CHAP. I. Of BEES and their Excellency.

PLINY that great Naturaliſt (Lib. 2. pag. 5.) to expreſs the moſt tranſcendent Excellency of the Nature of Bees, ſaith thus, viz. Inter omnia Inſecta Principatus Apibus, & jure praecipua admiratio; ſolis ex eo genere hominum cauſâ genitis: Of all Inſects, Bees are the Chief, and the moſt worthy to be had in Admiration, being the only things of that kind, which are bred for the behoof of Man.

He ſays further (Lib. 2. Chap. 10. pag. 3.) That the Work and Fruit of of the little Bee, is ſo great and wonderful, ſo comly for Order and Beauty; ſo Excellent for Art, Wiſdom and Ingenuity; and ſo full of Pleaſure with abundant Profit and little Charge: That the Contemplation of which may very well beſeem an ingenious Nature: And therefore (not without cauſe) are the Bees called the Muſes Birds: Apes, cum cauſâ, Muſarum dicuntur volucres (Varro Lib. 3. Cap. 15.)

The Contemplation and Love of which, did ſo raviſh thoſe Antient and great Bee Maſters, viz. Ariſtomachus and Piliſcus (as Pliny reporteth in his Natural Hiſtory, Lib. 11. Cap. 9.) that they were pleaſed to ſpend moſt of their time, in this pleaſing Buſineſs.

Further, Ariſtotle himſelf, the Ancient and great Philoſopher, thought his Hiſtoria Animalium very lame and imperfect, unleſs he had inſerted a Particular Tract of the Nature of Bees: of which he diſcourſeth more at large, than he doth of any other living Creatures.

Pliny likewiſe in his Natural Hiſtory, is very copious in and about this Melifluous Subject. Beſides diverſe others that have written thereof, as Collumella Varro, Palladius and Averroes, &c. Yea, the Learned and Grave Fathers of the Church (St. Ambroſe and St. Iſodore) have thought it a Subject fit for their Pens.

Unto which I might add, both for Ornament and Authority, infinite others of theſe our later times, &c.

Amongſt which, I cannot but with all due Reſpect, approve of the late Invention of the New Bee-Houſes and Collonies (a Proſpect of which may be ſeen, in his Majeſties Garden, in St. Jameſes Park) ſo much admired and approved of, by the Royal Society at Greſham Colledge in London; and wiſh the Management thereof, might fall into the hands of ſuch Ingenious Perſons, as might further improve ſo uſeful an Invention, being already encouraged, by his gratious Majeſty, and ſince by diverſe perſons of Honour.

Make but Inſpection through their tranſparent Windows (before and behind the Collonies) and you cannot chuſe but admire, the Bees moſt incomparable and ingenious works, curiouſly adorned, fitted and accompliſhed by aſſiduous Induſtry.

The Curioſity of their Fabrick, with its exquiſit Cells (when firſt I viewed) on a ſuddain forced me into an unwonted Extaſy, with extream Admiration; as it did the moſt Experienced Mr. Charles Butler, in his Hiſtory of Bees, Cap. 6. pag. 103. n. 9. whoſe Condign Merits, neither Envy nor injurious Time ſhall ever obliterate, or bury in oblivion: nor anticipate my thoughts from peruſing his Feminine Monarchy Which when I Read; I'le to the World profeſs, My Debt to him (love, honour, thankfulneſs)

And in the ſame acknowledgement, admire the curious Buildings of theſe ſmall Inſects or pretty Bees; often divertiſing my ſelf with this Quaere, viz.

Quid non Solertia Vincat? &c.

And whilſt (Reader) I admire the many Myriads of both Sexes, with their admired Aſſiduity:

Non Miraris Arte Conditas mirâ Domos Opeſque Regales in his reconditas? Solertia & Labore Fiunt Omnia

CHAP. II. Of HONY, and its Singular VERTƲES.

