Part 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ Which Honny is accompted best. Cap.xxv.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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