THE REFORMED COMMONWEALTH OF BEES.  
Presented in several LETTERS and Observations to Sammuel Hartlib Esq.  
WITH The Reformed VIRGINIAN SILKWORM.  
CONTAINING Many Excellent and Choice Secrets, Experiments, and Discoveries for attaining of National and Private Profits and Riches.  
LONDON, Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West-end of Paul's, 1655.   

The summary of the Sections in the following Epistolary Treatise of Bees.  
1. THe Testimony of an Ancient writer of Husbandry, of an incredible Revenue,, which hath been raised from keeping of Bees. 
Pag. 1.2.  2. An Extract of a Letter, containing several Observations upon the fore-alledged Testimony. 
Pag. 2.  3. An Experiment of the generation of Bees, practised by that great husbandman of Cornwall M. Carew of Anthony. 
p. 2.3.  4. Dr. Arnold Boats Observations upon the Experiment of the generation of Bees. 
Pag. 3.  5. The New Beehive, Or a Discourse for the right making of Bee-hives, showing their Materials, Proportion, Ordering, and Placing: and lastly, their Use and Benefit. Left for a farewell to his Native Country, by that zealous, publick-hearted and learned Gentleman, Thomas Brown Dr. in Divinity, and of the Civil Laws. 
3.4.5.6.7.8.  6. A Quere upon the Description of Dr. Brown's New-invented Beehive. 
Pag. 11.  7. A Letter Discovering a New kind of excellent Food for Bees. 
Pag. 11,  8. An Extract of a Letter concerning this New kind of food for Bees, 
Pag, 10.11.  9 An other Extract of a Letter upon the same subject. 
Pag. 11.  10. How Anis may be got to grow in England. 
Pag. 11.  11. A Translate of a Letter written in high-Dutch, communicating, a Secret for the better ordering and prserving of Bees, practised beyond the Seas. 
Pag. 11.12.13.14.  12. Another Description of the said Secret. 
Pag. 14.  13. A Philosophical Letter, treating of many other Secreets, and Experiments for general Riches and Profits, besides these arising from Bees. 
Pag. 15.  14. An Enlargement of the Philosophical-Letter, explaining more fully divers of those more desirable passages for general Riches and Profits, with the Reasons why no more is discovered at this time. 
Pag. 32.  15. A very cheap way, how to keep a stock of Bees all Winter long. 
Pag. 40.  16. A notable and approved Experiment for improving of Bees. 
p. 40.41.  17. A Copy of a Letter written by Mr. William Mew, Minister at Eastlington in Glocestershire to Mr. Nathaniel Angelo Fellow of Eton College 
Pag. 41. 42.  18. A Copy of Mr. Hartlibs Letter to that worthy Minister at Eastlington Mr. William Mew. 
Pag. 43.44.45.46.  19 An extract of Mr. Mew's Answer to Mr. Hartlib's Letter, 
Pag. 46.47.48.49.  20. A Letter concerning that pleasant and profitable invention of a transparent Beehive, written by that much accomplished and very ingenious Gentleman, Mr. Christ. Wren Fellow of All-souls College in Oxford. With the Figure and Description of the Transparent Beehive. 
Pag. 50. 51.  21. Considerations upon the Letter from Oxford. 
Pag. 53. 54.  22. Some remarkable observations, concerning the swarming of Bees together, with a short Description of a Beehive made of Glass. 
pag. 54.55.56.  23. A singular Observation. concerning Bee-hives, and Buck-wheat, made by Mr. Thomas Babington in his travels into Germany. 
Pap. 56.57.  24. How to make good Greek or other Wines out of Hony. 
p. 57.58.  25. A Receipt to make a pure Mead that shall taste like Wine. 
p. 58.  26. An other way to make a most pleasant and Wine-like Mead. 
Pag. 58.  27. The Commonwealth of Bees, Represented by Mr. Gerrard Malynes, by way of a Digression in his great Book called, Lex Mercatoria, or, the ancient-Law Merchant. 
P. 59.60.61.62.  28. A Catalogue of some writers of Bees extant in English. 
pag. 63.    

Some of the grosser Errata.  
PAg. 11.r.9. lin. 22. for etner r. enter, p. 17.l. 31.f. Bees r. beef p. 18.l.34.r. sprout & corn, p. 19. l.11.f. infused r. misused. l. 23.f. excise r. excess, p. 21.l.5.r.ly both open, l. 18.f. forty r. four p. 22.l.19.f. sceptile r. reptile, p. 24. l.22. f. in the fire r. in the a●re, p. 24.l.32.f. diccretick r. diuretic, p. 25.l.7. & 11. r. Cochineel. p. 27.l.34.r. empyreuma, p. 28.l.6.r. amazed, l. 27.f. macarates r. macerated. p. 29.l.23.r. make its combs, p. 31.l.25 r. to ergon, l. 27.r. parerga. p. 38.l.18.f. woods r. weeds, l. 37.f. woods r. weeds, p. 42.l.21.f. dury r. durus.   

Some Writers of Bees extant in English.  

THe Feminine Monarchy, or the History of Bees.  
Showing 

Their admirable Nature and Properties;  
Their Generation and Colonies;  
Their Government, Loyalty, Art, Industry;  
Enemies, Wars, Magnanimity, etc.    
Together with the right ordering of them from time to time, and the sweet profit arising thereof.  
Written out of Experience by Charles Butler, Magd.  
Plat. in Trucul. Act. 2. Sc. 6.  
Pluris est oculatus testis unus, quam auriti decem. Oxford, Printed by William Turner, for the Author. 1634.   

A Book promised by Henry Gurnay, Gentleman.  
Wherein is showed what great loss cometh to the Commonwealth, by the neglect, carelessness and ignorance in the keeping of more store of Bees, and the right ordering them to most profit, partly showed in, that some Man having a score of sheeps, and his next neighbour not any, or happily, not three in that Town of an hundred Households as many more: and that some Country is very plentiful thereof, and the next every way as apt for that commodity, yet very scarce thereof; and yet the air and the year equally indifferent to all alike, the common error being to ascribe a greater luck in these kinds to some men more than to others, which is only through an unskilfulness therein.   

The Ordering of Bees.  
Or the true. History of Managing them from time to time, with their Honey and Wax, showing their Nature and Breed.  
As also what Trees, Plants and Herbs are good for them, and namely what are hurtful: together with the extraordinary profit arising from them, etc.  
Set forth in a Dialogue, resolving all doubts whatsoever. By the late unparallelled experience, of JOHN LEVETS, Gent. London, Printed by Thom. Harper, for John Harison, 1634.   

A Treatise concerning the right use and ordering of Bees.  
Newly made and set forth, according to the Authors own experience: (which by any heretofore hath not been done)  
By Edmund Southern Gent.  
Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin, for Thomas Woodcock, dwelling in Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the black Bear. 1593.   

A Discourse or History of Bees.  
Showing their Nature and Usage, and the great profit of them.  
Written by Richard Remnant.  
London, Printed by Robert Young, for Thomas Slater, dwelling in Duck-lane at the white Swan. 1637.   
FINIS.   

The Reformed COMMONWEALTH of BEES, Presented in several Letters to Samuel Hartlib Esquire.  

The Testimony of an Ancient Writer of Husbandry, of an incredible Revenue, which hath been raised from keeping of Bees.  

Varro de Re Rustica, Lib. 3. c. 16.  
DE fructu; Authorem habeo non soluno qui Alvearia sua locata habet quotannis quinis millibus pondo mellis, sed etiam h●nc Varronem nostrum quem audivi dice item, duos milites se habuisse in Hispania fratres Vejamos, ex agro Falisco locupletes, quibus cum a Patre relicta esset parva villa, & agellus non sa●e major jug●ro uno, h●s circum villam totam Alvearium facisse, & hortum habuisse ac reliquum Thymo, & cythiso obsevisse & apiastro; hos nunquam minus, ut peroeque d●cerent, dena millia Sextertia ex melle recipere esse Solitos   

In English thus.  
Concerning the profit of Bees, I have not only a Witness, who saith, that he lets out his Bees for five thousand pounds of Honey by the year, but also our friend Varro here, whom I have heard say, that he had with him in Spain two Soldiers, brethren, and rich, to whom their Father left a small country house, and a little field, in truth, not greater than one acre, and that round about the house they made a place to keep Bees, and a garden, and planted the rest with thyme, cytisus and balm, and were w●nt to receive yearly for Honey, reckoning one year with another, never less than ten thousand Sesterces, which being in the time of the Consuls (before the Caesars) makes of our money eighty three pound six shillings eight pence.    

An Extract of a Letter containing new Observations upon the fore-alledged Testimony.  
THe distinction introduced by the Grammarians betwixt Sestertii and S●stertia, is not always observed by Classical Authors: and so in Varro's words— denae millia Sestertia— signifieth no more than— de●i●s milla num●●i Sest●rtii— that is in English money, reckoning the Sestertius at two pence sterling, (id quod praeter prop●er ●st verum ●jus preti●m) about four-score and three pound sterling, a very fair yearly Revenue to be got out of one Acre of ground, and therefore well worth the while, to be alleged by Varro, for to encourage men by this example to the keeping of Bees. If I were sure to get so much by it, I would soon turn a Bee-keeper, which I have a great mind to do however before I die; and therefore pray as many Secrets concerning these pretty Creatures, as possible you can attain unto; and for your reward, I promise you a good proportion of Honey and Wax out of my first Crop.   

An Experiment of the Generation of Bees, practised by that great Husbandman of Cornwell, Old Mr. Carew of Anthony.  
TAke a Calf, or rather a Sturk (or Steer) of a year old, about the latter end of April, bury it eight or ten days, till it begin to putrify and corrupt; then take it forth of the earth, and opening it, lay it under some hedge, or wall, where it may ●e most subject to the Sun, by the heat whereof it will (a great part of it) turn into Maggets, which (without any other care) will live upon the remainder of the corruption. After a while, when they begin to have wings, the whole putrified carcase would be carried to a place prepared, where the Hives stand ready, to which, being perfumed with Honey and sweet herbs, the Maggets (after they have received their wings) will resort. The Gentleman in Cornwell, that practised this Experiment, used Hogsheads, or bigger Wine Casks, instead of Hives, and the practice of the Bee being to spend the first part of the Summer in filling the upper part of the Cask, and so still to work downwards: the Gentleman's usual custom was (through a door in the upper part of the Cask) to take out what Honey he wanted, without any disturbance to the Bees, whose work and abode than was in the lower part of the Cask.   

Dr. Arnold Boate's Observations upon the Experiment of the Generation of Bees.  
I Did ever think that the Generation of Bees out of the carcase of a dead Calf, given us by divers of the Ancients, but most amply and elegantly by Virgil in the fourth Book of his Georgics, had been a fiction, but am glad to find the contrary by your Letter, which confirmed the same out of Modern and English Experience. And I would as little have thought, that Bees would have wrought in such vast Hives as hogsheads, whereas some of the Ancients give us a Caveat, even of the ordinary Hives, not to make them too large— ne Apes anima despondeante ex desperatione implendi,— least Bees should be discouraged out of a despair to fill them.   

The New Beehive: Or a Discourse for the right making of Bee-Hives, showing their materials, proportion, ordering, and placing; and lastly their use and benefit. Left for a Farewell to his Native Country, by that zealous publick-hearted and learned Gentleman Thomas Brown Dr. in Divinity, and of the Civil Law.  
IT is clear from many good Authors, that the Ancients made a constant Revenue of their Bees without killing them at any time, and that this so profitable Government of Bees is now utterly lost, is too much apparent from the common practice of all Nations at this day, who generally kill the Bees to take the Honey. If by any conjecture or comparing one thing with another, we may be able to find out a means to preserve Bees, and yet receive a constant and liberal benefit by them, is the subject of this following Discourse.  
Although the History of Bees hath been largely handled, even to curiosity, yet the principal part of it, concerning their Preservation, so as to raise a constant Revenue by them, hath not been so clearly set down, as the importance thereof deserveth, seeing that hereupon dependeth the whole business of a Bee-master; f●r from the multitude of Bees cometh the great increase of Honey, and the plenty of Honey is the chief Means to increase your Bees, which we shall easily and certainly do, if we rightly understand and practise the natural way of ordering them. This task at your entreaty I have adventured upon, whether I have performed it so fully and clearly as I seem to myself to understand it, the success will judge.  
For the preserving of Bees then, it is of absolute necessity, that they be abundantly provided of food, which in Summer your Garden and the neighbouring Fields must afford, for the Winter they will furnish themselves; also that they be largely, conveniently, and cleanly housed, which two things rightly practised will perform what we desire.  
I take it for a certain truth, that Bees do never forsake the place of their breeding, so long as it is cleanly and large enough for them, and that accordingly in greatest company they prosper best, as frequent experience proveth, in such places, where they have chosen themselves dwellings in the bodies of great hollow trees, in which have been found combs full of Honey wrought down six or eight foot long, as also between the beams and flooning of houses with the like increase, which in all probability could not be done by the labour of any one swarm, though of the greatest numbers, so that of necessity there must have been the increase of some years' Bees, to bring together so great a mass of Honey, and it is truly observed, that the old and young Bees do live quietly in the same Hive, as did the families in the old world, renewing themselves from year to year. If I shall show you the way to accomplish this, I have done what I undertook; upon these two Maxims lieth the foundation of all I have to say, that Bees will not leave their place of breeding, but for want of room, or some annoyance by noise or ill smells: that in all their workings they move downwards, if the place hinder them not. According to these two Rules, your only care is, to make your Hives of such a fashion, as doth naturally and necessarily agree with, and help forward this design, and this can be no other than flat, as well at the top, as at the bottom, both ends of an equal breadth to a hair, in all the Hives you make, so that they may be easily set one upon another, as many as you shall see necessary for your purpose, though in some places they make them square of four boards, yet because the round Figure is the most perfect. I rather choose it. For the right making of your Hives, I shall show you their materials, proportion, ordering and placing; and lastly their use and benefit. You may make them, and that will be the best, of such empty Cask, as hath had in it Honey, Muskadine, Canary, or Malaga wine, according as you have opportunity, because these vessels, being already so well seasoned, will not easily lose their savour, and will the better invite the Bees, both to come, and to remain in them.  
For their Proportion I would have A. B. every Hive to contain a just bushel within the work, the breadth of it to be a third part more than the height, that so it may stand the surer headed, but at one end, which must be C. the upper part of it, in the midst of that head, a round hole D. three or four inches wide, made very smooth, the Hives A. B. must be all of a wideness from the top to the bottom, otherwise the Combs will not come out without breaking; six E. broad hoops will be sufficient, two in the midst, and two at each end, the lowest hoop must be set a large inch from the end of the vessel, leaving so much of it bore, which part must be exceeding smooth and strong, which bare place F. should be covered with a very thin hoop of Iron or brass for its greater strength, and on the fore side of it, three in the midst for the great Bees, and six smaller on each side for the lesser, for there, and there only it may receive offence, the uppermost hoop must be somewhat stronger and broader than the rest by a full inch, and so set on that it may stand out a full inch further than the end of the vessel, thereby leaving sufficient and fit space to set the lower part F. of another vessel fast into it as into a box, so close, that no air can come in, that it may not be moved.  
And because Bees cannot conveniently work in such a void space without some support for their combs, the fittest that I can think on, may be made in imitation of such frames, as Gardiner's use for their Gillifloures, composed of three or four very small hoops, and as many side posts of Fir, with some cross bars at the top, and in the middle to stay the Combs, and that these may not be shaken nor moved, in the bare space at the bottom of the vessel, bore two holes, one opposite to the other, through the vessel and the frame, and so fasten them together.  
And for the more easy and safe removing of your Hives, either to see in what estate they be, or to take away such as be full of Honey and empty of Bees, you must set upon every Hive two G. such iron handles as are usually upon bushels, and so you may command them at your pleasure. And for the great hole D. in the top of the Hive, you must make a cover H. with a shoulder and a handle, to stop it so close, that no air may come in. Your Hives A. B. being thus I. C. D. E. K. G. H. made, you must order them as followeth. I will suppose you have at lest A. one Hive of old Bees, at the beginning of the year, take B. one of your new Hives, and sweeten both it and the frame very curiously, and fasten them together, set this Hive B. where you mean your Bees shall stand, leaving the hole D. at the top open, then take A. your old Hive of Bees, and cut away the skirts of it, as much as conveniently you may, to the very Combs, the nearer the better, and make a new door to it, and set it upon B. the new Hive, within the compass of E. the hoop. And because in the Bees working down into the lower Hive, it is probable that the Combs of the two Hives will hang together, and so be troublesome to part them, to prevent this inconvenience, lay a false bottom, with a hole in it, upon the top of the lower Hive, close to the top of the lower Hive, and make it fast.  
Your Hives being thus placed, your Bees, either for the sweetness in the new Hive B. or for want of room in the old, will make all haste to work down into B. the new, and so in a short time leave A. the old full of Honey and empty of Bees, both the old stock, and their increase, going down, working and abiding in B. the new Hive, whereby you shall have opportunity, when you see it most convenient, to take away the upper Hive full of Honey, without the least trouble to the Bees, or to yourself.  
When you have taken away A. the upper Hive, set on the cover H. upon the hole in the lower Hive B. so close that no air may come in, and then set another new empty Hive, and a false bottom upon it, as before, sweetened and prepared under it, expecting a fit time when the upper Hive shall be full● and the Bees gone down into this B. B. lower Hive, to take it away as you did the former, and so from time to time as long as the gathering season lasteth, but not towards winter. If your Bees increase plentifully, it will be necessary to have three Hives one upon another, that so the Bees may have room enough for themselves and their swarms, if you see cause, you may adventure to four, but never higher, which number when you have happily attained, you shall set a new Hive well prepared and sweetened, as near I. the mouth of the lowest Hive, as you can conveniently, putting into it some Honeycomb, or other sweet things, and raising it on the side half an inch or more, that the Bees walking up and down may find a new dwelling ready for them, and at their next swarming go into that Hive, and so make it the beginning of a new store.  
The use and Benefit of all that hath been said is, that your Bees shall always be provided of a sweet dwelling, large enough for themselves and their increase, and whereby they shall easily be kept together, also of such plenty of food, that when others starve they shall be always strong, both Summer and Winter, whereby in all probability, by God's blessing, and your own moderate care, you shall have multitudes of Bees, and consequently abundance of Honey.  

A The first upper Hive.  
B The second, or the first lower Hive.  
B B The third, or the second lower Hive.  
C The upper bottom.  
E The hoops.  
F The lower end of the Hive.  
G The handler on the Hives.  
H The cover for the great hole in the upper Hive.  
I The mouths of the Hives.  
D The great hole in the upper bottom.    

A Querie upon the description of Dr. Brown's new invented Beehive.  
Whether the square Figure may not prove the best, in that there may better be placed a bill or drawer in the bottom of the Hive, into which (being drawn forth) there may from time to time be food laid for any particular Hive, without any disturbance to or from the rest of the Hives, where every particular Hive may (if occasion require) shut up and feed by itself, which in the ordering of Bees may prove many times of good concernment.   

A Letter discovering a new kind of excellent food for Bees.  
SIR, Being much indebted to you for the gift of your Legacy, and other choice pieces, and understanding that you are about another of the like nature, which you intent to publish. I thought good in the mean time (till occasion prompt some other means to serve you) to impart unto you this notable Secret, which I had from an old German Captain concerning Bees, that by long experience the Planting of Anise near them proved the best means for multiplying and keeping of them, as also for their breeding of great store of Honey. That the Herb being taken, and the inside of the Hives rubbed therewith, causeth great multitudes of Bees to etner, and become close retainers to those Hives, which ought to be placed directly against the Sun, so that the Sun beams fall just into the Orifices of them. That the feeding upon this plant will cause each Stock to engender and thrust out three young ones in one year, within which space they do else not nse to do so above once. That against the time of their thrusting forth, other Hives ought to be placed next to those from whence they thrust forth, which, as also the way leading to the Orifices, are to be rubbed with the Anise in such sort, that the juice of the Herb may come forth and stick thereunto, and the young Stocks that come forth from the old, will certainly enter into those, and not repair any where else. But in case that upon the neglect any be swarved forth, and settled unto some tree, the fault may be amended by rubbing the inside of the new Hive with Anise, and holding it on the top of a long perch unto the Bees, who will enter thereinto of themselves as soon as they scent the sweetness of the Anise.  
The abovesaid Captain related, that a Baron in Austria so thrived by this secret, that he furnished many Countries with Honey and Wax, and thereby abundantly increaseth his wealth and revenue. This I thought to hand unto the public by your means, resting  
Sir, your most affectionate to serve you F. H.  
SIR,  
I pray pardon the rudeness of my language, and to surrogate that which may better abide the touchstone of public view. For my being continually called upon will not give me leave to do it better.   