NEXT I ſhall Treat of the Profits which ariſe from Bees, viz. HONY, with the ordering and uſe of Meath, Mead, Hydromel and Metheglin, with their ſingular Vertues, for the Uſe and Comfort of Mankind.

HONY, for the Extracting of which, the moſt natural and ſeaſonable time is in Auguſt (i. e. from the end of Dog days, until the ſixth day of September or thereabouts) becauſe till then the Combs are full of Skadons (which deceive the Hony-Men: make the Hive heavier and the Hony worſe) for the Skadons, Maggots, and young Bees, as well as the Sandarak, corrupt the ſame (experienced by the Ancient Bee-Maſter Collumella, Lib. 9. Cap. 15.) viz. Pulli & rubroe ſordes ſunt Mali ſaporis, et ſucco ſuo mella corrumpunt.

The time aforementioned for the running and working of Hony (viz. Engliſh Hony) is moſt proper fit and convenient, except in Hot Countrys, where their Gathering laſts longer.

Out of the new Invented Collonies, by reaſon of their neat contrivance, and moſt ingenious Shutters, is drawn the moſt Nectarian and beſt Hony (for the Bees by reaſon of the ſaid Shutters, there is no neceſſity of killing them, with either the Smoak of Brimſtone, Bunt, Tutchwood, or Muſhroom's) which makes the Hony ſmell of ſmoak, and ſo conſequently renders it much worſe) for indeed it were a pitty to reward with Death, thoſe pretty and induſtrious Animals, out of whoſe Collonies we receive ſuch vaſt profits, as Honey and Wax (no ways adulterated) far excelling the other in Guſt and Odour.

Of all Hony that which runneth of it ſelf, is moſt commendable. 'Tis called (by our beſt Bee-Maſters) Acoeton or the fineſt Nectar, which for its incorrupted purity, (by others) is called Virgin Hony: becauſe (as Plantius in Fernel. Lib. 7. Method. Med) Quod, è Favis ſponte primùm defluit, virgineum Mel, vulgo appellatur.

Whereof there are two ſorts, viz. Right Virgin-Honey (which is of a Swarm, and runs of it ſelf) 2. Baſtard Virgin-Hony (or rather to be called the fineſt Ordinary) Varro Chap. 6. num 30.) which though it be of the ſame Swarm, yet being mixt with other and laid up in corrupter Veſſels, and not in the pure Virgin Cells is rendred much inferiour to the true Virgin Hony.

The differences and degrees of Hony in goodneſs, are as well Natural as Artificial.

For 'tis made better or worſe, by the ordering or handling of it: ſo is it in it ſelf better or worſe, according to the different Condition of the Soyl where it is gathered: for Varro Cap. 6 • um 32. affirmeth) that the Champain Hony, is accounted much better than the Heath Hony, although they be ordered both alike.

Good Hony, when well wrought and fermented hath theſe properties and excellent Qualities, whereby it is known and diſtinguiſhed; viz. It is clear, odoriferous, yellow like pale Gold: but right Virgin Honey is more Cryſtaline at the firſt, viz. ſharp, ſweet, and pleaſant to the Taſt, of a mean conſiſtence between thick and thin, ſo clammy that being taken up upon your Fingers end, in falling it will not part, but hang together like a long ſtring) as that uſeth to do, which is clarified. Plant. in Fern. Lib. 7. de Oxymelite. viz.

Mel probum eſt, quod inter Craſſimum & tenuiſſimum eſt mediocre; ſapore dulciſſimum & acerrimum; ſimulque dulcedinis ſenſum inferens, et vellicatu pungens linguam, calore pallidumat ſubrutilum, nec non pellucidum, odoratum & recentiſſimum; quodque ſublatum, non facile ob ſequacem lentorem abrumpatur; pondere grave, & inter Coquendum ſpumae parum emittens.

This good Hony (eſpecially that part which is in the bottom) will in time grow hard, (like unto Corny-Hony, which is in the uppermoſt part of the Combs) ſuch as is the Hony of Spain, and Narbona in France.

