéepe in that yeare.

Also Ewes by drinking of water conceiue the sooner wyth Lambe and of this the shéepeheardes giue them salte to eate, wherby the more drinking of water, they may so conceiue with yong, and they are also by that meanes preserued the healthfuller. And in the Haruest also some sheapheardes giue them to eate Gourdes seasoned with salt to encrease their milke, for by that meanes both the milke more plentifully issue forth of their teates, and the Ewes do sooner conceiue. Also in Sommer is the colde Northerly water good for them, and in the Haruest the warme Southerly water good for them.

Also to let shéepe féede in the ende of the day, is greatelye commended: and if they also stirre but little abrode, the same is thought very profitable, in that the muche iourneying, and labouring of them hither and thither, doth so cause them to become leane. Also the skilful shéepeheards knowe, whiche shéepe will well endure the sharp winter, and which not, in that vpon some of the shéepes backes (as they affirme) Ise maye be founde, and vpon othersome none at al. So that by this may be learned, that such shéepe which be weake, a man can hardely plucke off the Ise from their backes. And further learne, that those shéepe whiche haue long tayles, maye hardlier abide the sharpe colde winter, than those hauing broade tayles: and the shéepe also curled of haire (do in like sorte) hardlier endure the bitter winter.

And besides these, the number greatly harmeth shéepe, especially if anye Ewe being with yong happeneth to be alone at that instant, for that she then with lambe, doeth of the fearefull noyse of the thunder, deliuer hir yong one before the time. And for a speciall remedie to saue that vntimely casting of Lambes at such times, the skilfull shéepeheardes haue found out, that the only driuing of many Ewes togither, is a sure safegard to them to auoyde this occasion. Besides, if you will remoue the rot of shéepe, that they die no more, then take the belly of a Ram, and séeth the same in wine and water togither, which after mixe with water, and giue the same generallye to all the shéepe to drinke, for by that meanes shall they againe be recouered of their disease. And here learne, that the fleshe of shéepe, and other foure footed beastes, which commonly féede in moyste ground, is euill to féede vpon, for the harde digestion of the same. Also learne, that the good shéepe are knowen by their age, as being neyther to olde, nor yet as Lambes: and by the forme also they are knowen, if so be you finde them large of body.

And they besides haue much and soft wool, and both thicke & long heare, especially on the nape, and about the necke, and the like haire on the belly. And both the health & sicknesse of shéepe may be knowen, if so be any openeth their eyes, and findeth the vaines within to be redde and small, which vndoubtedly declareth them to be sound and good: but it those vaines that appeare white, or redde, and bigge, then those shéepe are diseased and weake.

And if the shéepe go lustily and boldely by the waye, it is a sure token that they be sound, but sadly and hanging down the heade, then be they diseased. These hitherto of the yearely coniectures, and other rules, only méete for husbandmen to vnderstand and know.

Scribal abbreviations have been expanded.

Variations in spelling, accenting, and hyphenation have been retained.

All instances of 'VV' standing in for 'W' have been changed to 'W.'

Table of Contents entries have been regularised to the format 'cap.xij.'

cap.first., comma inserted after 'Aristotle,' "Palladius, Aristotle, Theophrastus"

cap.first., 'aud' changed to 'and,' "diuided with plightes and rings."

cap.vij., 'diligeuce' changed to 'diligence,' "care and diligence of the Bees."

cap.viij., full stop inserted after 'sting,' "or lacketh a sting."

cap.viij., second 'the' struck, "whiche the king carrieth"

cap.viij., comma changed to full stop, "owe vnto him. Yet they punish"

cap.viij., comma inserted, "lesser of body, yet howsoeuer"

cap.viij., catchwords 'be placed' inserted, "be placed certaine rulers,"

cap.ix., second 'in' struck, "become gentle in a short time."

cap.ix., 'iu' changed to 'in,' "in the steade of"

cap.ix., 'hoth' changed to 'both,' "to be both euill and"

cap.ix., 'dest' changed to 'best,' "doth he best commende"

cap.x., comma inserted after 'ditches,' "puddels, ditches, dung-heapes,"

cap.x., 'chéeritrée' changed to 'Chéeri trée,' "Chéeri trée they greatly hate"

cap.x., 'hat' changed to 'that,' "for that tasting of"

cap.x., 'flonres' changed to 'floures,' "tasting of the floures"

cap.xj., comma inserted after 'swallows,' "to swallows, to sparrowes, and"

cap.xij., 'spetiall' changed to 'speciall,' "This is a speciall argument"

cap.xv., full stop inserted after 'agayne,' "or recouered agayne."

cap.xvj., full stop inserted after 'Bees,' "for the Honny Bees."

cap.xvj., 'dwo' changed to 'two,' "two very small and narrowe holes"

cap.xvj., full stop inserted after 'otherwise,' "darke, than otherwise."

cap.xvij., hyphen changed to full stop, "and face. And one that"

cap.xvij., comma changed to full stop, "greatlye abhorre. Besides, to be"

cap.xvij., full stop inserted before 'x.,' "the .viij. or .x. day of"

cap.xvij., 'profftable' changed to 'profitable,' "is very profitable, and"

cap.xvij., 'beinying' changed to 'beginyng,' "And from the beginyng"

cap.xx., 'controueesie' changed to 'controuersie,' "in this controuersie"

cap.xxj., 'be' changed to 'bée,' "set forth another bée"

cap.xxj., 'a sunder' changed to 'asunder,' "cutte it asunder."

cap.xxj., 'a sunder' changed to 'asunder,' "be like cut asunder,"

cap.xxij., 'Beees' changed to 'Bees,' "That the Bees sting"

cap.xxij., 'Cap.xxi' changed to 'Cap.xxij.'

cap.xxij., 'placed' changed to 'places,' "on the stinged places."

cap.xxij., 'fouth' changed to 'fourth,' "in his fourth rule"

cap.xxxij., comma inserted after 'water,' "of this yealow water, of Aloes"

cap.xl., 'ef' changed to 'of,' "Oyle out of Waxe"

conclusion, '(I trust)efullye' changed to '(I truste) fullye,' "I haue (I truste) fullye satisfied"

conclusion, 'recciue' changed to 'receiue,' "thou mayste receiue any"

Coniectures cap.j., 'fruietes' changed to 'fruites,' "of fruites and corne"

Coniectures cap.j., 'yeelde' changed to 'yéelde,' "small yéelde of the fruites"

Coniectures cap.j., 'trees' changed to 'trées,' "fruites of the trées be"

Coniectures cap.j., 'than' changed to 'then,' "then in the yere"

Coniectures cap.j., 'tree' changed to 'trée,' "the Lemmon trée"

Coniectures cap.j., 'threa-' changed to 'threaten,' "it doeth after threaten in the Winter"

Coniectures cap.ij., 'tearefull' changed to 'fearefull,' "likelihoode of fearefull fyres"