An Extract of a Letter concerning this New kind of food for Bees.  
ABout the Secret concerning Bees, on which you desire my judgement, I can say nothing else, but that it must be referred to Experience, whereby if it be confirmed (as indeed I do think that very likely) I shall be extremely beholding to you for it, and I may chance to make great use of it one day, beseeching you heartily, that when ever any of the like shall come to your hands, you would be pleased to impart the same unto me.   

Another Extract of a Letter upon the same Subject.  
MOst of those Authors that write of the nature and government of Bees, of whom I have the matter of a dozen here, name sundry Herbs, to which the Bees have a particular liking, and divers others, that are good in sundry respects to be near the Hives, but not one of them all doth name Anise, in either of those two Classes, as my inquiry (for which I had no time when I wrote to you about that matter first) hath taught me; so as that Secret which you imparted unto me concerning the same (a most excellent one indeed if confirmed by sure experience) is altogether new, and not borrowed from ancient Writers, as you may see hereby.   

How Anise may be got to grow in England, is taught in that excellent Book, called, The Garden of Eden, as followeth.  
Sow English Annise-seeds, when the Moon is at the full, in February, or any time between the full and the change: if frosts will not suffer you to take the full Moon, hatch them into the ground with a rake stricken thick upon them; then strew new horse-dung thinly upon the ground, to defend the seeds from the frost.— These will ripen about Bartholemew-tide; then respecting the Moon, as before, sow again, and these seeds will be ripe sooner than those which were sown in February. These seeds will also come up well, being self sown, only break up the ground about them when they begin to ripen. That ground which you would sow in February, break up about Michaelmas; let it lie and crumble all the winter, then when you mean to sow, stir it up again, that it may be mellow, for the mellower the better. A black rich mellow ground is best, and they like well in a rich dunged ground. Proved by S.   

A Translate of a Letter written in High-Dutch, communicating a Secret for the better ordering and preserving of Bees, practised beyond the Seas.  
SIR, I give you many thanks for that direction about Bees, but I cannot perceive, how by that way we may prevent their swarming, or the trouble of hiving them. Nor doth that way avoid the vulgar error of destroying the best Bees for their Honey.  
To remedy all these and many other inconveniences, I have formerly sought an unusual way, and in practice have found it good and profitable.  
I caused Hives of glass to be made, and covered them with wood; in which Covers I made windows to be opened when I list, which served me for the better considering of their nature, but afforded me no help in the foresaid inconvenience, for such I account them, though I see your man be of a contrary opinion, speaking of often swarming, as a thing very advantageous. It is true, the more swarms you have, the greater is the number of Hives in your Bee-garden, but the stocks are so much the weaker, especially every metropolitan stock, out of which his three or four Swarms issued: which consideration gave occasion to that precept, given heretofore by experienced Bee-masters, not to suffer any stock to swarm above twice in a year, but rather to prevent it, by giving the Bees more room, which is done by setting the Beehive some inches higher from the bench or stool upon which they stand.  
That swarming weakeneth the first stocks, is manifest to any one that considereth, that for the production and breeding of the young Bees, there is in every Hive a great number of attendants, somewhat larger than the Bees (we call them Drones) which are fed by the labours of the Bees, as long as they prepare for swarming; but as soon as the Bees resolve to send-out no more Colonies, they fall upon the Drones and kill them. The young Bees are also kept idle till their General be ready, and the whole Army be fit to march out all together for a new plantation. The oftener that such swarms issue out of a stock of Bees, the more is the damage and charge that it suffers from these Drones and young Bees: All which cost and charges are spared in my way, so that my Bees never intending to swarm, had so much the more provision for bad weather and winter, and did so much the sooner set their young ones to work for themselves, and to earn their own meat, as having no pretence to be kept idle,  
Secondly, In the common way it is so hard to keep Bees from flying away in swarming time, that the most diligent watchers of them do now and then lose a Swarm: But in my way of ordering them such watching is unnecessary; for my Bees never fly away, because I prevent all occasions of swarming: By which means they are also kept from breeding of Drones, and new Master-Bees, or Generals; and their young Bees, as soon as they can fly, are set to work among their Elders.  
Thirdly, I never needed to kill any of my Bees, and yet I could share with them in the Honey. It was not unusual with me to make a whole barrel of Honey and Wax out of one Stock or Hive. And besides all these conveniences, my Bees were far better secured and defended from excessive heat and cold, from vermin, thiefs, and all other their troublers and enemies. They had also this accommodation, that when they were laden they went downward, but clambered upward when they were unladen, whereas the contrary is necessary in the common-way.  
I make no question, but that by this time you long to hear what course I took with them; nor shall I be nice in communicating it, though it cost me above two hundred Rix dollars. But if you were here, I could far more easily show it, than I can now find words to express it well in writing especially thus in a Letter.  
My Bee-hives did not stand upright after the usual manner, but lay upon two long poles or rails within my house, in a Garret, close under the Roof, where the Bees could creep in and out under the tiles. The close end of the Hive touched the tiles of the roof. In the upper part of each Hive I did cut a hole for the Bees to go in and out. The wide end of the Hive commonly stands clapped down upon some plank, but in mine it was shut up with a bottom made of straw, pinned to it on every side with wooden skewets. And by the like means I could adjoin straw-hoops of what breadth I pleased, and so lengthen any of my Hives as often as need was, so that they never swarmed, though their number increased so much, that by several additions a Hive became two or three yards long.  
The way of taking their Honey from them was thus; I unpinned the wide end of a Hive, and by burning linen rags I smoked up the Bees thence toward the close end of the Hive; and then I might freely take away the prolongers or additional hoops one after another, till I thought the Bees could not well spare any more Honey.  
This slight description may make it seem a small matter to those that consider not, that all the aforesaid conveniences will undoubtedly follow it.  
Hereafter I may perhaps express it more fully, when I have more leisure to write; especially if my affairs would permit me to come to you to confer at large of this, etc.   

Another Author's description of the said Secret.  

A A common Beehive.  
B A Prolonger to lengthen or eke out the Hive withal.  
C A hole cut in the upper end of the Hive A.  
D A bottom or door to shut up the Hive, whether it be single as A, or lengthened as A B B.  
E The wooden pins in B and D for the joining of them to the ends of A or B.   
SIR, I here send you the description of my long Bee-hives expressed in picture: Wherein (A) is a common Beehive, not standing, as the usual manner is, but laid along upon one side. In the upper part of the Hive I cut a round or four cornered hole, through which the Bees may pass in and out, here marked with C. In the placing of the Hive you may turn that hole downward if you will, but I turn it always upward, that the Bees, when they are laden, may rather go downward than upward. Besides, if I turn it not upwards I cannot well set it close to any hole, left for the Bees entrance, under the tiles in the roof of a Garret, which is a far surer way than after the usual manner, to leave them in a Garden, exposed to thiefs, vermin, and distempers of weather. Where the roof is inconvenient, I use to make a hole in the upright wall of a Garret, and set the Hive close up against the wall, with a hole in its head precisely answering to that hole in the wall.  
The open end I shut up with a bottom made of straw, as you see represented at D, which may be opened easily, and yet shuts close and firm by the help of those wooden pins here marked with E.  
When I perceive that my Bees have near filled their Hive, I take off that Shutter D, and set on a Prolonger, like the Hive, but that it hath no head, such as are here marked with B, and then shut it up, as before, with that straw door D. Thus I may add as many Continuators as I please, shutting close up to one another, always closing the last with D  
Whensoever I intent to take some Honey from the Bees, I provide linen rags, wherewith I make a smoke, and let it into the Hive, by pulling away the door D, from whence the Bees are driven by the smoke toward their small entrance C, so that I may safely take away as many prolongers as I think good, and put a fresh one in the place, shutting it up with the door D.   