Soe having given you, and Account of the beſt Hony, I ſhall likewiſe ſhew its ſingular Vertues, viz.

VERTUES.

It is hot and dry in the ſecond Degree; It is of ſubtile and thin parts, and eaſily paſſeth into all the parts of the Body. 'Tis abſterſive with ſome Acidity, and therefore it openeth all obſtructions. It cleareth the Breaſt and Lunges of thoſe Humors which fall upon them from the Head: 'Tis Laxative and purgeth the foulneſs of the Body, and provoketh Urine; it renders a good Appetite, and cleanſeth the Stomach from its Flegm, Filth and Crudities; It purgeth away thoſe things which offend the Eye-ſight. It nouriſhes very much; It ſtirrs up and highly preſerves natural heat; and thereby doth not only prolong, but likewiſe doth very much Solace old Age. It preſerveth all things that are put into it: It is a Soveraign Medicine both for inward and outward Maladies. It helpeth the grief of the Jaws and Scurvy; tis good againſt the Quinſy and ſore Throat; tis Drunk with good ſucceſs againſt the biting of Serpents or Mad Dogs. Laſtly in reſpect of which great and moſt admirable Vertues (the right compoſition of thoſe great Antidotes (viz. Mithridate and Andromachus Treacle) although they conſiſt; the one of more then fifty, the other of more then ſixty Ingredients) requires thrice ſo much Hony, as it doth of all the reſt.

All which Premiſes conſidered; no Marvel that King Solomon ſaid; My Son eat Hony, for it is good. Yea Hony, if it be pure and fine, is ſo good in it ſelf, that it muſt needs be good for them whoſe queaſy Stomachs are averſe to it.

Hony is moſt fit for old Men, &c. And for ſuch as are Phlegmatick, or ſubject to Rheums; and tis generally good for all thoſe that are of Cold Conſtitutions.

In fine, The Quinteſſence of Hony, is of ſuch efficacy; that if any be dying, and preſently doth drink but two or three Dram's, he will ſuddainly Revive.

Furthermore, if you but waſh any Wound therewith, or other Sore, it will heal it with all the ſpeed immaginable,

I need ſay no more in Praiſe of its moſt tramſcendent Vertues; But only thus much, Viz. Experto Crede Roberto.

CHAP. III. MEAD HYDROMEL and METHEGLIN, With their Ʋſes and ſingular VERTƲES.

THERE are two ſorts of Hydromel, viz. Mead and Metheglin.

For the making of Mead, I ſhall only give you a hint or two (though not my Deſign here to inſert)

If the Muſt, when it is altogether be not ſtrong enough, to bear an Egg, the breadth of two pence above it: then put ſo much of your choiſeſt white Hony into it, as will give it that ſtrength; then give it its fit boyling, &c. After this, put in the Herbs and Spices, and ſo let it boyl a quarter of an hour longer.

The end of boyling is throughly to incorporate the Mead and the Hony (prepared and ordered for that purpoſe) and to purge out the droſs and all other impurities.

Which being once done, any longer boyling is unproffitable, as diminiſhing more the quantity then increaſing the ſtrength and goodneſs of the Mead.

As ſoon as it is boyled enough, take it from the Fire, and ſet it a cooling: the next day ſeparate the pure from the impure, ſtill reſerving the beſt for Uſe: and then ordering it as the Artiſt pleaſeth, in his beſt diſcretion: For the right making of which, I much approve of Mr. Combs his way, at the Bee-Houſe and Colony, in St. Bartholomew Lane; In whoſe Habitation I have ſeen conſiderable quantities of the beſt Engliſh Hony and Mead.

Metheglin is only a Stronger Hydromel: being unto Mead (as Vinum to Lora) for it beareth an Egg the breadth of ſix pence, and is uſually made with more Hony and leſs Water, receiving into its Compoſition, as well wholeſom and ſweet Herbs, as alſo a large quantity of proper and fit Spices, &c.