A Philosophical Letter, treating of many other Secrets and Experiments for general Riches and Profits, be sides those arising from Bees.  
IN pursuance of your request, and performance of my promise, I shall, according to what I may, endeavour to answer your desire, knowing your sincere Zeal for, and care of the Public. Truly Sir, I should very hardly have entered the stage, had it not been out of that inclination I have to serve you, who neglecting all private interests, do wholly spend yourself in labouring to profit others, who how f●r they may take notice of your pious and sincere endeavours herein I know not, but confidently persuade myself, that your labour will not be lost as to future Ages, who will assuredly take notice of your pains and care, and will esteem your labour accordingly.  
I have read several Pieces, by yourself published, both lately and formerly, and those discovering, not only Divine and Spiritual, but also Humane and Temporal Mysteries. As to the first sort of your Discoveries, I hope there is none so unprincipled in Christianity, but must and will confess, that by such Talon improving Servants much will redound to the advantage of the Lord the Creditor, and for the edification of many in the ways of Righteousness. But as to the later, perhaps the ignorance or perverseness of the times may impute that to folly, which the ripest of the Imputers could hardly equal with solid and real wisdom, yet you may resolve, that the time will be, when your undertake herein will more earnestly be prized, for I persuade myself, and that not without good ground, That it is not now long before the time shall come, when Ingenuities of all kind shall more and more flourish, when the envy of Artists shall cease, who shall not then be jealous, least oth●rs with a dry finger should attain to such things by bare reading, which they in finding out have tried so many wearisome Experiments, which in mine opinion is (though I confess God by this means doth keep obscured, that which he in his justice judges the ungrateful world at present unworthy of) but a mere humane conceit, and full of fleshly fragility, for considering the many ripe wits which are in the world, If a man, who hath attained to any measure of real discovery, should as freely impart the same to such, of whose sincerity he is assured, and withal such, who with himself are daily searchers into the secrets of Nature, I am confident, that by this joint improvement of their utmost ability, more in some few years would be found out, then by any one single man could be attained, though he should live to a very great age.  
Therefore Sir, I cannot but judicially honour your desires of vindicating what ever excellent you can meet with, from the dark cloud of obscurity, that so the Public may by this means reap the fruit of that se●d, being thus scattered, which, if stifled under a clod, would have been for ever unuseful. Besides many other useful Pieces, those which more nearly concern us here in England, are your two Books of Husbandry, the one showing us our Defects here in England, the other the Braband Husbandry, which with God's blessing I hope will redound to the filling of our Pastures with Cattle, our Gardens with all sorts of Roots and Herbs, our Garners with store of Grain, to the wonderful good of this place. Next your Design for Plenty, in the universal planting of fruit trees, to which two I hear you are adding a third Treatise concerning Bees. These three Treatises concern our good and welfare so nearly, that I can but wish them as happily embraced, as ominously offered. For indeed if they were put in practice, the Advantage which the Commonwealth would reap therein, is beyond estimation: for first of all the plenty of food would soon cheer the mind of those, who through the scarcity thereof, and other necessities, are now likely to ●amish, of which the overplus w●uld not only provide clothes, the other staff of life, which necessity craveth, but also produce several staple Commodities, by the which Conveniency, yea, superfluity itself would be maintained among thoroughly for prese●● are destitute of Necessaries.  
●or to give you a taste herein, i● Lands were improved for Hay and Root●, as the Brabant Husbandry doth chiefly insinuate, that which at present is wa●t, and of little value, would yield both Roots for man's nourishment, and Hay for fodder for Cattles by which a double benefit would arise: First, the increase of Cattles and with them of Butter, Cheese, Bees, etc. Secondly, Land by this improvement would be brought to be of far greater value for the like, or any other employment for future. To these add the Oil, which the Seeds of Roots would produce, if in quantity sown. And then the Roots themselves, with Gra●●es, Turnip-tops, and the like method, as in the l●rge Epistle is taught, with the Hay, would be enough (if not to spare) to feed cattle that are to be fatted, Milch-Cowes, and labouring beasts, so would the Pastures be the less burdened, only with Sheep and other dry Kine; nor should we be so driven in cold weather for the keeping of cattle, which by this means would not only be in good plight, but even fat in the midst of Winter: Then the abundance of all sort of Grain, which would be in these Nations with the Fruits and Honey, would be cast upon us as a superfluous enriching, as if the Bounty of the most High were not content to make us happy, but of all other Nations most wealthy: For besides the making of Bread and Beer out of Grain, upon which account it is a thing prized of most Nations that are civilised, and the ordinary and known use of Fruits, I know, and that upon most infallible grounds, that by the abundance of these we might better our Being, beyond what at first thoughts can be apprehended.  
Leaving then all known Mechanical Uses of these Commodities, with the value of them on that account, as they are (in specie) I shall hint some other Applications of them, without considerable charge or trouble, by which means a most incredible advantage may redound to him, who hath opportunity, leisure, and list to experiment. And first as to the making of Wines: And secondly of Strong Waters, or Spirits; of which how much is imported into this Nation annually, it is beyond my reach to compute.  
Whereas, if instead of having these brought into ●● we were able, besides our own store, to export the like, or far greater quantity, none will deny, but that this Art would indeed b● (as to the benefit from it redounding) invaluable. I say then, and can demonstrate, that out of all Grains which are of a mealy substance, as also out of all Seeds of the like nature (not oily) may be made excellent Strong Waters, or Aqua vitae; as also out of all Fruits, Plums, Berries, or Roots; that out of Berries, Fruits and Roots is more mild, but by Grain mal●ed and Honey it may be quickened. There are of inferior sort of Grains, as Rye, Oates, Pease, and the like, which handled as Barley, until it sprout Corn, need not then for this work be dried, but beaten and moisted with its own liquor, and sound fermented, and will so yield a monstrous increase. Out of one bushel of good Pease, I know, will come of Spirit, at the least two gallons or more, which will be as strong as the strongest Annise-seed-water usually sold in London: This I know is the least, and is done without malting.  
Now to these add your drossy Honey, that, to wit, which comes not forth without squeezing the Combs, and you shall increase your quantity abundantly; so then by the means of Honey, Grains and Fruits, we shall not need so much to fetch Canary or Malago Wines from the Spanish Territories, nor White or Rhenish Wines from the French and German Coast, so to enrich them with our Commodities, for which we receive but a pallate-pleasing juice, which nature craves not for necessity, nay the greatest part thereof is infused in sinful superfluity, bearing the greater price, because far fetched; whereas the Nations, with whom Wine is made, use far less of it than we who buy it at Rack rates, so that it is a Proverb Hispa●us rarò ebrius, The Spaniard is seldom 〈◊〉. The more is 〈◊〉 both our sin and shame, who oft abuse 〈…〉 to drunkenness; whereas if it were once 〈…〉 (as it's easily so to be made) a domestic Commodity, no ma● than would want it for his necessary use, and by the reason of its commonness, the price of it would be brought far lower, and by consequence the request it finds among the sipping Gallants of our time would abate; so that this benefit at least would redound, that besides the moderation which would ensue of that Excise in drinking (which now alas to our shame is in use among us) we should be able to send forth in considerable quantity that very Commodity, the Import whereof doth stand this Nation, now yearly, in an incomputable sum of money, besides the support of several families by the use of them in Specie, which alone were enough to make the abundance thereof to us, not only acceptable, but also desirable,  
As for the use of Spirits I need not to mention them, since utterance, I suppose, presents itself yearly to this Nation of as much as it can spare, and more, I suppose, could be vended, if it might be had. Yet one thing I may speak as to that particular: It is known, that Fish is no small part of the traffic of this Nation, besides that which is used among ourselves for our own spending; of which (especially Codfish the principal Merchantable Fish that is sold) is taken at the banks of Newfound Land, and New England. Now what quantities of Spirits are spent among the Fishing Companies in New and Old England? I suppose many know better than I can Inform them, who for the most part are supplied with Dutch or French Brandy, those Nations eating, as it were, the Bread out of our mouths, by which means the wages of the painful Fisherman is, for the most part, at the winding up pocketed by Strangers, whereas if we were able to furnish the same Commodity at like or lower price, it would be to us no small annual profit, since, in such like Trade, the Fisherman consumes, for the most part, one half of his yearly earnings.  
But I shall leave the managing of Commodities to those who are conversant in such Employments, at present bounding myself with this, Ne suitor ul●ra Crepida●n: It is enough for me to show how Commodities may be raised, and those domestic, with inconsiderable pains and trouble, but for the improvement of them, it is good I should leave that task to such, who professedly take upon them the charge of such matters.  
But while I thus swerve from my professed theme, which is to give you (according to that Observation that I have taken) an account of Bees; give me leave to hint one thing, which (in my opinion) is the Masterpiece of whatsoever you have waded in. I cannot say that you are the Author of it, since I have read many Overtures made of and concerning that Subject, by others, yet I know that yourself are none of the least drivers on of that design, namely, the Advancing of Credit, so as to make Bills Currant in payment, to the wonderful increase of Trading, to which I may also add your Office of Public Address, both which Enterprises (if not unseasonable mercies at present) I hope the Lord will give this Nation to enjoy,  
But as concerning our present matter, which at this time I chiefly intent, namely, concerning Bees, I understand from you, that your chief desire to be informed concerning them, is first, How they may be engendered? Secondly, How increased? and thirdly, How enriched with Wax and Honey?  
For the first, The truth is, I have read in some Authors of their engendering out of dead Kine, fermented with the falling dew. Some think, that out of any kind of beast Bees may be produced, and do conclude, that the Bees which bestowed their Honey on the carcase of the Lion, slain by Samson, were of this nature, and bred out of that savage Creature; yet must I confess, that I never yet saw the Experiment of Bees engendered in or from any dead Carcase, though I have known several sorts of dead Creatures both open, and covered with leaves, lightly exposed to the continual dews, yet never could I take notice of any such procreation. And that out of Kine, either strangled, or otherwise dying, and so lying abroad, exposed to the influence of the Heavens, Bees naturally will not spring, I am induced: For that in the Summer Islands, where I was born, I never yet saw one Bee, except those of a kind called Humble Bees, where notwithstanding, to my knowledge, divers Cattle both younger and older, have (perishing by mischance, as it oft falls out there, that the very heat of the noon. Sun in Summer kills Cattle if not removed into the shade) lain in the open fields till they have rotten, and have not a night scarce wanted the dew, in which Maggots and Worms have bred, but no Bees, which if they were so to be bred, I suppose would in less than forty years have been seen in those Islands, in which I never saw any, though I was naturally a great Observer of Infects there, where I noted Wasps, but no Honey making Bees. Nor is it to be thought, that the Climate is averse to the Generation of Infects, which it there produceth of other kinds as plentifully, if not more than many other places, in which Bees are,  
Also my engendered Curiosity was so great, that I took the pain to observe and collect the Generation of several Infects, with their various mutations from kind to kind, sparing no diligent travel that might benefit me herein. For so soon as I began to read a little in Philosophy, I took great content in these Contemplations, which after in New England I as carefully noted. In the Summer Islands I found, that in Rain-water kept in wooden Troughs (especially where the Sun at some time of the day shineth on it) there would in time gather a sedimen of muddy matter to the bottom, black and slimy, out of which would breed at the bottom, crawling long ill-favoured Worms, with many feet: these Worms growing bigger and bigger would swim and play together, and engender sexually, till at last growing more slow, they would at length lose almost all motion, at last coming to the top of the water, would by the legs hang near the superficies, where in few days, opening the back, out of them proceeds a Fly, which crawling out of the water, is for a day or two tender, after able to fly, which Fly, after a time casting its skin, becomes another creeping Insect, with out wings, and of it proceeds another Fly, far different from the former. So in the ground, I have often under stones or tufts of grass found tender Worms, which are naturally in time of their own accord incrusted, and so lying a space, at length break, out of which comes a great Butterfly, which layeth her Eggs on the Orange tender leaves, where the dew hatcheth them into Worms, which live on the leaves, and if touched send forth long red horns; these at length, hanging to the n●●●r part of a bough, are incrusted, and after a long death turning the same kind of Butterfly, which before came out of the Earth.  
Another sort of Worms, engendered by the 〈…〉 ences in the Earth, being incrusted, proves a singing 〈…〉 after its season, cleaving to a Tree, casteth its skin, and of a ●ly becometh a creeping sceptile, and so liveth a long time, till about the season of the year when that Fly cometh again. This creeping thing on some tree or other for a time is almost without motion, at last bursting insunder in the back, out of it comes the like singing Fly as came before out of the first Worm, which was bred in the earth.  
Many such like Generations of Worms in the Earth, and of crawling Creatures in the Waters, which after turn into Flies, and so again into other husky Worms without motion, and from them to other flying Infects. I might speak largely, were it not besides my proposed intent and scope at present.  
A third very anomalous Generation, which I have noted, is of a sort of stinging Flies out of rotten Trees: these, in the Summer Islands, I have observed out of the rotting Palmeto, and in New England I have seen the same in rotten Poplar and Birch: In which a man may at one time see some, like to a tender Spermatical milk, enclosed in a most tender skin, others like to a white Maggot, with a little motion, others now almost shaped like a Fly, others full form, and able to crawl, others ready to come forth, and in a short time after to fly.  
The Generations of Beetles, Dorres, etc. I have also diligently enquired into, and find, that under stone hedges, where dunghills are usually made of Rubbish, they do chiefly proceed, which some sort of Sea shellfish, buried in the Earth, do also produce the same in kind and fashion with the former. Yet, as I said, I never yet could experimentally find any rise of Bees from putrefaction, though by me, for curiosity sake, oft attempted, and that with the blood, also with the flesh of Kine, such as by accident perishing, I could procure part of them for trial sake; this I have kept, some openly exposed to the dew, others covered with Rubbish (as for the Generation of other Infects) other while defended with green leaves and straw, and so buried in the Earth, others covered with earth immediately without any defence from the same, in which variety of operations, as I had variety of success, at various seasons of the year, so never did the event answer the end, for which I employed this industriou●●nquiry. If any Gentleman, that hath on his own experience tried this manner of production of Bees, please to impa●t ●is 〈◊〉, ● shall be unto him really thankful, and requi●e 〈…〉 perhaps with as acceptable a discovery  
〈…〉 my opinion, is, as it were, Nature's recreation, 〈…〉 the fracid ferment of putrifying Bodies doth 〈…〉 there is singular and rare variety, so they are int●eded 〈◊〉 blessings or scourges to Man. The Bee, the Silkworm, the Cochmeel, how greatly profitable to Mankind they have been I need not repeat, nay most Infects of a shelly or scaly nature, being very excellent in medicinal qualities. I think then, that our sloth is very great, in that we neglect the inquiry into this particular. I shall a little touch, and perhaps not impertinently here. In the Summer Islands there is a sort of Spider, that is very large, and of admirable gay colours, yellowish, blackish, greenish, and reddish, so intermixed, that it makes the Creature very delectable to look on; these in great multitudes are there, who live abroad in the open fields, spinning their webs from tree to tree of a vast bigness, to catch Flies in, on the which they pray: their webs are yellow, and most pure Silk, of which one Maid for trial knit a pair of Gloves, which prove in wearing no whit inferior to the best Silk of the Silkworm. Now if these Spiders were so kept, as an ingenious man might easily invent, they by feeding kept in good plight, might be made to spin quantity enough, for as much as in few hours they will spin a large web, if their old one be taken away, else they mind only their prey. But the trial of what may be done in this, I leave to others who may have opportunity; this I only insert here to show, that not the Silkworm only yieldeth Silk, which is common to this Spider with them, and that of the Spider nothing in●eriour to the Silk, which the Worm spinneth.  
Again the Cochmeel, which is so rich a Commodity, cometh out of a fruit called the Indian Fig or prickled Pear, which as yet none of our Nation have attempted to make, which is the cause that die is so scarce, although in all the Summer Islands the Tree bearing that fruit is most plentiful, and the generation of that Insect as easy as may be, if but attempted with ingenuity The leaf is of a thick slimy nature, the fruit full of seeds and blood-red, very wholesome, and hath this property, that it passeth straight to the urine retaining it● colour, and is rejected by urine is red well nigh as it was taken in. This same fruit is not of the like tincture with the Infects proceeding from it, but give a colour almost like to Brasil●tto wood, which in the fire in a few days perisheth. But the Insect ●ngendred of this fruit is of a most permanent Tincture, I for curiosity examined other Vegetables which were of Tincture, and found them all to yield Infects of the like tincture, with that out of which they were procreated.  
In particular, and with much Curiosity, I examined Shoomake Berries, wh●ch have a red outside, like to the fur of Velvet, in small red grains, but the inner kernel not answering the outside in colour, I found the Infects not considerably tincted red, yet in Medicinal Operations by far surpassing the virtue of the Bare Berries, for they had a peculiar diccretick quality.  
There is a Berry also groweth in great quantity, both in the Summer Islands and in New England, which makes me to conceive, that it would also grow here: It is with them of the Summer Islands commonly called Redweed, the virtue of it is purgative upwards and downwards strongly, the Berry is as red as the prickled Pear, and gives much the like tincture. This Berry I intended to prepare for Medicinal usest but by occasion my Design in that being frustrated, I assayed to see what manner of Infects it would yield, and there came forth first Worms, which growing husky, with small bumps where the head or upper part lay (which is easily distinguished in such Infects) I perceived thereby it would produce a Fly, which accordingly it did, which was of the bigness of the Cochmeel fly, but a little longer, which grew by the same matter, out of which they were engendered, to a considerable bigness, when I taking them out, in a gentle heat in a close glisse, killed them, and dried them, and though I have oft assayed the Cochmeel for curiosity sake, yet I could not find this, as to the point of tincture, any whit inferior to that Insect, and as to Medicinal virtue aequi valent, if not exceeding the other.  
And I am co●fi●●nt (though that I have not tried) that out of Brasil●●to like Infects of the same excellent tincture may be produced, knowing experimentally, that out of any Wood-berry may, by an anin anta 〈◊〉 fermentation (if I may so speak) be produced● first a small Wor●, 〈◊〉 growing higher groweth husky, and at last becomes a 〈…〉 suffered to grow till it have waxed a little, 〈…〉 the tincture of the Concrete whence it ●a● produced, which then being graduated beyond its own nature, leaveth its d●e in grain.  
I have been the longer upon these kind of Infects, desiring, at least, with as much brevity as I can, to give hints of what rare Secrets are in Nature attainable: So that if any desire the way to fix a falling Colour, consider if that C●lour will hold until the Compound may receive a ferment (f●r fermentation openeth the Body) a●ter which thou shalt cause it to engender Infects, which is an easy Art: These Infects will give thee the tincture of its Original Concrete, which will hold in grain.  
Now as to Medicinal Virtues of Infects I might be very large, but I shall willingly pass them over; only this I shall say, being desirous to try what might be done upon this account, I took Blood, and pouring the Water from the Clods of them, by putrefaction I had great Maggots, with moisture, which consuming the moisture grew in quantity, and were in a manner dry, these I washed clean, killed them, and bruised them, and of them had in a second putrefaction other less Maggots, somewhat differing from the other, and with a tolerable smell to the other; these being grown to their greatest, I washed again, killed, and so putrified them, and this a third and a fourth time I repeated, than I took them, and having first washed them, digested them (being bruised) for six weeks, and distilling them, had a Water and a yellow coloured Oil, of the most exquisite penetrating resolving virtue that ever I knew, which I yet call Oleum Lumbricorum Verum, Attempting the same with livers of Beasts it succeeded in like manner.  
But now to return to the History of Bees, to wit, their propagation; It is known, that if they have good Hives, with convenient shelter, and sufficient store of meat, they will increase sufficiently. So then the main matter is to know how Bees may best be stored with Honey.  
First of all, if your Design of planting of Fruit trees take effect, that alone would mightily increase Bees, it is not to be credited what one Orchard will afford to that purpose. But because the time of the blossoming of Fruit trees lasts not long, there would be found out some fit means for to nourish them in the later months of the year; it being a Proverb, that a Swarm of Bees in May is worth a Cow and a Bottle o● Hay, whereas a Swarm in July is not worth a Fly. For it is evident, that the dew which falls on the flowers is that which Bees suck; though july, August, September, and part of October, are for the heat of weather, as seasonable for Bees to work in as May, yet in them they every themselves but little, because of the scarcity of Flours, Blossoms, Honeysuckles, and the like, which at that season of the year are rare.  
Your Letter to me (in which is the transcript of part of an Epistle) to this end, commending the planting of Anise, doth seem very rational; first in that Anise yields an innumerable company of small flowers (as also sweet Fennel) which if gathered in a morning, the dew on the flowers is very pleasant. The like also is on Parsley, Carroots, in their flowering, but not so pleasant or grateful to the Bees as Anise or Fennel, in regard of the sweet scent which they carry, which alone is very alluring to them. For in dew itself is a sweet Sacharine salt, which yet Bees do not so much desire, unless it have a ●ermentall Odour, which it acquires within the Concavity of sweet flowers, as of Thime, Rosemary, Anise, or Fennel, etc. Yea, Experience itself shows, that by the ferment of these the dew is transmuted, and obtains a sweetness many degrees passing bare dew, yea, and a Consistence also, as appears in Manna, The reniabin, and the like, the falling of which I have oft and diligently noted, and find it to be materially nothing but dew, which falling on some things becomes inspissated: Yet cannot I but respect the making of Honey, as a thing peculiar to Bees, and although according to the Proverb (& mel sibi parant vespae) yet in my opinion there is worthily a great difference to be acknowledged between Honey and other inspissated sweetnesses, so that neither Manna, nor any such falling congealed sweetness, hath the like nature as Honey, which in its Analysis more easily is apparent. I oft have with a clean linen gathered the sweetness of the tops of Fennel, and wring it out of the linen, have tried if or no it had the parts of Honey, but found in them a great difference, by which I learned, that Bees out of the falling dew, by a peculiar fermenting virtue, do really transmute what they suck into Honey. Also that Flowers within th●m contain a ●erment, by which the dew that falls in them is inverted into a thicker substance, and sweet, yet formally distinguished from Honey, which the Bees alured, both by the smell and taste, do greedily resort to and suck, and of it load themselves, out of which they do separate a more fat substance, which they also transmute into Wax, with a formal transmutation.  
For as much as Wax formally differs from all fatness in the World, so then the dew, which being collected from any Flowers, will scarce yield a twentieth part of Caput mortuum, being by the Bees sucked and digested into Honey, than (if distilled) will yield near a third part in a Coal, and the liquor that distils will be part coloured, with an exquisite sharp taste, and a faetor of Empyreum, which in the other is not so to be found. By which it appears, that the Bee finds not his Honey made beforehand, but transmutes that which was not Honey into Honey, by a peculiar gift of the Creator. So by this it may be gathered, that Anise in all probability will perform what is promised of it in regard of its fragrant scent, which is so acceptable to that working Insect. For I remember, when once upon an Experiment, I was digesting a thing w●th Oil of Anise seeds in the Sun, near an Orchard, in which were many Hives, the Bees did swarm exceedingly to the scent, but that which was digesting being of an intoxicating nature, the Bees were with it amuzed, and so by the hot Sun killed outright, and I am confident, had I continued my digestions any considerable time, I had soon unstock nigh a dozen of Hives, so allu●ing is the ●ragancy of that scent to that Creature. Yea I have observed, that it is common to them with Wasps, to be exceedingly drawn with any eminent sweet Odour. Add to the fragrancy of smell the excellent sweetening ●erment, which from Anise or Fennel flowers is communicated to the dew, so that to suck such clusters of Flowers in a morning is almost as pleasant as to suck a Honeycomb for taste.  
But the third and main excellency in Anise, is the long duration of the flowering time, which may be continued four or five months, sowing Anise at several times, for it is the flower only of it, which the Bees suck on. Yea, and though sown at once, yet of Anise, Fennel, and the like, the nature is not as Apples, to flower at a peculiar time, for as much as at one time a man shall sinned both the flower tender, and the seed near to its full growth, so that this herb will afford a durable supply to the painful Bee, the seed itself being also a very good commodity.  
But yet there is another way by which Bees may be stored most plentifully, and that is by Molossoes of Sugar, Raisins, Macarates, with water, and the like. There was a Gentleman, who having a late Swarm of Bees giv●n him, which was so 〈…〉 could not be thought possible for to live out the Wi●ter, did 〈◊〉 my direction make a mixture of a pint of Molossoes with three parts of Rain-water, to which he put in a little meal, and sprinkled in●● some few flowers: The mixture being set near unto the Bees, they flocked to it, and carried it into their Hives, and so would in less than a day empty a shallow broad dish, By which means they, before full three weeks were out, were so over glutted with Honey, that by the next Spring they were drowned with it, and in that Hive was found no less than thirty pound weight of the Honey and Wax. The Molossoes was not that which the Sugar-refiners leave, for I know not what an enemy the lime Alcali that is in it may be to Bees, but the first Molossoes. Now I should for my part rather rake the refuse Honey which is got by squeezing the Combs, and also the Combs washings, which I would sprinkle with a little meal and Anise seeds small beaten, the one to keep them from drowning in it, the other for scent, and this, I am assured, will feed Bees excellently, and for one pound they will return four: This I know; The water best for this purpose is that of Rain, which hath in it a sweet Salt. And that no man may wonder at this, consider how that Honey originally is but dew, which is but little different from Rain: For as a milch Cow drinking sound of water, doth actually give the more Milk, which Milk is far different from water, yet multiplied by it even to sense, so naturally doth the Bee transmute what it sucks into Honey, insomuch that if the Bee be but alured with the fragancie of the scent, and never so small taste of sweetness to suck up material water, yet that it will as well make into Honey, as if it were a substance thicker of consistence.  
And as for the Wax, of which the Combs is made, I cannot persuade myself that it is the Gum of the stalks of flou●es and tender leaves (in a Microscope to be discerned) which the Bee gathering together, doth of it make Combs: For it is evident, that Bees do suck out o● several things, nay, almost out of innumerable Simples of all which they make (as but one Honey) so but one Wax. In Russia and M●s●o●y (I am informed, that) the Bees gather out of the weep of Pine, Fir, Spruce and Deal Trees (which are only Therebinth) abundance, both of Honey and Wax, which yet is the same in kind with ours in England, whence I conclude, that Bees do make (as their Honey, so) their Wax, out of that which before was not Wax, otherwise it would be a very Heterogeneal body; since the weeping Gum of each thing is variated, and followeth the property of that Vegetable to which it belongs. Besides, there is a vast difference between Gums (of which some are wholly liquable in Water, others partly) and Wax, as also betwixt it and Rosin of any sort, likewise its peculiar Specific Odour is not common to any other thing with itself.  
No marvel then, if Bees may be said with their own Honey, mixed with three times its quantity of rain water, and out of it they should again make Wax and new Honey, since like to this is a Cows making out of simple water blood, milk, and urine, of which blood and milk come but little (if ought) short of the proportionate ●o●dus of Honey.  
Nor is the smallness of the Creature to be accused as if in consistent for so great a task, since God hath made each thing sufficient to its destinated end; yea, and the same Creature with a contemptible stroke of its revenging sting (which is not much thicker than one of the pores of the Cutis is wide) can swell and inflame our Body so beyond its own dimensions, that a prick in the face (to my knowledge) hath made one to be for more than a day blind, his eyes being swelled up, and his face twice as big as before.  
Now to resume, what in the beginning I touched, of the excellency of Honey, it is good to eat, both pleasant and wholesome, in Chirurgery and Medicine of excellent force, and enriched with a rare Quintessence. But besides, by help of it and grain, may be made most excellent Wine, nothing inferior to the richest Canary or Greek wines, and by the mixture of it with the juice of fruits, the best Fr●nch or Rhenish Wines may be paralleled, if not surpassed. Nor will any of the Specific Odour, either of the H●ney, or of the Corn, after a threefold fermentation remain. It also will yield a most excellent Aqua vitae, yea it will help such things, which (by reason of their too much propensity to souring, and slowness to a working fermentation) would yield spirits but sparingly, to ferment exceedingly, and so to yield their spirit copiously, as, to wit, many Berries, Roots: etc. It also will by its addition make as excellent Vinegar out of Cider, as any France yields, without exception. Lastly, any Wine which is near pricking may by its h●lp be recovered, brought to a new fermentation, enriched with a new Body, which before, being almost worn out, was hungry and l●an, and so made as Rasie, pleasant and durable as ever, provided it be not already sour. If these qualities be not sufficient to commend it, I shall add no more.  
Thus Sir, I have briefly, and yet in a large Epistolical discourse, endeavoured to satisfy you what I can, as to this Subject. I confess myself to have been not very free in this thing, not for that I would not be ready in a greater matter to be serviceable to you and the Public for good; but truly, I am one of those, who are far more willing to learn than to ●ssay to teach: The World is now full of Books, of which if a good choice were made, one tenth part of the chief being culled out, I should willingly pass my suffrage, that the other nine patts should be corrected by the fire, among which this Epistle of mine should, by my vote, pass for company. For verily Sir, sithence nothing is to a man more pretions than time, it is requisite, that those things which consume that most precious and irrecovocable Jewel (when once lost) should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; yet I do assure you, these things (though perhaps comparatively, many of them but trivial) I speak not opini●bly, but what I know, and that experimentally; yet must I confess, that the Subject, lying not altogether in the Sphere of my most serious Contemplations, perhaps hath not been handled as it might have been, by another more conversant therein, since mellification, respects the work and labour of this Insect, not its Physical virtues; I then, whose chief station is among natural things, to examine their Analytical Philosophy, and to discover their Qualities, as applicable to the Art of Medicine, together with their parts in Composition, their graduations in virtue, their Extraction of the Craseiss in them contained, their various transmutations, alterities and applications. This, I say, being my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other speculations (among which this of Bees, most applicable to a rural life, from which my profession is in a manner alienated) coming in but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, serving for recreation and pleasure, no marvel if sleightness in its handling by me should be found; Yet as it is I hope you will accept it, as proceeding from a mind devoted to serve you; I wish therefore, that it were more worthy your acceptance; yet as it is I humbly offer it to you, as an acknowledgement of what I desire to perform, and an Earnest of what I may hereafter, and that shortly, send forth after this, in case these my first fruits be acceptable.  
There are herein couched many hints of divers useful Experiments, which are not altogether ungroundedly intruded into this Epistle, as having dependence some way or other on the proposed Subject, which I inserted the rather, that by such touches, which concern things within my own Sphere, I might qualify the sleight texture which is spun concerning the propounded theme, which is, as I said, an enquiry rather of my spare hours for recreation, than any part of my task. I pray accept what ever it is, as coming from him, who would have bestow it as freely, if of far greater value: I shall now no further trouble you, but pray the Lord, who is the fountain of all blessing, so to order all your ways and endeavours, that they may be a blessing to all those, to whom you devote yourself, to serve by all your pious public achievements; this is, and shall be the Prayer of him, who is most affectionately  
Your unfeigned Servan● G. S.   

An Enlargement of the sore-going Philosophical Letter, explaining more fully divers of those desirable Passages for general Riches and Prosits: With the Reasons why no more is discovered at this time.  
I Received yours of Admonitory Annotations from my last Letter touching Bees, in which my scope and intent being to speak concerning Mellification, in reference to yours sent to me, concerning the use of Anise in the keeping of Bees; many other things fell in accidentally, in which if I were the more brief, it is the more venial, since it was not directly, but only collaterally agreeing with the propounded scope of that Discourse. I shal● therefore, having perused those Annotations, return you a larger account of the things therein contained, which I hope will be sufficiently satisfactory to any ingenious Spirit.  
The first Answer (so it is called) doth seem to desire in that Epistle an open candidness, and a candid openness: in that I conceive I was not only open, but also plain, and I do not know what I should have added, as to the matter proposed, and not have exceeded the bounds of an Epistle, and therefore I really intended what I said, and did conceive my apertnesse a candid Testimony o● my intentions.  
Now as to the second Answer, to my confident Assertion of the fec●b●l●ty of Aqua vitae out of grain unmalted, etc. and the producing of Wine out of fruit and also grain, equal to Spanish and French Wines, by the means of Honey, I conceive, that what was written is sufficiently full and plain. For to write a Receipt is a thing both ●●●●●sh, and not so convenient.  
For first, a man who doth try many Experiments, doth not observe so nicely all the Circumstances, as if he were to improve the same for profit, only takes notice what is the effect of his Experiments in general. Now it is certain, that the quantity of matter, and the quality of operation on the matter, may differ but little as to apparency, and yet work a plain distinct effect. Besides there is not any one Mechanic, which hath its Basis on Philosophy, in which there are not many errors, into which an Artist, that hath been long versed in the Practic, may hap to fall, and he may thank gray-headed Experience for teaching him to amend his errors, and for some casu●● disasters no remedy yet hath be●n ●ound, either totally and infallibly to prevent, or to amend the same, as i● Malting, Brewing, Tanning. soap-boiling, etc. which ● might instance in, is need required, and time would permit.  
So then, though I know that out of such Materials such a product ma● be, yet I knew withal, that my sel● have in my Experiments o●● b●en frustrated, even in those things which before I had done, which 〈◊〉 could not on so few trials know to what cause directly to ascribe.  
Now 〈◊〉 things b●●me found by casualty, I can hardly hit the same thing ●gai●, ●●en ● assay it (d●●industria) without sometimes various errors, it would be not an edifying, but rather a stumbling cou●se, to la● down a Receipt, and in so many words to relate my own Enchei●●a in its particularities, would be tedious, and not so useful, for I know, that he who tries many fortuitous Experiments, not to seek for any particular thing, before proposed to himself, but rather to see what will proceed from such and such things so ordered, it is to be conceived, that what he attains to is by the farthest way about, which to him, in those accidental trials, proves the nearest way home.  
But if this were to be further proved upon the account of profit, another course must be taken, of doing in greater quantity, and the easiest and shortest Method is desired. Therefore I, like a Traveller, did intend only a relation of things feasible, which I have myself again proved, and on my reputation affirm, both possibly and easy in nature; and this I did to show the Good which might accrue to the Public by the prosecution of your Design, both in storing the Land with Corn, Fruits and Honey. I added the Means or Key, both for the one and other, namely, by reiterated fermentation, and so writing, I wrote to such, who in some measure understood Philosophy, who weighing the effect with its causes, might not straight condemn my Candour, in case he for once or twice should prove unsuccessful, whereas a Receipt is every man's meat, and to such who less understand Nature, what Receipt can be full enough. For he who writes, measures other men's understanding partly by his own, and what he understands fully and scientifically, he presupposeth another will understand sufficiently, and therefore leaves out many Circumstances which are not so necessary, or may be otherwise, or such which he presupposes (praecognita) or what a small insight into practic Philosophy may dictate. My meaning is, that in as much as those Experiments were not so reiterated, as a Tanner's making his liquor, I could not possibly throw the Receipts into the mouth of every one that could but gape. For what I try in a gallon, if I should prescribe in that quantity, my Receipt would be contemptible, if I should analogize by proportion, my Doctrine might be uncertain, in the particular which is most certain in the general. My Work is to hint to the Ingenuous what may be done, and let it be sufficient that (fide bona) I deliver what is really true in Nature, and add the only Means, which is by reiterate fermentation. But yet to add what light I can to him, who would attempt this, I shall, so far as in me is, discover things more punctually  
First as to Aqua vitae, let Pease be taken and steeped in as much water as will cover them, till they swell and Corn, and be so ordered as Barley is for the Malting, only with this difference, that for this work if they sprout twice as much as Barley doth in making Malt it is the better: these Pease thus sprouted if beaten small, which is easily done they being so tender, put into a vessel, and stopped with a Bung and a R●g as usually, these will ferment, and after two, or three, or four months, if distilled, will really perform what I promised.  
The Water that soaked them, it is good to save, either for the soaking of fresh, or for putting on them, being beaten, which else require some quantity of water to be added to them, but not much, and the like may be done in all other Grain, which the addition of refuse Honey will advance (as to quantity of Spirit) exceedingly. Thus may a Spirit of Aqua vitae be made out of any green growing thing, of which the leaves being fermented, will yield a small quantity of such a Spirit. So Roots, Berries and Seeds, which are not oily, yea and those which are oily, whose fatness is essential, that is, which may be distilled over in an Alembick with water, will afford some more, some less of Aqua vitae. Let me add, that the Spirit which is made out of Grain not dried into Malt, is more pleasant than the other.  
Now give me leave to add my opinion, and what I would try further in this case. I would often stir the matter in fermentation, that is, once a day, during the first twenty days, and for the first week, when it begins to work, give it a small vent, which to me seems a wa● of bettering the fermentation, and by consequent of augmenting and meliorating the Spirit. But in this I leave every man to his own ●ngeny, and should be glad to have these my Experiments ripened for the good of many.  
Now as to Vinification, let me for a ground lay this down for a Position, that the vegetable Spirit in all Herbs, Trees, Plants, and Fruits, Berries, and also Seeds, (not of a gross oily nature) is vinous, but in Grain and fruit more especially of the later, of which the Grape is but one Species. Now in both, the Rule to distinguish the copiousness of this virtue is the sweetness; for by how much the more of that, by so much the more of the Vinous Spirit.  
Now Honey is a Vegetable Magistery, in part perfected by the Specific virtue of the flour, etc. on which the dew falling, is made sweeter than of itself it was, (yet formally distinguished from Honey, which I have oft proved by distillation) but is completed by the peerless virtue of the Bee, which doth transmute that sweetness into a new Creature, which is Honey. This therefore, by reason of its eminent sweetness, is rich of that vinous Spirit forementioned, and may therefore be preferred to either Grain or Fruit; for example; Let the trial be made with about a gallon of Honey, despume it, and add to it about an equal part of Water, or three parts of Water to two of Honeys ferment it with a treble fermentation; and after six months this will be far richer, both in taste and smell, than any Wine that comes from any of the Spanish Territories, and that by far. But as the price of good Honey goes now, to have a quart of Wine in its materials to cost a shilling or sixteen pence, which is the price of good Honey, would be a dear rate; by which it may appear, what the benefit of your present Design of enriching us with store of Honey may be; for I say, what I have tried, that Wine made of Honey alone without any other thing, thrice fermented as it ought to be, gives a drink more like a celestial Nectar than a Terrestrial Wine, both for Taste and Odour.  
But Grains gives a more Austere Wine, and alone much resembled a fyall Wine, which is done thus. Take as much Malt as a Cask will hold fill it with scalding hot water, that the water be no more than the Cask will hold after it is full of Malt; let it soak so for a day and night, then press it out tightly, as Wines are pressed, then put it into a vessel, and with Yeast bring it to work, which by every day moving with a rod, and covering it with clothes, and not giving it much vent, will be continued at least six or seven days, so much the better if the vessel be so big beyond what it contains, as that it work not over, and the vent that is left be small● but the bung so closed, as that it may be opened and shut daily for to stir the matter sound, and when the ferment is ceased, with new Yeast bring it to a second, and so to a third fermentation, observing the same method as in the first, then close it well, and set it in a cool Cellar for about four months, in which time it acquires the natural properties of Wine, and may be accordingly handled.  
Now by this that hath so plainly been set down, any ingenious man may, by the addition of Honey in a various proportion, make what distinction of Wine he pleaseth, and the same with the juice of Fruits, with this difference, that Fruits do yield a Wine nearer to Rhenish and French then to Spanish Wines.  
Now as to the Spider which I mentioned, I was not then so principled in Philosophy, when I lived in those Islands, as to observe every observable thing, but since have hea●d of a Maid, who of that Silk hath (for trial sake) spun and knit a pair of gloves, which prove no whit inferior or less durable than the best Silk, whether then they may be transported hither or no, I know not, but if not, yet in the Plantation, where they are naturally (being under this Government) I presume they might with ingenuity be made profitable; first, since they multiply so abundantly: Secondly, live in the open fields, not annoyed with weather: Thirdly, give Silk so copiously, for out of one large Spider, in a day, one may draw at the least two drachins of Silk, if they have an entire Web they s●end little after it is made, but if fed fat, they may be taken in one's hand, without danger to ones self, or damage to the Creature, and one may out of its body wind a good ball of yellow Silk daily, which being washed is white enough. Fourthly, they will feed on Flies, or any blood of beast cloddered exceedingly, and all their nourishment may be forced out in Silk, which they as naturally make in their tail (which is a great bag, like a Pigeons Egg in bigness) as Bees do Honey.  
Now if the Silkworm that is so tender, may be so improved, being so hard to feed, and must be kept in houses, much more these Spiders, which are so hardy; and will feed on any trumpery (and who knows what they may ●e brought to eat, I myself have fed them with pieces of Figs) may, in my opinion, be brought to singular profit, which if kept in an open wicker Cage in the open air, may be fed at pleasure, and robbed of their Silk at least every day, and that not a small quantity at a time. I persuade myself, that one large Spider of this sort, would yield more Silk in a Summer than six Silk-wormes, and that may render them worth the keeping, their Silk being full as good as any. Yet they may do as well here as the Silkworm, for aught I know, being by ten fold more hardy than any Silkworm, and Flies are a sufficient food for them, which how easily taken I need not mention.  
As to the India Fig, the usual name of it is the Prickled Pear, so known in that place, and as to the transportation of it hither, here to grow, it is enough it grows there, being an English Plantation, or the fruit itself may, without the tree, be yearly brought over at rates reasonable enough, if first any ingenious man (whom it may concern) should, for trial sake, send for a small parcel, and upon trial find it advantageous. I for my part procured of the fruit for my Experiment, and found the generation of that Infect out of it, which way I recommend to any that desires further resolution in that Point.  
Now as to the Generation of infects, I shall give my usual Encheiria, though I need not, having particularly set down the same work, how it is performed out of the blood and livers of beasts, which were enough to any, who by the length of Hercules foot, could calculate the proportion of his whole body.  
Vegetables of tincture are either Herbs, Woods, or Fruits, as Berries, etc. as for Herbs, I dry them (●● dry they yield the best tincture) otherwise stamp them, and let them dry, till they will suffer no juice to run from them, (this in the Sun or in a proportionable heat) or if dried, I infuse them with water in a heat about twenty four hours, than vapour away the water, till the dissolution be as thick a● syrup (but for this use strain them not from the feces) this mass I take and put it into an earthen or wooden Vessel, with some straw or something, and bottom (that it lie not too close) and so I proportion the quantity to the pot, that the air may come about, and into the mass, (yet not too much) than I set this Vessel in a ditch or pit made in the earth in a shady place, and put about it some wet leaves, or such putrifying rubbish, and over it a board, and on that some straw or the like, and so it produces, first a shelly husky Worm, and then a Fly of the tincture of the Concrete, but durable, and somewhat more advanced.  
Berries I stamp and boil them, or evaporate them to the consistence of a Rob: and then use them as the other.  
Woods I infuse in water, being pulverised, and boil out their tincture, and then evaporate the water to such a consistence as the other, and use them in the like way. The Flies will play about the sides of the vessel and surface of the matter, which taken, are killed in a warm pan or stove, and dried, and so kept.  
Thus out of a red Berry, of which I spoke in my former Letter, I made an Insect no whit inferior to the best Cochmeel, and I suppose I have added sufficient to the Information of the weakest capacity.  
As for my History of one who did so feed Bees, as I spoke of in my first Letter, the Gentleman is at present both out of London, England, and this Life, being lately dead.  
Now what concerns the Doctrine of Fermentations, on which depends the unfolding of the Mystery of Mellification, and making Wax, I have reserved that for another place and time, since being prolix and Philosophical, it doth require a peculiar Treatise, and I falling on it here, found it too abstruse to be briefly handled, lest brief Instances, which I should be forced to bring, should beget a thousand scruples and new questions. As for the practic of it, this dilemma answers all: Either it will, or it will not; if it will, then far more Bees may be kept, if out of (Not Honey) they make Honey, and out of (Not Wax) they make Wax, by an actual transmutation, which I experimentally affirm: if not, than fewer can be kept, if they must seek their Wax out of the Gummosity of some flowers, as some fond imagine, since Wax formally differs from any fatness under Heaven. One half hours attendance in a day on a late Swarm of Bees in july or August, will put all out of question to any other that shall try it, as it hath been experimentally put out of controversy to me. But to lay down the Philosophy of the thing will maim a large Treatise, which I have in Latin composed (de fermentis) which I shall be unwilling to dismember, and send part of it out lamely in an English dress.  
Lastly, as to the meeting of Wines, it is done the same way as new are made. viz by dissolving Honey in some quantity of itself, and warming it so as it lose not the Spirit (which is to be therefore done in a close Vessel) then put to the Vessel of Wine, and by Yeast (or otherwise) let it be brought to a thorough working (as at its first making) s●●t recovers both life, taste, body and goodness, and may then be preserved as if it never had inclined to p●cking.  
Sir, ● hope this will be a full illustration of my former Letter, so as that no man shall be able to ●●s●re greater candidness. I commit you, in these your pious Endeavours of the Public good, to his protection● who will undoubtedly at present bless you in this your Enterprise, and hereafter requite the ungratefulness of men to you, on this account, with a plenteous reward.  
I am, Sir, your most affectionately devoted to serve you G. S.   

A very cheap way to keep a Stock of Bees all Winterlong.  
TOstes of bread sopped in strong Ale, and put into a Beehive, is very good and cheap food for Bees, of which they will not leave one crumb remaining.  
It will be fit sometime to lay some dry Meal or flo●er of beaner, which dry Meal is given them sometimes as ●ey or Corn is to Coneys, or upland pasture to Sheep in times of great rain, to prevent the rot, and such diseases, as will necessarily follow from continual moist food.  
By this means you may feed a whole Hive of Bees for eighteen pence or two shillings all the Winterlong.  
Q. Whether any other Flower or Meal will not serve? And whether it would not be the sweeter, and therefore the better, if the Corn (whether Beans or any other) were well maulted?   

Another notable and approved Experiment for improving of Bees.  
TAke an handful of Melissa (that is an herb which we commonly call Baume.)  
One drachm of Camphire.  
Half a drachm of Musk dissolved in Rose-water.  
As much yellow Bees-wax as is sufficient.  
Oil of Roses as much.  
Stamp the Baume and the Camphire very well, and put them into the Waz, melted with the Oil of Roses, and so make it up into a mass; let it cool before you put in the Musk, for otherwise the heat will fume away most of the scent of it.  
Take of this mass as much as an haselnut, and cleave it within your Beehive. It will much increase the number of your Bees, not only by provoking them to multiplication, but also by enticing many strange Bees to come thither, and abide there. You shall also find, both in Honey and Wax, three times more profit than otherwise you should have had.   

A Copy of a Letter, written by Mr. William Mewe Minister at Easlington in Gloucestershire, to Mr. Nathaniel Angelo Fellow of Eton College.  
SIR,  
BEing made known to you, I could wish it had been by a better Character than a Bee-Master. 'tis true, since I left the hot service of the City, I have an Apiary in the Country, wherein I found profit enough: But I considered, that Wax and Honey was not all the benefit which God afforded from that Creature; he that sends us to the Ant, gives us leave to observe the same and better qualities in the Bee; I observed many rarities in their work and government, by mine own experience upon Buttlers' Observations: But when he told me of a Gentleman, in Pliny's time, that endeavoured to make their works transparent (but, as he thought, improbable) I tried, and finished that Essay, to the satisfaction of myself and others.  
The Invention is a fancy that suits with the nature of that Creature, they are much taken with their Grandeiur, and double their tasks with delight; I took fourteen quarts out of one of the transparent Hives, double their quantity of others, they quickly paid me the charges, with their profit, and doubled it with pleasure; I can take a strict account of their work, and thereby guess how the rest prosper. Every time I view them (whilst their work lasts) I have aliquid novi (something new) which must needs be more pleasing than the sight of a Fountain, which affords but water, running in the same manner. This Honey diversely placed with diversity of Combs, whereof I have observed six filled in six days, of so many quarts, but it was in the time of a mildew.  
If you desire the Model or Description, I shall give the same to you that I did to Dr. Wilkins, Warden of Waddham, who hath, with great curiosity, set up one in his Garden, and, as I hear, is setting up another with augmentations: I intended it at first for an Hyerogliphick of labour, upon which a Gentleman bestowed a Statue of that form to crown it, which in three years standing yielded to the injuries of the Wind, Wether and Sun, which being repaired now leaves at the bottom of the Pedestal, with this Inscription, Non amissus sed submissus (the Emblem of our Calling) instead thereof are erected at the top three Trygonal Dial's, over them three Weather-Glasses, with a Clepsydra to show the hour when the Sun shines not, over that a Cock, that will speak the Wind's seat at Midnight, upon which is bestowed a Saphigue to satisfy the Latin or English Reader, thus; 

Has Apes Dury Labour hic Coronans  
Occidit, Sole, & B●rea Maligno  
Quos Vigil Gallus Capit & superstes,  
Clepsidra Monstrat.   

Labour held this, till stormed (alas)  
By Wether, Wind, and Sun he was;  
All which are watched, as here they pass,  
By Dial, Weathercock and Glass.    
Thus far have I denied myself to gratify your friendship, which I hope will give the grains of allowance, and concealment to a sudden paper, which I could not deny to the Bearer of a Letter from you; but if you please to take a sheet and napkin with me for some time, we shall discourse of this, and better Matters.  
Mr. Hartlib is a Gentleman, whom I know not, but by your worthy Report, I never saw his Works, but shall get them as soon as I can, if in the mean time he shall visit me in person, or by letter, with Questions within my sphere, I am a Flint that give fire at the first stroke; I like them well that view Magnalia Dei in Minimis, if every man of my ability, through the Land, cherished so many Hives as I do, it would be in our Commonwealth's way 300000 per annum, which is lost by negligence or ignorance of the use of that Creature. When I see you, I shall offer more to your consideration than is fitting to be written; the Lord furnish you and me with ability, and fidelity, in our Calling, For 'tis no great honour (saith Plutarch) to be excellent out of that.  
Easlington this 19th of September. 1653. True Friend, Your Faithful Servant, WILL. MEW.   

A Copy Mr. Hartlib's Letter to that worthy Minister, at Easlington, Mr. Will. Mewe.  
SIR,  
I Am willing to confess my fault (if it be a fault) that my worthy Friend Mr. Angelo took notice of you, as an excellent Bee-Master: for knowing you by your other better Characters, which are so public, that none can be ignorant thereof, who hath heard of your name, I gave him notice of your rare industry (a thing not so publicly known as it deserves) in discovering the industriousness of that pretty Creature, and my design was to get him to write to you, so as to make some overture for me, to use freedom afterwards with you about that Subject, which he having done, and you having entertained with so much alacrity, and hearty expressions, I am bound to thank you for it, and desirous to express my thankfulness with such Communications, as are within the sphere of my activity of this kind, or of any other better matters of a public nature; and in testimony hereof, be pleased to accept of the adjoined Packet with several Treatises and Books, wherein also you will happily find something, which may give occasion to your ingenious spirit, to try some other Conclusions of Husbandry with delight and profit: For God's Way's to such as find them out are full of both; and I am apt to believe, that when God set Adam in the Garden Eden to keep it and dress it, He meant to exercise his Industry, as well about the discovery of the fruitfulness of perfect nature, which could not be without much delight to his understanding, as about the pleasantness of the place, which he could have by dressing increased, and made completely answerable to the perfection of his own imagination. For although there was nothing imperfect in Nature before the Curse, yet all the imaginable perfections, which the seminal properties of the Earth contained, were not actually existent at the first instant; the kinds were each distinct by themselves, without any defect, but what Marriages and Combinations there might be made between them, and what the effects thereof would be, when the proper Agents and Patients should meet, I suppose was left to his industry to try: and although we now come far short of that knowledge, which he had in Nature, and the Womb, thereof, by reason of that Curse is shut up unto us: Yet we find by Experience, that to such as are her faithful and laborious Servants, and find out the Seat of God's Virtue in her, to trace the Way of his Operation, She rewards always their pains both with profit and pleasure, which in your Answer to my forenamed worthy Friend you bear witness unto, when you tell him, that in your Apiary in the Country, you not only found profit enough (and what you mean by enough is left to our conjecture) but that besides the benefit of Wax and Honey, you gained more delightful Observations of their Working, and Government, then happily the Ant can afford us; which because I do very fully believe, therefore I am an humble Suitor unto you, that at some spare time you would renew to your own memory your delightful contemplation of the rare qualities of that Creature, and putting them to paper, show forth the Wisdom of the Creator therein, for such things should not be concealed, because they are real Demonstrations of his Power, and I am persuaded, you will take it in good part, that such as love Him for Himself are curious to know the Workmanship o● his hands, and the Ways by which the best discovery thereof is made.  
If then upon this account you would let some of your sparks fly abroad amongst us, you may perhaps kindle some light more than we have, which in due time may reflect with some heat upon yourself back again. For you tell us, that Dr. Wilkins, Warden of Wadham, is setting up a Glasse-Hive in his Garden, with augmentations to that Model which he received from you, which no doubt he is obliged to impart unto you, as to the Father of the Invention; and if I may be so happy, as to be your Scholar, both in that which is your own, and what is superadded by him, perhaps my Friends and I will not be altogether unfruitful, at least we shall not be unmindful of you, but give some return of what our Experiments may produce. But to do this we must be set in the way by you; therefore give me leave to beg a full Description of your transparent Hive, in the Parts and Dimensions thereof, and if you have any to spare (now the season is passed) and would send one up by the Carrier which comes from your parts, I shall undertake to see it sent back again unto you without your cost. If you have many Glasse-Hives, you will be the better able to gratify me herein, but if you have none to spare, I shall rest satisfied with that, which you shall be pleased to afford me with your convenience.  
The Reason wherefore in the Glasse-Hives the Bees should double their Work, and delight in their Grandeiur, I conceive, by what you write, is discernible, but as yet I cannot reach it, till by your Experience and Sagacity the hint be given me, that I may in due time by myself, or some Friends, make also a trial thereof.  
But have you yet been able to make any estimate of the quantity of Wax and Honey, which they are able to give one year with another, seeing you speak a very big word of 300000 lt. a year, which might accrue to the Nation from this little Creature? I make no doubt, but you are able to make thy, out, although it doth, I confess, go beyond my reach, and to raise the Industry which may be used towards the Commonwealth of Bees in this Nation, it would be a thing worth your public disposition to give a Demonstration thereof; for I suppose it will be grounded more upon the plenty, which your new Invention doth yield, then upon the ordinary way.  
But happily your Experience to something also extraordinary concerning the feeding as well as the Hiving of that industrious Creature, will give some further addition. For no doubt there are certain Herbs which make them thrive better than others, of all which, if at your convenient time you will be as good as you●●ord, a good Flint to give fire at the first stroke, you will give some of us cause here to rejoice in your light, and I dare promise by the grace of God, your sparks will not fall in vain, but will find good tinder, at which many candles may be lighted in due time.  
You see how large and free I am, but your Ingenuity hath provoked me, and I aim at nothing, but what may be an advantage to the Public, and a matter of credit and due respect to be yielded to yourself, by,  
From my house near Charing Cross over against Angel- Court, the 17. November, 1653. SIR, Your ever faithful, and most willing Friend to serve you, SAMUEL HARTLIB.   

An Extract of Mr. Mewe's Answer to Mr. Hartlib's Letter.  
Worthy Sir,  
THe knocks and calls of two such unknown Friends, as yourself and Mr. Angelo, coming with such choice Books, and so much candour, expressed in too many, and two friendly Letters, were enough to make the sourest Hermit look out of his Cell, especially if he spies the coasts clear without Swords and Pistols. The truth is, I am but one of many my fellow Shepherds, that have taken Sanctuary in our Cotts, ever since the Alarm was given us by the Anti-Pastoral Party, and being likely to be stripped to the Bag and Bottle, you cannot blame us, if we whistle away some of our sad and spare hours (whilst Shepherds are smitten, and Sheep scattered) to observe Magnalia Dei in Minimis. Melancholy loser's will rather play at small games than give over.  
When I saw God make good his Threat (Solvam Cingulae Regum) and break the Reins of Government, I observed, that this pretty Bird (whereof you write) was true to that Government, wherein God and Nature had set it to serve. Hereupon my pleasure began to vie with my profit, and I was willing, for once, to yield the stakes to my pleasure.  
Briefly Sir, being sent for up amongst others of my Profession, to serve the State, I left a Model of this innocent Fancy in pasteboard, which at my return (by the care of my virtuous Wife, now with God) I found set up in the midst of my Garden in plain Freestone; In this I placed an upper and lower Hive, over them a Trygonal Dial, over that three Wether Glasses, over that a Water-watch topped with a Weathercock: This placed in the stead of the Statue of labour, which the Wind and Wether had brought from top to bottom, so that it was obvious to my Fantasy, to conceit this to be the Hyerogliphick of their Hyerarchy, whose labour was lost in their Grandeiur, and brought to that low price, that any of their meanest quality might come up to it, and be taken at his word, though he bid never so meanly.  
I considered, that God gives us leave to make the most and best we can of those Relics of his goodness, whereof we have baffled away the better part; as those Travellers, that have benighted themselves by their frolic baitings, make much of their diversified reflections of the Sun set in the Clouds, and when they have almost lost his light, make pass-time with his colours.  
This will excuse me (in case I fall short of that profit which you suspect I make) that I begin and stand so long upon the pleasure, and shall now take leave to surfeit you with my Honey-sops, before ●light you out with my Wax-tapers, and then as you like this, you may call again at my Hermitage.  
Now what concerns the profit, you tell me of a big word I should let fall, of 300000 lib. per annum, which our Nation might make of them, if all of my ability would undertake to keep as many as myself; one cipher mistaken may much alter the sum; but grant it so as you have set it, cast it thus, I never kept twenty Stalls, and usually take but half, yet do I value my Wax and Honey worth twenty Nobles at the least; Now if he that is valued but as the tenth part of a Parish, at most, can make so much, what may the rest? what may the County? what the Nation?  
Whereas you say, a place may be over stocked (granting Mill-dewes) I deny it. Had we an hundred Hives for one, where there are store of Oaks and Maples, the place cannot be over stored with Bees. So that if there were a Statute for Parish Bees, as well as Parish Butts, and Parochial Appiaries designed for those places, where observed best to thrive, I know not why a Parish may not make as much Honey (as one Gentleman of Norfolk) viz. 300 li. de claro, as I heard per annum.  
As for your design of feeding them (as that Gentleman in Italy) I conceive it here unfeaseable, or if it were it would not quit cost; I care not to feed them, except to save them in spring time, and strengthen them for work: Herbs and Flowers are but from hand to mouth, serve for Bee-bread: If Mill-dewes fall not, Bees thrive not, for they are, with God's blessing, the Antidote to that Curse: As for your honest pity to that poor Creature (I shall try a Conclusion this Summer which may save some few Stalls, but in saving (poor Stalls) we damage them, and (in saving the rich) ourselves; the middle sort are best for store, and enough for those that are not covetous, with whom they seldom thrive, because they over act their part in sparing, as careless persons in their neglect of keeping them. I can and shall afford you what satisfaction you please, in any useful question, that concerns the welfare of their Commonwealth.  
As for my transparent Hives, I have but two, which are not movable, else you should willingly have them, whither you returned them or not; they serve only to give me an account of the daily income, and a diary of their Negotiations, whereby if I spend half an hour after dinner or supper, I know what hath been done that day; can show my Friends the Queen's Cells, and sometimes her person, with her Retinue; she afforded me 14. quarts, or near upon, in one year, and if the rest afford ten a piece I think it a fair gain: there is not an Hive to be seen about my house, nor a child stung in a year: My Appiary consists of a row of little houses, two stories high, two foot apart, which I find as cheap at seven years' end as straw hacles, and far more handsome: (where I have bay windows I have a set of unseen Stalls) whose room is handcomly spared, and their company very harmonious, especially for those that ●edge in their Chambers, whether they would wake or sleep, in so much as I have heard some say (that have there lodged) they would give twenty pound to have and here the like at home; the pleasure takes some, the profit others. But if either take off (and not take up) our hearts in minding the main, you and I may spare any farther enquiry about them.  
Thus have I stepped out of my way, to gratify you in the exchange of Ink and Paper, and shall be ready so to do in things of weightier concernment than B Bs. if you shall give the stroke, 'tis hard if my flint yield not some sparks: all your Subjects are marvellously well pleasing to me, but above all, your most Ingenious and Public Spirit makes me love and honour you; only I fear your sweetness may be abused by some undertakers, that are apt to promise much upon the score of hopes and fancies.  
But you will say, I have done enough for once to weary you, and if I find I have, I shall do so no more, but rest,  
Easlington in Gloucestershire 20 th' of December, 1653. Sir, your endeared Friend, to serve you, WILL MEW.   

A Letter, concerning that pleasant and profitable Invention of a Transparent Beehive, written by that much accomplished, and very ingenious Gentleman, Fellow of All-Soules College in Oxford, Mr. Christ. Wren, with the Figure and Description of the said Transparent Beehive.  
HONOURED SIR,  
YOu have by several hands intimated your Desires to me, of having a particular Description of our three-storied-Bee-hive. I confess I was not over forward to execute this command of yours; and my reason was, because the Devise not fully answering our own expectation, I thought it would be much more unsatisfactory to you: but since you please to persist in your desires, (as Mr. Rawlinson told me the other day) I can be no longer shameless to persist in my incivility, especially prompted by mine own Ambition, to find any way to show myself a Servant to a Person so eminent amongst the Ingeniosi as yourself.  
The Description, I think, is evident enough in the Paper; I shall only tell you what effects we find. Last May (as I remember) we put in two Swarms together, leaving the places to go in, open only in the lowermost, but all the passage holes open from Box to Box: in the middlemost they first began their Combs, then in the lowermost, before they had filled the middlemost, and so continued till they had filled both, which before they had quite finished, they began to make two little Combs in the upper Box, (all this while deserted) and continued besides, a part of a Comb of the middle story an inch or two up into the upper box, filling almost the passage hole quite up, leaving themselves only a little hole, as big as two fingers might go in, for their passage up and down: I am not very certain, whether this was not done at first when they wrought in the middle Box, and whether this was not the reason, why they wrought so little in the upper Box, because they stopped themselves up from an easy passage to it. The Combs in the lower stories were well replenished with Honey, and suddenly, but these little Combs in the upper they quite defert, contrary to our expectation, which was, that they would have wrought most in the upper story, and the middlemost, in which, when they had wrought enough for their own spending, that then we might take away the uppermost from them, and so have continued still: but if we find another year, that they fill not again the uppermost, it will be all one still to take away the lowermost from them, but if that be so, then two Hives will be sufficient. We must rather desire of you farther light in this business, which I presume you can afford us, from other men's Observations, that have tried the like Experiment, for as yet you see ours is imperfect, and we know not what to make of it.  
All-Soules Coll. Febr. 26. 1654. Sir, I am Your most obedient humble Servant, CHRIST. WREN.   


ab. ab. ab, 3 Octogonall Boxes exactly in all par, +ticularss of one shape & size,  
c. a hole in the top, which is the same in every Box.  
d. a Cover (the same to every hole) turning upon a pin.  
e. f. a Wiar, which pulls the Cover to close it upon occasion,  
ggg. holes throug which the ends of the wiars ap, +peare,  
hhh. the Doors, every one to be opened or shut by little sliders the lower doors are open, the others shut,  
RK.K. the upper edges of every box, sloped away convexedly, the bottoms are likewise sloped away concavely, that any one Box may fit to any of the other two,  
m. A little Rey made to screw on the ends of the wiars that appear in the holes, by that means to close any of the holes,   
In the sides behind oppo, +site to the sides hhh, are doors that open with hinges & locks about 4 Inches one way & 6 the other● & within each a piece of clear glass clo, +●se semented to the inside of the Box, to look in upon occasion,  
Each box is lined with Rush matt,  
It stands in a Case of stone that serves both as a Stock & a Covering to it.  
Scale of 〈◊〉 & Inchar.   

Considerations upon the Letter from Oxford.  
SIR,  
Upon speech with Mr. Greatrix (according to your desires) I find, that the substance of what he intimated to you the other day, upon the sight of your Letter from Oxford, was no other than what truly my thoughts from my own reason, and the sight of Dr. Brown's Essay upon the same subject, confirmed me in: viz. that Bees, as they do naturally begin in the top of the Hive and work downwards, so do they not like that that top should be more than one, or at most two stories high. For as by the judgements of all that write of Bees, a valley is counted the best kind of seat for them, to the intent, that when they come heavy loaden home (as they do often in a day) their journey may be a descent, and consequently easy, so from the same reason ought the work within the Hive to be so ordered, as to be upon as little ascent as may be, or rather upon a descent. I mean, that it be so ordered, as that the Bees may go rather down than upwards within their Hive. Upon this ground my opinion is, that one Box is (at the beginning) sufficient, or but two at the most. When this one (if but one be used at first) shall be filled, it would (the entrance into it being first stopped, and the lower middle hole of it be left open) be set upon another lower Box, and when this second Box shall be also filled, a third would be set under the two first, and when the whole Body of the Bees is fully gone down into the third or lowest Box, than (and not before) may the first or upper Box be taken away; and after this manner may the upper Box still be taken away from time to time, as often as the lower shall be filled, and a new empty one put under. This I have gathered from such Books as I have met with, but that which from my own private judgement I offer as a further Addition is, that I could wish that the lowest Box should be still so placed, as to hang down through and below the plank or seat upon which Hives are ordinarily placed, so as that the Bees, when they come heavy loaden home, may go downwards into it. When this lowest Hive is almost full (which might be discovered through windows left for that purpose) than would another empty one be put into its place, and the Box that is almost full so to be placed upon the empty one, as that the Bees may enter by a hole in the lower part of it, and (when it is absolutely full) go down into the lowest Box. And by this means the heavy loaden Bees (instead of carrying their loads three stories high, according to the Oxford practise) do still work either downwards, or very little upwards. I will conclude this Subject with an Observation concerning these little Creatures, viz. that their King wears no sword, I mean, hath no sting of their own, nor any janissaries, nor other means of safety to themselves, than the loyalty of their Subjects.   

Some remarkable Observations, concerning the swarming of Bees; together with a short Description of a Beehive made of Glass.  
ALthough Experience tells us, that Bees do naturally love to hive in woods and other places out of men's sight, and that chiefly at the time, when they send forth their numerous Swarms like so many new Colonies; yet notwithstanding, they may be brought so to part with that kind of wildness, as to give men leave to observe them, and to admire Nature, whose pleasure it is, in this contemptible sort of Infects, to make show of the great riches of her Treasury. This is not hard to prove.  
For it is known, that Bees, when they begin to swarm, and that the heat of the Sun hath drawn them out of their Hive, do fly about till their King (whom Nature hath wisely unarmed) doth by his sitting down determine the place of their Rendezvous, which they immediately take notice of, and all those huge numbers of them (being from that time forwards to make their own fortunes, and to be their own Purveyors) do pitch their Camp round about their King. Presently after which, a certain kind of Bees, which are commonly called Scouts, are sent out to discover places for them to hive; and till these Scouts return, the whole Swarm sits still to refresh themselves, being weary with flying at their first swarming. These Scouts at their return rush violently in upon the Swarm, and carry away to the place which they have found, some part of the Swarm, together with the King, on whom depends the unity, good fortune and safety of them all.  
In the Northern Countries, as Poland, Lithvania and Muscovie, men use to make Hives for them on purpose in the Woods and where such are the Bees choose them, but if they can find none such, than they hive in old, hollow and rotten trees, and that for many years together, till the hollow place being filled with that excellent liquor of Honey, they are forced to go to some other place. So that many times those that fell wood do, when they little think of it, find in hollow trees great store of Honey.  
It is remarkable, that most Swarms, as soon as they come out, do rest themselves in some place near to their old Hives, for two or three hours together, in which time, unless they have Hives provided them, they forsake their former Master, and betake themselves to the Woods and solitary places. But if they have Hives provided for them, they submit themselves to the Owners of those Hives, especially if their King (which is observable) be shut into a little den made on purpose, and be kept there for three or four days together. In which time chiefly you may perceive a wonderful diligence in the Bees, and that it may be the better seen by such as are curious, and admirers of Nature, Industry hath showed how to make Hives of Glass, which may be placed in Gardens, and other convenient places, and even in Windows.  

The manner whereof is this following.  
Let great care be taken in the choice of the place; for Experience will show, there lies much in that. It will be best for this purpose to choose a window towards the Sunrising, for by this means, the Bees will have their industry quickened, which from the very Sunrising will set them to work, they being Creatures so intent upon their business: and besides, it will free the poor weak things from many inconveniencies. It will be otherwise, if you choose for this purpose a place towards the West or North, for the light of the rising-Sun, coming but late upon a place that is towards the West, will make the Bees go late to work, and the North with its natural sharpness will weaken and shrink up the tender bodies of those little Creatures, they delighting in heat: so that the East and the South are for this purpose far better than the other two quarters of the world.  
Having so chosen the place, let there be made an Hive of about a yard high or a little more, after this fashion. Fasten four little pillars of wood in two boards, one on the top and the other at the bottom, and let the pillars be answerable to the height of your window, and let that side of the Hive, which is to be towards the air, be half a yard broad, and the other side, which is to be towards your chamber, a quarter of a yard broad. In that side which is towards the air, you are to leave a slit of about two finger's breadth, for the Bees to fly in and out at, and in the middle of that slit you must put a cross piece of wood, which must be very well fastened, that it slip not up and down, and so crush the Honeycombs, but that it may the better bear the weight of them. In the inner side of the Hive, you are to make doors about a quarter of a yard broad, and well and strongly bolted, that the Bees may be kept from flying into your chamber. Through these doors you are to put in your Swarm, and take out your Honey. And for the space between the aforesaid pillars, you may have it closed either with whole glass, or with smaller pieces leaded; or if you will have the whole Hive of glass, the Glass-makers can make it for you, but you must observe the Conditions before expressed.  
Having thus prepared all things, you may place the Swarms where you intent to have them in the Hive, and with delight behold their work, and in a kind of rapture cry out, That the world is the great book of God, containing three leaves, viz. Heaven, Earth and Sea, wherein there are so many characters of the wisdom of God as there are Creatures.    

A singular Observation concerning Bee-Hives and Buck-Wheat, in reference to Bees, made by Mr. Thomas Babington in his Travels into Germany.  
IN K●mpen-Land in Germany I have seen about forty great Bee-Hives, which contain, when they are full, about seventy pound weight in Honey, placed near a great field sown with Buck-Wheat, and it was related to me of a truth by the Inhabitants, that the Bees did suck such plenty of Honey out of it, that in a fortnight's time the said Hives were all filled there with.  
The said Buck-Wheat is a three square grain, which when it is ripe is made use of for Pancakes, and to brew Beer, and excellent good to fatten Hogs with, and in blowing time of singular use for Bees.   

How to make good Greek, or other Wines out of Honey.  
AS concerning the passage in my Letters concerning Honey, I cannot exactly give you an account of it, till I see all the Discourse: Thus much I remember and know by experience, that if pure Honey be gently boiled in pure water, and well scummed, and afterward cooled, and then with barm or yeast set to working, as we usually do Beer or Ale, and then put into a larger vessel for a time, and afterwards drawn into pottles, that a liquor hath, and may be made like fountain water, yet of such a fine excellent taste, and so strong, that some, who have thought themselves of very good palates, have mistaken it for Greek Wine.  
And I question not, but Sugar will do the like, but whether I seem to speak of any more ingenious clarifications, as with white of Eggs, with fault of Tartar, or with other things, that Vintners use for their Wines, or whither I refer them to Glauber, who in his Appendix speaketh of some ingenious fermentations and clarifications, I cannot certainly tell. But this I dare boldly say, that if any Gentleman would try Experiments upon Honey, Sugar, yea, or any sweet things, if the sweetness be not too flashy and watery, he shall find divers things both delightful and profitable.  
I hope Glauber, who hath promised divers things in these kinds, and I suppose is most able to accomplish them, will more clearly manifest them for the good and comfort of our Northern Countries.  
I desire to hear what other ingenious things are written of late. I think these times very fruitful, and that the great Secrets, which have a long time been hid, will shortly be manifested.   

A Receipt to make a pure Mead that shall taste like Wine.  
TAke one part of clarified Honey, and eight parts of rain Water, or other clear Water, and boil them well together in a copper vessel, till half the liquor be boiled away, but while it boiles, you must take off the scum very clean, and when it hath done boiling, and begins to cool, tun it up, and it will work of itself. As soon as it hath done working, you must stop the vessel very close, and bury it under ground for three months, which will make it lose both the smell and taste of the Honey and Wax, and will make it taste very like Wine.   

Another way to make a most pleasant and Wine-like Mead.  
TAke of clarified Honey twenty pound, and of clear Water thirty two gallons, mingle them well together, and boil that liquor half away, and take off the scum very clean, when it hath done boiling, and begins to cool, put it into a vessel, where hath been Rhenish wine before, and put to it four gallons of Rhenish wine Must, and let it work; then stop the vessel very close, and bury it under ground for two months together, at the end of which draw it off the lees, and put it into another clean sweet vessel by itself, and it will be very like Wine; and if you would have it of an aromatic taste, you may put these following ingredients into the vessel at first, and let them work with the liquor, viz. of flowers of Elder, Rosemary and Majoram, each one handful, of Cinnamon two ounces, of Cloves six ounces, of Ginger, Pepper and Cardamome, each two scruples, these will give the Mead a most pleasant taste.    

The Commonwealth of Bees. Represented by Mr. Gerard Malynes, by way of a digression in his great Book called Lex Mercatoria, or the Ancient Law-Merchant.  
LEt us somewhat digress from Manufacture to Apifacture, and (with Solomon the wise) send the sluggard to imitate the painful and laborious Bees, for the increase of Honey and Wax in England, Scotland and Ireland, and other of his Majesty's Dominions: and let man's help succour this Apifacture, if it may be so called, as followeth.  
The means to increase Honey and Wax, doth properly consist in the preservation of Bees, and the making of convenient Skepes or Bee-hives after a new invention: Namely, you may make your Skepes either with Straw or Wicker of Two sorts, and to be of two pieces, to take off at the crown, or near the midst of the Hive; that when they have gathered and filled up their house, and that the room is scant within, then take away the upper half, and clap on a board, or the bottom, or head of a pitch Barrel, or tar barrel, or the like, having pitch on it, casting Malt meal, or Bean meal upon the same; and then daub it well with clay about the skirts, and setting on with your clay mixed with some salt; and when you have thus done, then raise it up below with so many wreythes, as you took above for the gelding of your Hives before, which is very needful to make the greater plenty and increase: For making your Skepes in this manner, the Honey may be taken at all times; but especially, when you do perceive by the lifting up of your Skepes, that your Bees are well provided for the Winter's provision, and that there be plenty of food yet to gather, than cap them. Take a strong wire, make it flat, and cut your combs in two, and then have a parchment in readiness to follow the wire, to keep asunder the wax from cleaving, laying on your board with pitch and meal, as aforesaid. This to be done in Summer.  

Preservation of Bees for the Climate of Great Britain, etc.  
1. IN March your Bees do begin to breed, and then they begin to sit, let them at that time be served twice every week, because:  
2. In April your Bees begin to hatch, serve them in hard and rugged weather, whereby they are hindered to be abroad.  
3. In May your Bee coming forth, look to serve them until Mid- May.  
4. In june are your Bees in their strength for casting, and then there is great plenty of Flowers and Dews to feed upon.  
5. In july they are full of Honey, therefore cap your first swarms, and take up the rest for Honey that you mean to take up for that year, and cap as followeth.  
6. In August is the most breed of Bees past, and you may cap likewise those you mean to keep over the year; I mean your old Stocks, for than they may forbear it.  
7. In September the gathering of Bees is passed; stop close, and if there be any that is not capable, leave them and stop close with clay and salt, and daub below with Cowdung, as the manner is.  
8. In October begin to look whether robbers have spoiled any or not; if it be so that they have, take away your Bees as in Honey time, and set up your Skepes with the combs whole, to be used as hereafter followeth.  
9 In November stop up all holes, let none pass in or out; but if they prove weak, then take away your Bees from the combs, and keep them for the second and third swarms after.  
10. In December house your Bees, if they stand cold: and in the North house all.  
11. In january turn up your Bees, and throw in Wort, and Water, and Honey twice or thrice, but let your water be warm.  
12. In February set forth and serve all them that stand in need, with wort and honey, or honey and water, so it be warm; and then in March look for their breeding, as is before declared  
No corrupt combs to be left, but the bad are to be taken forth in the Spring time (being in feeding) and when you have thrown in one pint of warm wort, and that they are struggling with the clamminess of the wort; then may you very well take from them any thing that doth annoy them; which manner of dressing you may observe for many years during your Skepe, so long as they stand to work new again.   

Necessary observations concerning the Premises.  
FRom the middle of April, until the midst of May, look diligently to thy Bees; for then are they near beginning to hatch, and do stand in need of most help, especially if the Spring be cold, and the wind holding any part of the North or East; whereby the tender buds or blossoms do perish, and the Bees are driven to the blossoms of Appletrees, which is their utter overthrow and decay.   

Helps for weak Bees at all times.  
TAke Water and Honey mixed together made luke warm, and throw it amongst the combs, to the quantity of a pint at a time: or strong wort new run; or unboiled wort also lukewarm, and the same two or three times at the most; and this for the first Swarm.  
For the second and third Swarm must be given in their Hives, to preserve that which they have gathered: Take Mulce, which is eight times so much water as honey, boiled to a quart or three pints; set the same with dishes in their sheeps, laying a few straws in the dish to keep them from drowning. Wort and Figs boiled will serve also.  
The Smoke (as it were the Tobacco of Bees) wherein they delight, is Cows or Oxen dung, sophisticated with sweet wort; and the marrow of the Ox or Cow, being well dried: take the Sheep (which is diseased) and set it in a meal skiff or riddle, and then kindle a little fire with your Cow's dung, and set them over the smoke of the fire, and so smoak them by fits, scarce so long at every time as you can tell ten, and beware not to use this smoking too oft, but as necessity requireth, and in gentle manner.  
The necessary use of Honey and Wax, made me to observe the premises, wishing, That in all Parishes of Great Britain and Ireland, all the Parsons and Vicars in Country Towns and Villages, were enjoined to keep Bees for their own benefit, and the general good, which they may do conveniently in the Churchyards, and other places of their Gardens, and some of their children or scholars may attend the same.  
The multiplying of Bees is easy without destroying them, and creation of them is known to many, proceeding of the corruption of a Heifer, the flesh whereof is fit to engender Bees, as the flesh of Horses for Wasps, or that of Man for Lice. And to abbreviate, I do refer the desirous Reader hereof to Mr. Hill his book of Husbandry, where he speaketh of Bees, with the commodity of Honey and Wax, and of their uses and several profits, collected out of the best learned Writers, as Plinius, Albertus, Varro, Columella, Palladius, Aristotle, Theophrastus, Cardanus, Guilielmus de Conchis, Agrippa, and others.    

THE REFORMED VIRGINIAN SILKWORM, Or, a Rare and New DISCOVERY OF A speedy way, and easy means, found out by a young Lady in England she having made full proof thereof in May, Anno 1652.  
For the feeding of Silkworms in the Woods, on the Mulberry-Tree-leaves in Virginia: Who after forty day's time, present their most rich golden-coloured silken Fleece, to the instant wonderful enriching of all the Planters there, requiring from them neither cost, labour, or hindrance in any of their other employments whatsoever.  
And also to the good hopes, that the Indians, seeing and finding that there is neither Art, Skill, or Pains in the thing: they will readily set upon it, being by the benefit thereof enabled to buy of the English (in way of Truck for their Silk-bottoms) all those things that they most desire.  
LONDON, Printed by john Streater, for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of Paul's, 1655.   

TO THE Reader.  
Ingenious Reader,  
I Have in my Legacy of Husbandry bequeathed something unto thee concerning Silkworms, which hath wakened many to search after the means to advance that part of Husbandry. But because the Letter of King james to the Lords Lieutenants of the several Shires of England, for the increasing of Mulberry Trees, and the breeding of Silkworms, for the making of Silk in this Nation, had not annexed unto them in that Treatise the Instructions tending to that purpose, and being but few, wholly out of print, and very much desired: I thought good upon the occasion of the printing of this Letter to those of Virginia, to publish it also for the benefit of those who shall be willing to employ themselves in this way of industry, which seemeth to be brought unto a more perfect and speedy accomplishment than heretofore hath been known either here or in France, as by the contents of this adjoined Letter (wherein the Experiment of a virtuous Lady of this Nation for the breeding of Silkworms, is addressed unto the Planters of Virginia) is set forth to encourage both them and others to set upon this work, to benefit themselves and the Nation thereby. And truly the Gentleman who doth address this Letter to the Planters of the Virginian Colony is much to be commended for his affection to the public, because he doth not conceal (as some Muck-worms do for private ends) the Advantages which may be reaped by singular industrious Attempts or experiments of profit; but desires the benefit of others, even of all, to be increased. And it were to be wished, that every one to whom God (from whom comes every good & perfect gift) doth impart any rare and profitable Secret of Industry, would open himself towards his Brethren, as this publick-hearted Gentleman doth; then would all hands be set a work, and every one would become instrumental to serve himself and his Neighbours in Love, and overcome the burden of poverty, which for want of employment and decay of Trade, doth lie so heavy upon very many, whose burdens might be either born, or made easy, if all the gifts of God were made use of, for the end for which he doth bestow them, namely, to profit withal towards others, as it becometh the Members of the same Christian, and Human, and national Society; for the same rule holds in all these respects among such as understand what it is to be a good Commonwealths-man in the State, as well as in the Communion of Saints: And to this good and generous inclination, which I wish may more and more abound in them with the grace of God, I shall leave thee and rest,  
Thy most assured and faithful servant, SAMUEL HARTLIB.   

Instructions for the increase and Planting of Mulberry-trees.  

What ground is fit for the Mulberry-seeds, how the same is to be ordered, and in what sort the seeds are to be sowed therein.  
THe ground which ought to be appointed for this purpose, besides the natural goodness of it, must be reasonably well dunged, and withal so situated, as that the heat of the Sun may cherish it, and the nipping blasts of either the North wind or the East, may not annoy it: The choice thereof thus made; that the seeds may the better prosper, and come up after they be sown, you shall dig it two foot deep, breaking the clods as small as may be, and afterwards you shall divide the same into several Beds of not above five foot in breadth, so that you shall not need to endanger the Plants by treading upon them, when either you water or weed them.  
The Mulberry seeds you shall lay in water for the space of 22 hours, and after that you shall dry them again half dry, or some what more, that when you sow them they may not cleave together: Thus done, you must cast them upon the foresaid Beds, not altogether so thick as you use to do other garden Seed, and then cover them with some fine earth (passed through a Si●e) about half an inch thick. In dry weather you shall water them every two days at the farthest, as likewise the plants that shall come of them; and keep them as clean from weeds as possibly you can.  
The time in which you ought to sow them for your best advantage, is either in March, April, or May, when frosts are either altogether past, or at the least not so sharp, or of so long continuance, as to endanger their upspring.  
There is yet another way to sow them, and that is as followeth: you shall (being directed by a straight line) make certain furrows in the Beds above mentioned, of some four fingers deep, & about a foot in distance the one from the other: After this, you shall open the earth with your hands, on either side of the aforesaid furrows, some two fingers from the bottom, and where you have so opened it, shall you sow your seeds; and then cover them half a finger thick with the earth which before you opened.   

When the Plants that are sprung up of the Seeds, are to be removed, and how they are to be planted the first time.  
IN the months of September, October, November, December, March, or April the next year after the Seeds are sown, you may remove their plants, (or in the month of january, if it be not in frosty weather) and set them in the like Beds as before, and about one foot the one from the other, but first you must cut off their roots about eight inches in length, and their tops about half a foot above their roots, more or less, according to the strength of the said plaints, for the weaker they be the less tops you shall leave them. In this sort you may suffer them to remain weeding and watering them (as need shall require) till they be grown six foot in length above their roots, whereunto when once they have attained, you may cut their tops, and suffer them to spread, always having a care to take away the many branches or succours, that may any way hinder their growth until they be come to their full length of six foot, as aforesaid.   

When, and how the Plants are to be removed the second time, and in what manner they are to be planted where they shall remain.  
IN the month's aforesaid, (according as your plants are waxen strong) you may remove them either into the hedges of your fields, or into any other grounds. If in hedges, you must set them 16 foot the one from the other: if in other ground, intending to make a Wood of them 18 foot at the least. But a month before you do remove them, you must make the holes (wherein you purpose to set them) about four foot in breadth, and so deep as that their roots may be well covered, and some half a foot of loose earth left under them, having always a special care so to place them, that they may receive the benefit of the Sun, and not to be shadowed or overspread by any neighbouring trees.   

When and how the Eggs of the Silk-wormes are to be hatched, and how to order the Worms that shall come of them.  
WHen the leavs of Mulberry-trees begin a little to bud forth, take the eggs of your Silkworms, and lay them in a piece of Say, or such like stuff, and in the day time carry them in some warm place about you, in a little safe box, but in the night either lay them in your bed or between two warm pillows, until such time as the Worms begin to come forth: then take a piece of paper of the wideness of the said box, and having cut it full of small holes, lay it within the same upon the eggs, and upon that again some few Mulbery-leaves, to which the Worms as they are hatched, will continually come. These leaves with the Worms upon them, you must still remove into other boxes, laying fresh leaves as well on those that are removed as on the paper where the eggs are; and this is the course which must be duly kept and observed, until such times as all the Worms be come forth of their shells, still keeping their boxes warm, as aforesaid; but no longer about you, but until the Worms begin to come forth, out of which boxes you may safely take them, when once they have passed their second sickness, and feed them upon shelves of two foot in breadth, and 18 inches one above the other.  
The said shelves are not to be placed in any ground-room, nor yet next unto the tiles, but in some middle room of your house which openeth upon the North and South, that you may the more conveniently give them either heat or air, according as the time and season shall require. Besides you must not make them close unto the Walls, but so as you may pass about them the better to look unto the Worms, and keep them from Rats and Mice, which otherwise might devour them. You must observe the times of their coming forth, and keep every one, one or two day's hatching by themselves, that you may the better understand their several sicknesses or sleepings, which are four in the time of their feeding. The first commonly some twelve days after they are hatched, and from that time at the end of every eight days, according to the weather, and their good or ill usage, during which time of every sickness, which lasteth two or three days, you must feed them but very little, as only to relieve such of them, as shall have passed their sickness before the rest, and those that shall not fall into their sickness so soon.  
The whole time that the Worms do feed, is about nine Weeks, whereof until they come unto their first sickness, give them young Mu●bery-leaves twice every day, but few at a time; from thence until their second sickness, twice every day in greater quantity; and so from their second to their third sickness, increasing the quantity of the leaves, according as you perceive the Worms to grow in strength, and clear of sickness: from the third until their fourth sickness, you may give them leaves thrice every day, and the fourth being past, you may let them have so many as they will eat, always having a care that you give them none, but such as are dry, and well aired upon a Table or cloth, before they be laid upon them, and withal gathered so near as may be; at such times as either the Sun or Wind hath cleared them of the dew that falleth upon them.  
For the feeding of Worms you need observe no other order then this, lay the Mulberry-leaves upon them, and every two or three days remove them, and make clean their boxes, or shelves, unless in times of their sickness, for than they are not to be touched; the leaves which you take from them when you give them fresh to feed upon, you must lay in some convenient place, and upon them a few new leaves, to which the Worms that lay hidden in the old, will come, and then you may pass them with the said new lea●es to the rest of the worms: And now lest any thing should be omitted, which serves to perfect the discovery of so excellent a benefit, I will advise you to be very diligent in keeping clean their Boxes, or shelves, as being a special means whereby to preserve them; wherefore when you intent to do it, you shall remove them together with the uppermost leaves whereon they lie, unto other boxes or shelves, for with your hands you may not touch them, till they have throughly undergone their third sickness, and then may you pass them gently with clean hands, without doing them any harm: provided that the party that cometh near them smell not of Garlic, Onions, or the like. The first five weeks of their age you must be very careful to keep them warm, and in time of rain or cold weather, to set in the room where they remain, a pan with coals, burning in it now and then some Juniper, Benjamin, and such like, that yieldeth sweet smells. But afterwards unless in time of extraordinary cold, give them air, and take heed of keeping them too hot, being always mindful to store the room with herbs and flowers which are delightful and pleasing to the smell. As the worms increase in bigness, you shall disperse them abroad upon more boards, or shelus, and not suffer them to lie too thick together: and if you find any of them broken, or of a yellow glistering colour inclining to sickness, cast them away, lest they infect the rest, and sort such as are not sick, the greatest and strongest by themselves, for so the lesser will prosper the better.   

When and how to make fit rooms for the worms to work their bottoms of silk in, and in what sort the said bottoms are to be used.  
AS soon as by the clear amber-coloured bodies of your worms, you shall perceive them ready to give their silk, you must (with heath made very clean, or with the branches of Rosmary, the stalks of Lavender, or such like) make Arches between the foresaid shelves.  
Upon the branches and sprigs whereof, the worms will fasten themselves, and make their bottoms, which in fourteen days after the worm beginneth to work them, you may take away; and those which you are minded to use, for the best silk, you must either presently wind, or kill the worms which are within them, by laying the said bottoms two or three days in the Sun or in some Oven after the bread baked therein is taken out, and the fierceness of the heat is alaid. The other bottoms which you intent to keep for seed, you must lay in some convenient warm place, until the worms come forth, which is commonly some sixteen or twenty days from the beginning of their work: and as they do come forth you must put them together upon some piece of old Say, Grogeran, the backside of old Velvet, or the like, made fast against some Wall, or Hangings in your house.  
There they will engender, and the Male having spent himself, falleth down, and in short time after dieth, as also doth the Female when she hath laid her eggs, which eggs, when you perceive them upon the Say or Grogran, etc. to be of a grayish colour, you may take them off gently with a knife, and having put them into a piece of Say or such like, keep them in a covered box amongst your woollen clothes, or the like till the year following: But not in any moist room, for it is hurtful for them, neither where there is too much heat, lest the worms should be hatched before you can have any food for them.  
The making of a Wheel, as likewise the way to wind the said silk from the bottoms, can hardly be set down so plainly, as to be rightly understood: Wherefore when time shall serve, there shall be sent into every County of this Kingdom, a Wheel ready made, and a man that shall instruct all such as are desirous to learn the use thereof: Till when, I will commend these brief instructions to be carefully considered of all such as are willing to benefit either themselves or their Country, that being skilful in the Contemplation, they may the readier, and with less error apply themselves to Action, which painful industry, with God's assistance, will quickly perfect.   

An Extract of a Letter from Germany, concerning Silkworms, written to S. H, Esquire.  
AS for keeping of Silkworms I must confess I have spent likewise some time in the ordering and observing of them inasmuch as this very year (1653) I have had from them so much good Silk (and equal to that which is brought either out of Persia or Italy) as have made me two pair of Stockings. And I have found by experience that they may be kept as well in Germany as in other Countries, and that Mulberry-trees will grow in abundance upon our Lands; wherefore I have often wished that the Emperor (of Germany) would follow the most laudable example of the K. of France, who having forbidden the importation of foreign Silk into his Kingdom hath thereby so much obliged the industry of the People of France, that they are come to a great perfection in this Silken Manufacture. But concerning the Experiments of making Silk out of Nettles or out of Flax, I never have tried either of them. Only I remember that I have seen once a very fine and delicate yarn or thread, which was made purely out of Nettles. I do not believe that those Artist of Hamburg and Wolfenbuttel which you have named unto me in your Letter, will communicate their Skill for a public good, as long as they can get their own comfortable subsistence by it.   

A Letter written by Mr. Ra. Austen, from Oxford, Febr. 18. 1654. Imparting his Experiments about Silkworms and how to wind off the Silk from the Bottoms, when the Worms have done spinning?  
COncerning my experiences about Silkworms, I only say thus much. That I am fully satisfied upon good and sure grounds that the keeping of them (store of them) in these parts would be of very great profit, could we but get Mulberry leaves sufficient to feed them. For upon my own knowledge and experience (last year) upon some thousands of them, I see what might be by more. For my great doubt and question was satisfied about the winding of the Si●ke from the Bottoms, when the Worms have done spinning. I plainly see it is very easy, Children of 6. or 7. years old can apprehend it, and do it. For the Worms having done spinning, which is within 4. or 5. days of their beginning, through out-most silk is ravelled off, and the end is found immediately, which runs on (5. or 10. or 16. or more bottoms together) in a basin of water, a little gum drag mixed. Some Bottoms (if the Worms were strong and well fed) run without breaking, scarce once or twice till all be off, and such as break, are quickly found again. The truth is, if the Worms are scanted of leaves, their silk is so small, that it holds not so well as that of lusty Worms. I saw many brave Skains of Silk wound off the last year, and helped to do part of it myself. Now the great matter is, How to propagate Mulberry-trees enough. As for the ordinary way, by boughs, we can have but few that way. I am from time to time experimenting other ways by Seed, Inoculating, Grafting, &c: what will be the result, as yet I know not: I doubt not, but God will in his good time bring to light and set on foot many good and worthy designs, more than are in these Nations. We had need to labour to be of the like Principles of that worthy person, whose Paper you enclosed, patiently and humbly to wait the Lords season, and to design for God in all we go about, which will crown our endeavours with comfort and success.   

A Rare and new-discovered speedy way, and easy means of keeping of Silkworms, being thus made known to the Colony in VIRGINIA.  
Harken well you beloved Planters, to what in these few lines I shall declare unto you; and is thus sent you in Print, that all of you may communicate the great and superlative good and benefit will be unto every one of you: who so is wise, will ponder these things, and give the prai●e and glory to God, the Author of all good Inventions, how Providence having brought this to pass for ●ll your exceeding great happiness and increase of store of wealth, with so much ea●e, so little labour, no cost unto you; and in so short a time as forty days, this wealth flows in upon you.  
You know I conceive desire to know it, and I am as wil●ing to impart it unto you: thus then in brief, in a plain manner, that all may understand it,  
The same Lady, who last year sent you her Books of Health and Wealth, 
The way to speedy wealth was by some hundreds ● you to remous some 60 mile● miles South by land, an● to attempt th● discovery of the Westerly Sea, on the border of Vir●gin●a, and both two ve●● easily a●chie●ved, etc.  (who hath the happiness to bear the honourable name of your incomparable Country) continuing her sincere affections to the advancing of your welfares in all kinds; and amongst the rest in this rich work of Silk, knowing Virginia to be in all respects most proper for it, (as by a late Book en● you● published by Mr. Williams,) not only in regard of the Climate being the same with China, from whence the infinite quantity of silk comes, but abounding (as it doth) with Mulberry-trees naturally growing there, and exceeding it by the Silkworm-bottoms found in her Woods. She hath I say this Spring found out (by the special blessing of God upon her intentions) so rare, so speedy, and so costless a way and means for the feeding of Silkwormes; 
The lady hat● of these Sil● bottoms in h●● Cabinet as Jewels to co●●vince the i●●credulous, they are ten times bigg● then any in Europe to a●●miration, a●● of infinite i●●couragemen● to the work.  by the trial and experiment she so luckily made, to the admiration of all that have seen or heard of it, as a thing scarce credible; because not heretofore thought of, nay, as it were, held impossible by such Authors as have written of the ordering and feeding of Silkworms: that this her invention being thus made known unto you, her beloved friends in Virginia, she is most confident, and assures herself you will all there instantly without further delay (which will be the joy of her heart) become great and rich Masters of this noble● Silk-work to all your unspeakable wealth.  
Do but as she hath done; follow but with good courage your cheerful leader, and doubtless you shall find (what she desires you may,) namely, Great profit and pleasure in an honest employment. This Silken-Mine will be to you of more benefit than a Mine of silver.  
In the beginning of May last 1652, 
Contrary ●● Book Rule.  when her young Mulberry-tree in her Garden began to put out its buds, than her Silkworm-eggs began to hatch, as the nature of this wise creature is, 
These eggs were purposely exposed to ●●re, cold, w●nds, and ●ost, being aid & spaw●ed on a wall ●● a chamber, ●nd there re●ained all ●●nter long to ●●y the virtue ●f the Eggs, ●c. And twice ●efore they ●●me out of ●●eir bottoms, ●●x times in ●●●.  when her food begins once to appear, she comes forth of her shell: she presently laying a Mulberry-leafe upon these little crawling creatures, they came all upon it instantly; then she carried the leaf and them upon it to the tree, upon whose leaves they made hast to be; and there they day and night fed themselves, creeping from leaf to leaf, and branch to branch at their own liberties most pleasing to themselves; they grew and thrived wonderfully, and surpassed in largeness of body those other worms she kept in her chamber (she having been many a year a Mistress of Silkworms, and kept them by the Book-rules) this good and prosperous beginning heightened her hopes. The worms, as their nature is, cast off or slipped out of their skins four several times, still growing greater and greater to the singular delight and content of their Mistress. About 45 days thus feeding upon the leaves, they began that rare and glorious work of spinning their Silk-bottomes upon the leaves and branches of the tree; such a gallant sight to behold, 
●he seventh, ●●ey appear, ●hen come ●●t, a gallant ●●ken white●●nged Fly,  it ravished the Spectators, and their Mistress joy was crowned with excess of happiness herein and hereby, apparently finding the incomparable felicity this would prove to her dearly beloved Virginia, (for so you must give her leave to call it,) for she concluded, and so must all you, that this being thus effected in England, 
● weather it ●ms hurts ●m there; in heat and as they ●lter them●es under great ●●es as with ●●eld, but ●ther do ●m them, ● easy is a ●asse cove●● reared o● the trees ●ave them ● either of ●.  how much more with assured confidence will the worms live, feed, and spin in Virginia? she upon serious and due consideration of this thing, gave God hearty and humble thanks.  
And what can any of you now wish, for more encouragement? the full proof is made, the work (or rather let me call it) the pleasure is effected with so much ease, so little cost, hazard or pains, as all may admire it.  
'Tis not the hundreth part of your care, labour, or toil you take about your Tobacco, and an hundred times (as I may say) all things put together more gain and profit to you than you make by Tobacco, which in truth is but smoke and vapour, but this a reall-royall-solid-rich-staple Commodity.  
And yet if you will have still smoke, so this neither will nor can hinder your labour in that, or take from you any other employment you have a mind unto.  
Consider, consider I pray you (beloved friends) your incomparable happiness in this thing, and bless God for it. Surely I should much wrong your judgements and patience if I should spend any more arguments to persuade you to this so great benefit to you, and should be like to him that to manifest the clear Sunshine at noonday, brought in a candle.  
In a word, there's nothing is or can be wanting but your true thankfulness to God for completing this happy invention, and your present speedy putting it in practice.  
Yet give me leave; before I bid you adien, to add the incomparable joy this Lady hath, who is confidently persuaded (her daily prayers are to God for it) that this new invented way of thus keeping Silkworms on the Trees; it requiring neither skill nor pains, (this last being the only Remora, in the Savages nature, which witholds them from attempting any thing of labour) that when the Indians shall behold and see you begin the business, they will with all alacrity set upon it likewise, and imitate you. And that you to encourage them (as well you may) do agree with them, that for every poundweight of Silk-bottoms they bring unto you, you give them (as well it deserves) 5 shil. worth in any Commodities they desire.  
And thus by the blessing of Almighty God, there may be good hope of their civilising and conversion; so that they may be likewise great gainers both in body and soul by this thing. And if this prove so, (Gods mercies and works being far beyond our capacities) how much then indeed will Virginia's happiness be every way raised to the height of Bliss. The promise being made, That they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever; which the God of wisdom and power grant to you all in Virginia, and so, Lord, prosper this work in their hands, Lord, prosper their handiwork; good luck I wish you all in the name of the Lord, Amen, Amen, Amen.  
Memorandum; that you take notice, that the Birds will eat up the Silkworms on the trees, so that care must be had (and it's easily prevented by several ways and means, as you will devi●e) to scare away the birds; if all fail, a boy may be set that may affright them them all away with some noise, or by nets encompassing the trees, and the birds will also carry the Silk-bottoms off the trees, if they be let there remain; but that's soon pre●ented, by taking them speedily away. And this of the birds is the chief reason, that Virginia abounds not with plenty of the natural wild Silkworms, they devouring most of them: and it's a wonder how any at all escape them, but that God preserves some few of the race, that his power and wisdom may be seen, and the aptness of the Country to invite you to the work.  

For their Bottom being ten ●imes bigger ●hen ours, ●hat mighty ●reat Worms ●ust they be, ●nd what encouragement ●● this to the business, and ●ow much ●ore silk they ●ake then ●●rs, etc.  It will be good for you to encourage the Savages, when they find any bottoms in the woods, to bring them to you, that you may get of the race, and seed to increase it. Some say, the original Silkworm is produced by the corruption of the old Mu●berry-tree and leaves, by the Sun and moisture. But that none of you may want a stock to begin your Silk-work, the Lady aforesaid hath sent you store of Silkworm-eggs to be distributed amongst you: and if you begin but with an 100 eggs this year, they will next year be above 1000; for one female Silk-fly will lay 3, 4, 500 at a time, all things more and more concurring to your encouragement.  
Now the two Propositions that tend to infinite welfare, benefit, and wonderful advantage both to England and the Colony jointly, are those that follow, they which upon no terms are to be omitted to be published and effected.  
First, that with all speed some kind of Coin be sent to Virginia, 
Till you can ●et and gain ●●e Egg and ●●ed of your natural gallant large Silk ●orm: which ● chiefly that ●●u must en●●vout to store ●ur selves ●●th, no Eggs ●mparable to ●. etc.  that may be authorized to pass there for their Commerce and better trading. But whether all silver somewhat valued above its worth, or part silver and part copper, is left to the wi●e judgements in that case. But of this confidently be assured, that without some kind of coin or other, that Colony can no way prosper or thrive, nor any staple-commodities be set up, or Artificers in any kind follow their professions: for Tobacco being now their money, and that with which all Commerce is driven●, and payments made in, and passeth from man to man; all men are set upon that thing with the neglect of all other rich and solid innumerable Commodities that are in that land to be had: and till this remedy of Coin be applied, there can be no prosperity in that Colony. Were not the thing as apparent to all men's understandings as light is from darkness; I should allege many reasons for it, but it's so needless to spend time about it, as it might well be thought a great absurdity. What then remains? but that some public spirited Patriot that would immortalize his name and honour in the procuring of this so necessary a thing to be speedily effected, wherein also as the general good he shall do, so the benefit will be ever great to those that shall undertake the carrying over this Coin; be it what it will be, all men know it so well what the gain will be, as there's no need to name it in particular manner, they cannot wish for more profit than that will be to the undertakers, and the Colony will with all their hearts be content with it, and esteem them happy and thrice happy Benefactors.  
The second thing is, that a Publication be procured and sent to the Colony in Virginia, declaring unto them, that there shall be liberty for all men to bring from thence for the space of ten years to come, any commodity that they shall there raise, into England, Custom and Excize free, (Tobacco only excepted, which may pay double Custom, if so thought fit:) and further that to what value of money such commodities shall be sold for here in England, (being rated at the Customhouse at their entry;) it shall be lawful to carry out to Virginia any Commodities again to the same proportion & worth, Custom and Excize free.  
These two reasonable things granted; as they shall infinitily with all speed advance the Plantation, so shall they (all things duly weighed in the scale of prudence) be no less beneficial to England, as all men that have their eyes in their heads, and English hearts in their bodies, see and apparently know, nothing more sure and certain; and all stable and needful Commodities brought out of all-liberall- Virginia into England at a very reasonable rate and price, much cheaper than now we have them, and are fain to fetch them with great hazard from doubtful friends, or Heathen Nations, to their great enriching and our own impoverishing, as to all knowing men is most apparent; we shall be free from the usurpation of foreign Princes and States in our Estates, Lives, Liberties and shipping● and we may conclude boldly and rejoicingly, that Providence hath provided this all-sufficient Country of Virginia against these times, 
Sir Francis Drake was An. 1577 in a Westerly Sea one the back of Virginia, in 37 degrees in opposite to the head of James Town in Virginia and he sailed from that Country which he called Nova Albion, in an open Sea to the Molocos and China, and so that also this way a trade may be made to those places to the back of Virginia, etc.  and to these intents, that hence we may have all we want from our own brethren, our Navy there increased to what number we please; for this incomparable● land affords naturally all whatever belongs to the building and rigging of a Navy in all complete manner from top to toe, as may be said; and by a safe, a sure, certain, ease, near at hand westerly discovery, (part by land, and part by Rivers and Seas) contract all the riches of the South-sea, the Molocos, Philipines', China, etc. by 3000 leagues nearer to us, without molestation by any Prince or Pirate, and shall not need at all to be troubled, if Rushia, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, yea France● Spain, Italy, Constantinople were removed 5000 times more distant from us: for in one word, what ever these Country's afford, either necessary or superfluous, all-sufficient Virginia within its limits will produce unto us. And shall there not I say then now be found a zealous Patriot, that will stand up for his Country, and procure these things to be done out of hand? Now God forbid; I commit the business to God, having done what I conceive my part is, who only have good wishes, and daily prayers to attend this enterprise, which God prosper, Amen.  

POSTSCRIPT.  
At a friend's importunity, (the former part sent to the Press) I am thus enforced to make this Addition, and upon the great hopes that upon trial it will be found, that you may have two Silk-harvests in one six month's time; of the eggs a second brood may be hatched in june, and so fed by Mulberry-leaves, though then it may be it must be in an house, that then for the promoting of such a good design nothing of encouragement may be wanting, not any obstructions in the business, under pretence of wanting needful housing for to feed the worms in. Thus much I will assure you,  
That the slightest and simplest kind of housing or coverture (though the books are too superstitions and ceremonious in the rules which are many that they give concerning the ordering of the worm, which are not so necessary as they pretend;) I assure you, you will abundantly content and satisfy this, though noble; yet most humble creature, even with any habitation to do her work in. And to this intent I now declare unto you, (that all excuse may be taken from you) that the poor simple people in Italy, Spain, Languedo●k● Pr●vence, etc. do keep and feed their Silkworms in the same low earthen-floored Rooms, wherein themselves lodge and do all their houshould-affairs, feeding them on shelves and on tables, giving them leaves without any more curiosity, and they thrive and prosper with them as well as in the greatest Cities and stately chambers of the greatest rich men's Palaces.  
And that in Sicily and Calabria, 
Sicily.  the common Silk-Masters there do at time of year in the Spring, set up only slight boarded houses in the fields round about the Mulberry groves, and placing shelves in the inside of them, two foot one above the other to the roof, and a table all a long the mid of the room, they strowing their leaves on these shelves and table, there feed their worms, and there they spin in the room their Master lies for the space of five or six week's time; 
The great ga● of the Silkworks in a house, how much more i● the trees, will it be to you. The simplest and slightest houses or cove●tures will be sufficient for the Wor● to feed in, a● live and sp●n let no man doubt it, &c  and they have abundance of silk without more ●do; and a man and a boy will tend all the worms that come of six ounces of eggs, and those worms will spin 60 poundweight of silk, and that but at 20 shil. the pound, is worth 60 ls. in ready money, a sufficient gain to allure a man to the work I tro; but the gain by the natural worm multiplying will far exceed it. And I may not forget yet more all at the Persian manner is to pitch up only tents of Canvas, and Booths round their Mulberry-woods, and there-under they strew the Mulberry-tree leaves on the ground● there their worms feed and live and spin, and do well in all kinds, the Persians living also the time of fi●e weeks in the tents. Thus all these examples do manifestly prove unto you, that very simple and slight housing and 〈…〉 will content the Silkworms, and they will 〈◊〉 well in them. And thus you see that very poor and slight houses in Virginia will do the deed. Nay rest assured that the very Savages houses built but with Poles Arbor-wi●e, and covered top and sides with mats, will be abundantly satisfactory to the worms, and they will thrive in them as you shall find upon trial. And let me tell you, being desirous that you may do all things with the least cost and ●abour to you, and to invite also the Savages to the work for their own gain; do but take your Reeds and small Canes in Virginia, and run but a strong need and thread thorough the Reeds which will hold them together, and so you may presently make shelves and tables with them as narrow and as broad as you please; and in truth you shall find this kind of shelf and tabling to feed your worms on much better in many respects than boards: 
Concerning the winding off your Silk, this Lady hath lent you one of the wheels, so that by it all of you may make ●he like to do ●hat work, so ●ou shall want ●othing to speed the work  but you may make trial of the Persian way also by strowing your leaves on the ground in these houses, and so feed them, and so your second brood of Silkworms may also be thus kept and nourished in this kind of housing and coverture; Experience is the Mistress of fools, saith the Proverb: and it is not an unwise man's part often to make trials, though to some men they may seem impossibilities, yet rare and strange things have upon trial often been found out; and if you would but show the Savages samples of all kind of things, you should soon by them know more in a month what is in that Country to be had than you have done these 40 years; and for reward they would bring in of all kinds unto you, what they have and you desire to know, so a sudden discovery may be made of all things in that land to your infinite gain.  
To conclude with this Memento, that there are nine things that appear, are of no or small difficulty to you and the Savages to enterprise, and get gain and wealth to be produced from these Commodities; I will but name them and leave them to your better judgements and thoughts.  

1 This Silk, so easy, speedy, and profitable a thing.  
2 The Silk-grasse naturally there growing, which to the Indians the only labour is of putting it up, and bringing it to you at such a price; a rich Commodity if known.  
3 The planting Vines, small labour, little cost, long enduring.  
4 The multiplying of Cunny-warrens, so easy a thing, the wool of a skin now worth 8 pence, which is more than the body, yet the flesh is considerable meat; the wool is and will be very vendible for this new In●ention, not only of these fine light hats now sold at 15 and 20 shil. but the spining of the wool, and making stockings of it as fine as those of silk.  
5 The increasing of abundance of Bees for wax and honey, their food so plentiful in Virginia, as in no Land more, and if with an hatchet you do but slash your Pinetrees, Firre-trees, Locus, and other trees, there will store of liquor come out of them, on which the Bee will gather infinite store of honey and wax, as in Russia and other Countries they do.  
6 The planting of Sugarcanes, that being no more laborious than the Indian wheat, setting it, and once set in good Land they grow eight or ten years, and the Indians pains will only be to cut them yearly down, and sell them to you.  
7 That of the Cotton-tree is the like for many years, gathering of the cod of wool from them, as we do Roses from the Rose-bushes.  
8 That of Ginger soon done, the planting and the gathering of it.  
9 That of grafting your Crabtrees with Apples and Pears for Cider and Perry, you knowing that a man in one day will graft an 100 stocks, and they will grow night and day, while you eat, sleep, and play, and last 100 years to your great gain and profit.   
I may not further enlarge myself for the present, these are but tastes and hints for your better wits to work on: so with a thousand good wishes, I bid you adieu.  
Floreat VIRGINIA.    

The fashion of the Bottom.  
The Silk Bottom of the natural Worm in Virginia, found there in the Woods, is ten Inches about, and six Inches in length to admiration: & whereas ours in Europe have their Sleeve and loose Silk on the outside; and then in a more closer covering they entomb themselves. These rare Worms, before they enclose themselves up, fill with Silk the great emptiness, and afterwards enclose themselves in the middle of it, so they have a double Bottom.  
The loose Sleeve Silk is all on the outside of this compass, for if that were reckoned in, the compass of the Bottom would far exceed this proportion: But this is sufficient to be the Wonder of the whole World: to the Glory of the Creator, and Exaltation of VIRGINIA.   

A Loving Advertisement to all the Ingenious Gentlemen-Planters in Virginia now upon the Design of Silk. By V. F.  
Gentlemen,  
Such hath been the singular favour of Providence to you and the Lady, that sing the publishing of this Book; it hath so happily lighted into the hands of divers worthy persons, being not only Gentlemen-Travellers of credit, & Merchants of reputation; but likewise wonderfully taken with the love of Virginia, and no less zealously affected to the advancement of the Silk-trade in that Land, which they judge (not of their experience and knowledge of what they have and observed in the Easterly parts of the World, where abundance of Silk is made) that no part of the World is more proper for Silk then all-sufficient- Virginia: In regard of the excellency of the temper of the Climate, which naturally produceth not only Mulberries for food; but the Silkworm itself, in that wonderful greatness of the wild Silk-bottom: which as they say, The whole Universe affords not, nor brings forth the like to their own small admiration. And that there is no greater quantities of them found or seen they conclude, it is in regard of the birds who are their natural enemies, & devour most of them. And these Gentlemen are confident, that you did not know & practise those ways and means, for the feeding and preservation of them, as in some far remote Regions is practised by those Nations, that are expert Masters of Silk-wormes, Virginia would instantly abound with great store of Silk, and surpass all those Countries in that rich commodity, and you all become with great speed and small cost, or little labour one of the happiest, wealthiest people that the World affords. And to the intent that such a blessing may not be longer wanting to you, they have out of their superlative benign affections, and public spirit, imparted to the Lady these ensuing Relations, with their earnest desires and advises, that you all in Virginia may out of hand be made partakers of them. And then knowing them, you may no longer live in gross darkness and ignorance of so great a treasure that you are possessors of, and may now have and enjoy the full use and benefit of, which hitherunto hath most strangely been hidden from the eyes of body and mind; They conceiving that the chief cause thereof hath been the pernicious smoke of Tobacco, that thus hath dimmed and obscured your better intellectuals; but when you begin to put these ways & means in practice, they say you will bl●sse yourselves (as they do) that you have not in this long time discovered the infinite wealth and happiness that will arise unto you out of Silk. But not longer to detain from you this most precious eyesalve, for the speedy curing of your infirmity, and making you all rich (which is your main aim in that new world).   

Harken well to these Informations, which the Lady earnestly desires may thus be with all speed made known to you all.  
THe one Traveller declared, That he passed a Country where he saw those people had their Silkworms feeding on their Mulberry-trees in the fields & there they live & spun their Bottoms on the trees, And to protect this noble profitable creature & to defend it from the birds, they used a most slight, simple, plain invention speedily effected & of no cost or labour to them, which was certain great sheets of Reeds or Canes, that they hung over and about their trees, tied to certain poles that encompassed them. And in this easy manner they obtained great abundant quantities of silk, to their wonderful enriching. The sheets of Reeds were joined together by a need and thread, running through each Reed at several equal distances, and so drew them close and firm together. This for you to imitate, is in every respect to your wonderful happiness.  
Another of these Travellers saith, That he passed a Country where the inhabitants did make large Tents or Booths all of Reeds and Canes, and in them placed shelves and tables made likewise of Reeds, on which they fed their Worms, strewing leaves on them. These tents they set up round about their Mulberry-Groves, and with much celerity, and no cost.  
A third Gentleman and Merchant, that lived long in the farthest parts of Turkey, affirmeth, That there the inhabitants begin every Spring, March, to feed their Worms, and continue it till October, six month's time: their Worm's hatching & re-hatching, one generation or brood succeeding the other: so that they have three harvests of silk-bottoms, in that space of time, every five or six weeks one: they feed their Worms in great long Barns made of Reeds or Canes, the walls and roofs of them, and shelves as aforesaid, and the Worms when they have done feeding, spin their bottoms upon the reedy walls and roofs; and that they have two crops of leaves from their trees: for those trees that have their leaves pulled off in March, April, and May, do re-leave again, and have new and fresh leaves in june, july and August, wherewith they feed their latter generation or brood of Worms very profitably.  
And in confirmation of this, you shall know, the same hath been found true in England, that the Mulberry-tree will leave twice in a Summer, the Lady had the experience of it, and therefore much more will it do with you, which will be a most singular advantage to you.  
I must not omit to add what these Gentlemen farther advise, that you can never sufficiently augment the store of food for this Noble Creature: for store of food is the main foundation, upon whose speeding the Silk-trade is to be erected: for if that be not wanting, no obstruction can be in it. For the glorious Worm is so infinite in multiplication, with that celerity as is incredible, so that she will never be defective unto you: they therefore counsel, that you graft your Mulberries with all care and speed upon these several trees, upon which they will exceedingly thrive, viz. the Poplar, the Elm, the Chestnut, Beech, Quince, Medler, Fig, Pear, Apple, and Cornell-trees. And also upon any other trees, of which upon a trial you find the Worm will taste or eat their leaves. Likewise that you set of your Mulberry-slips as big as your thumb, about two foot long: and put them into good wel-digged ground in September, setting them a foot in the ground, bruising the ends of them, and watering them the next Summer well, if need be: in the same manner as in Kent, they set the Codling-slips. That you also cause the Indians to bring unto your habitations all the young Mulberry-trees that are within an hundred miles of your Colony. But let me acquaint you that they admire what some Gentlemen Planters of credit tell them; that your brave Worms do not only live, feed, and spin upon the Mulberry-trees in the Woods, but do the same upon the Poplar-trees, Plum-trees, and Appletrees: ● such an encouragement to the Silk-trade, the World (say they) never yet heard of before, which must needs lift you up to a most speedy and incomparable height of wealth and riches, in a moment of time.  
And by your gentle patience and generosity, give me leave to propound unto you, the earnest request the Lady hath to all of you; that you please to inform her (being also the desire of many others) how it comes to pass that your Worms get to your several trees, not only to the Mulberry, but to others: For in no other Country's the Silk-worme-flie doth use her wings to fly with: so that yours must either do it (and so at time of year couple and fly to sundry trees; and there lay their eggs which remain till Spring again) or that your trees do naturally engender and produce the Worms (as it is conceived, the original of them so happened at first) but which way soever it be, it's rare and remarkable; and proves Virginia to be one of the most superlative Countries in all the Universe for the Silk-trade; and none comparable unto the excellency of its natural temper for Silk.  
Then that you also inform her all you can of the nature, actions, qualities and dispositions in all kinds of this most wonderful Creature, every way so admirable, what by any English or Savage hath been any way observed in her: when her eggs first hatch, then how long time she is feeding before she spins, upon what part of the trees she fastens her Bottom; How long she continues in her Bottom before she comes out a Fly, then when they couple, where they lay their eggs, upon what part of the trees? How long they live after that time? For these in the old World never eat after they once begin to spin: how large in bigness and compass are commonly their bottoms? if all of one colour, or divers? In what part of the Country are most of them seen and found? what do the Savages call them, or know any use of them; what birds are they that most devour them? (for did they not, they would swarm all the Land over in a very few years); if any thing besides birds be hurtful to them? Their greatness and doubleness of their Bottoms are wondered, none ever known to be so, which argues the strength and richness of this noble Worm, her vigour and hardness exceeds, that can endure all wethers and seasons both alive and in her eggs. A great encouragement to you all that she is not a nice curious kind of Silkworm; but stout and robustous, that will require little care or attendance, of small cost unto you. But her food and protection is all she requires, and pays you ten thousand-fold for what you bestow on her. That you please to send of her Bottoms to satisfy all men, who are like the Queen of Sheba, much better trust their eyes than ears; some of their eggs likewise upon that which they lay them, and the Fly (though dead) which will many a year retain her perfect form in a box: do not the worms hatch and spin twice or thrice in a Summer?  
Let me add one Petition more, and I have done. viz. That some of your precious Silk-grass may be sent the Lady, who is confident upon the trial she will make of it, she will give you so pleasing an account and so profitable unto you, in making known unto you what an unknown wealth you have: she prays you (and all is for your own gain) to boar and cut all your trees (a most easy thing) and thereby you shall discover presently, what rich Gums, what Balsams, what Oils, and precious healthful Liquors they will yield you for profit & necessity: For all men know that many kinds of trees do yield most pleasant and healthsome Wines (as I may call them) for man to drink; so also you will find out all sorts of Die and Colours (instantly done): cut and bruise all kinds of your Woods, Barks, and Leaves of Trees, Roots, Berries, Nuts, Fruits, Plants, Weeds; and but boil them in a Skillet, and then put in a little piece of white Woollen or Linen cloth with some Allom, and you shall instantly find and see what rich Colours they will make. What is Indigo but a Weed, so Woad and Madder? What is Brasil, Fustick, Logwood, and many more kind of Die, but Woods? what Coucheneal the rich Scarlet die, but a Fly, or the excrements of the Indian Figtree? what is the newfound rich dying stuff of 25. l. a Tun; but of a tree that is brought from the Island of Liberty, near Cape Florida where Captain Sailes plants? And shall Virginia not yield a drop of good Liquor or Colour? It cannot be; if but a trial thus easy were made.  
By burning of all kind of Woods and Gums, you'll soon find by your nose what sweet Perfumes they yield. And by the ponderousness or weight of earths, you may know if Minerals or not? Let it be known also, if you have not Waters of more than ordinary qualities; for taste, colours, smell, weight, hotness, or coldness? there is much depends upon them. And you shall know if they proceed out of any Minerals, by taking a glass full, and putting into it a Gall beaten to powder, which will turn the water into a reddish colour: and send samples of all kind of strange earths, and of all other kind of things without fail. And lastly, (if it be not too much presumption to beg the favour to receive that honour from you) which she no ways deserves nor can hope to requite: To inform her what be the things, the ways, the means to advance Virginia's Prosperity, if they may be procured and effected. If any error be committed in telling you all this: there is hope your pardon may be obtained, seeing your only good and benefit hath caused all this that hath been said: and the zeal of your wealth and happiness hath drawn all to this length:  
Sirs, you have the faithful testimonies of those aforesaid worthy Gentlemen, and nothing can be now wanting unto you but putting all in practice, what they have declared; and for your good are such invitations and encouragements unto you, that more cannot be wished for. There remains nothing but humble thanks to God, and to these Gentlemen your due respects, whom God hath made such Instruments for your happiness, hoping their noble courteous examples will allure all other Gentlemen Travellers to cast into this good work some mites of their further knowledges, and every man to contribute his prayers and help to this or any other hopeful design: seeing the consequence of them may be so good and great, not only to the English Nation at home and abroad; but to the poor Savages their welfare of souls and bodies, which God grant.   

An Other Advertisement.  
THe Silk-Trade, (unless we will be deaf to Reason and Experience) cannot be denied the precedency of all Trades that are at this day a foot, in either World: And that in regard of its great and certain gain in so small a time; A man and a Boy being able to tend as many Silkworms in two Month's space, as will yield you sixty pounds: 
According to that is made Sicily by a Man and Bornwell  which done, they leave you ten Months free for any other employment. In regard of its small skill, less pains, care and labour, no hazard, no cost or charge, (more than a twelve-penny Reel) no troublesome tools or Implements: in regard of its incredible ease and pleasure, as not requiring strength of Body, of Wit, of Pur●e, any stock to begin with, only hands and eyes to gather leaves and feed the Worms with, or protect them from the Birds: if kept on the Trees (their natural Mansion:) Admitting of all Ages, (for a Child can do all that belongs to it) all Sexes, all Qualities, (a most fit recreation for Ladies, especially being begun and ended in the two pleasantest Months of the year, March and April.) And all Callings too; for if Saint Paul made Tents, who can plead exemption from tending Silkworms? 
A most prop. employment the lasi● Indans.  Again, Silk is less chargeable in Warehouse, Fraight, etc. then any other Commodity, and yet none more durable, lasting, neat, vendible, nor more easily transportable: for Fi●e hundred pounds worth of Silk, fraights less, and takes up less room than ten pounds worth of Tobacco.  
Now where Worms and Food abound naturally, and the Inhabitants are born with Brains, the advancement of the Silk Trade must needs be proportionable: upon which double score Virginia hath the advantage of any place in the yet discovered World; I mean for Worms and Food, which may be thus severally demonstrated. Their Worms (partly annually produced by heat and moisture as our Caterpillars and other Infects each Spring, partly by Eggs which have escaped the Birds who are the greatest cause of their scarcity (which otherwise would swarm over all the Land) devouring them when they are Worms, Eggs and Bottoms) exceed ours not only in strength, hardiness and greatness, (being when Flies as big as men's Thumbs) but also in the largeness of their Bottoms, which are as big as Lemons; (for Mr. William Wright of Nansamond found of them above seven inches round) and one of them weighs more than a score of ours; insomuch that whereas a Thousand of our Worms made but one pound of Silk, worth at most here 30s. a pound, a thousand of their natural Worms will make ten pounds of Silk, worth here twenty shillings the pound. And certainly they need not object or be troubled at the somewhat more coarseness of their Silk, since they from the same number of Worms receive ten pounds in money for our thirty shillings.  
As for their Food, the Virginia Worms feed not only on the Mulberry (their sole food in all other parts of the World) but also on the Crab, Plum, Poplar; Oak, Apple, Cherry and Pohickerry-tree leaves, with sundry other shrubs and bushens. For proof whereof, Mistress Mary Ward sent over to her Cousin ten bottoms taken from Apple trees. Esquire Ferrar her Kinsman likewise sent her ten more, pulled off from Oaks and divers shrubs. Mr Laurence Ward some taken from the Pohickerry tree, Mr Wright from the Cherry tree. So Dr. Russel and others.  
The Objection, or rather groundless surmise of the Worms being hurt by Thunder in Virginia, is sufficiently cleared, not only by the Natural Worms living so well, and thriving there so admirably on the trees; but also by trial made there this Spring of our Worms. That ever to be honoured Noble Squire Diggs having (at his very great charge) sent for two Armenians out of Turkey skilful men, and made ten pound of Silk, which had not want of Eggs hindered him, would have been so many Thousand pounds.  
Nothing then wants to make Virginia rival Peru for wealth, more than to persuade the Planters to provide themselves this Winter (to lose no more time) of as many of the Natural Worms bottoms as possibly they can. They will now be found in the Woods on the dis-leaved trees, though most of them are spun by the Worms on the tree leaves, which falling to the ground, they perish with them; and this is another great cause that so few bottoms are to be found. The Bottoms thus gotten must be carefully kept in some long boxes till the Flies come forth, happily in February or March. For they remain in their bottoms 300. days, ours but 20. so that their Eggs (whereof one female will lay a spoonful, suppose 500) lie unhatched but about nine days, ours nine months.  
When your Worms are hatched, you may keep them either on the trees (being assured that they will live on that kind of Tree whatsoever it be from whence you took your Bottoms) and then you shall need only to protect them from the Birds; or else in some slight kind of housing, Reedy arbours, Indian mansions, or what else you can devise there cheapest and speediest, and then your only labour and care is to give them leaves, which you may either strip off, or clip from off your Trees, or if you will, lop off little branches (which may perhaps prove a good way for you: for thereby the leaves will remain the longer fresh) and give them to your Worms, who for the labour of every Man and Boy thus inployed only in two month's time, will repay you with three●core pounds worth of Silk.  
Your own Experience (Gentlemen) will I hope ere this time twelu-moneth certify you of the truth that is here set down, unless you shall rather choose to hug your own poverty, and make much of that slavery and drudgery you wear out yourselves with, in toiling about that contemptible, beggarly Indian Weed,  
TOBACCO.   

The Copy of Esquire Diggs his Letter, to his much honoured friend, john Ferrar, Esquire at his house at little Gidding, in Huntingtonshire. From Virginia, June 21. 1654.  
Sir,  
I Have received your many and several Letters, printed papers, and Queries; and, would my occasions have permitted, I should ere this, have given you that due thanks you deserve, and punctually have answered all your judicious and pleasing Queries: But I was so taken up in sending daily for Mulberry-leaves, as they are now so far scattered from my present Plantation, that I could not possibly answer you expectations; That only difficulty made me to make but 400. pound weight of Silk-bottomes, which I caused to be wound of 7. or 8. l. of Silk in a day: Sir, I do very well approve of your last well printed Paper, sent the Colony for making trial of the Natural Silkworm, but such was my ill hap, that I could not this spring meet with any of those Bottoms, but shall this next Winter procure of them, all I can; Sir, I am now confident, I have conquered all the great feared difficulty of this rich commodity, and made its sweet easy and speedy Profitt so evident to all the Virginians (and that it doth not at all hinder their too much beloved Tobacco, but that they may proceed with both together) that now I doubt not (nor they) but that in a short time here will be great quantities made of Silk; you in England will reap much advantage, and gain many ways by it, (more than most men can pet see) and I by God's blessing the comfort and joy, in setting up so noble, so beneficial, a staple vendible commodity. My people differ very little from the rules set down in your, Mr. Williams his Book, and as Esquire Samuel Hartlib hath also directed in his advertizement of Silkworms unto us; only in the hatching of the Worms-Eggs, they are more curious, of which I shall, when I have more time, give you a more particular account: I made 10. l. of seed or Eggs this spring to give away to divers Planters, that are very earnest, (seeing so great a benefit before their eyes) to become also Silk-masters, you need not fear it but that this next spring there will be divers trials made of the hopeful Natural Worms, that you so highly prise (and not without good cause) and which is more, perhaps they may fall one after another and be re-hatched that we may have a double Silk harvest ●n one summer (as you have formerly hinted to us). Pray Sir will you be pleased at this time to excuse my too much brevity in this great business of so much concernment, of so much happiness to this Country, and attribute it to my great haste, and much business upon the ships sudden departure, having many more dispatches to make to Friends; But in my next, I shall make you double amends; I pray present my service to the virtuous Lady Virginia: Sir I daily pray for your long life, and welfare, and now rest.  
Sir your most humble Servant, Edward Diggs.   

A Way Experimented by Mr. Farrar, to make the Gummy-hard Natural Virginia Bottoms (which hitherto by no art could be be prepared to unwind by reason of the Gummy hardness) to unwind with ease, to the great advantage of the Planters of the Silk-trade in Virginia.  
YOu must take Soap-boilers lie or liquor, which is very sharp and strong, and set that in a vessel over the fire till it be warm, then put in as many of your hard gummy Bottoms as you please, and let them rest in that liquor, till it be scalding-hot, and so remain half a quarter of an hour more or less, till they be so dissolved that you may take out one and find it fit to unwind; which you must thus do.  
First put the Bottoms into scalding clean water, and having lain a while therein, then take them out and proceed to unwind them as the custom is.  
In case Soap-boilers lie or liquor be not to be had, you may make a strong liquor of the Ashes of any Wood, with boiling water, the stronger the better, and this may and will also perform the work. And this is just as you make a lie to buck clothes withal. Only note it must be very strong made.   

An Extract out of a very Ingenious Gentleman's Letter from Dublin, Concerning the Reformed Virginian Silkworm.  
I Thank you for your Virginian Paper. Me thinks the Experiment is most Natnral to my apprehensions, that the Worms should feed and thrive best upon the leaves growing on the Trees, rather than in the Houses, and that they, like other Caterpillars (of whom these are a sort) did at first breed so, and that Houses were rather an Invention for expediency,  
But their Proposition about Money to be carried to Virginia. I utterly dislike; even somuch as if it were possible, I would banish Money from Ireland.   

An Animadversion upon the Letter from Dublin.  
I like not the Gentleman's Reason why he likes the Proposition concerning feeding of Silkworms upon the Trees.  
For almost all Plants, even the most rare now in use were Originally (namely since the deluge) wild and past muster amongst Weeds, & are improved to such a degree of excellency to the eye, nose or palate, by industry and home-helps and contrivances: So john Tradeskin by Lambeth, by the advantage of putting his Trees, and other Plants into a warm house in winter or a stow, nurses up those things fair and fragrant, which would without that help either die or be dwarft. This is the reason why tame Pigeons or Coneys are larger, and breed better, and oftener than wild. Yet I conclude not against the thing itself; for questionless, that the leaves have more heart, fresh and green, then half withered, if the cau●e of their withering were known or considered, But I can say little to this, as having no experience,   

A new observation, concerning the feeding of Silkworms with Lettuce, imparted from Dublin.  
I Have only to present you with some observations I made concerning the feeding of Silkworms (meeting here accidentally with a kinswoman of mine that keeps great store o● them) which geverally is believed only to be done, with Mulberry leaves: the contrary of which is here by some praectised. viz. to feed them with Lettuce; which the worms eat very readily, grow as those big as that are fed with Mulberry leaves & spin as much Silk: They will also eat the herb called Dantedelyon, but whether that will so well agree with them as Lettuce, I have not tried, but with Lettuce they will thrive very well, eating nothing else all the year.   

More Observations concerning the feeding of Silkworms with Lettuce,  
SIR,  
MY good Cousin Mr. W. sent me the letter, you wrote to him; and the note sent you out of Ireland, that intimated the happy success the Gentlewoman had then in keeping Silkworms, not only on the Mulberry-tree-leaves, but with Lettuce leaves, the thing you much desired that my Daughter should have made known unto her. Truly Sir your singular humanity and goodness in all things more and more extends itself for the public benefit of all, and I see to the particular satisfaction of your Friends, though Strangers to you yet those that have dally cause more and more to honour you, as we justly do. Sir, this your favour is both by myself and Daughter so much resented as it requires from us, very hearty and particular thanks to be tendered to your worth. She is a lover of Rarities in these kinds, and to try conclusions upon her Silkworms, and no way envious, but much rejoices to hear that any have had that good success with Lettuce as you write of, and shall herself again make a third trial in that kind, for she hath 2. years last passed tried herself to have kept some with Lettuce leavs & so did & they thrived as well as they kept with Mulberrys, but still when the time of spinning came they would not spin, but then died and this put her out of heart to try further, yet I may tell you, she persuaded a Gentleman near her to keep some with Lettuce 25. days and then fed them with Mulberrys at last, and these did very well and spun as good Bottoms as those wholly kept with Mulberry leaves. But now she resolves upon your intimation of the experiment made in Ireland to try a third time, and to give you an account of her success in june next, if God permit.  
And now Sir she presents this printed enclosed paper to your worthy judgement, if you find not it matter of consideration and reason for her to send it as a second new years gift to Virginia, hoping that it may do good there to the Planters and inform them of much truth; and invite them to the business of Silk, which God grant; Amen.  
This other paper of Rhyming lines (for Verses they deserve not the name) yet being that what her Brother a young Scholar hath collected out of Letters, that were sent her from Virginia and given her, she also sends you to further inform you of things done, last spring.  
Thus worthy, Sir, with the due respects of both our kindest salutes, wishing you all happiness in this and the better world, I rest ever.  
Yours in all love and service JOHN FERRAR. littel Gidding Hunting shire this 28. Novemb. 1653.  
SIR,  
She makes bold to present you with a sample of Virginia Silk-grass sent her by a friend. It's a rarity, and she hopes will delight you who have such a public Spirit to rejoice, and further a Common good; as she hath great hopes this will prove a commodity next to the Silk there, as skilful men and Artists do assure her of it, and thousands of poor people will be set a work with it, if it prove there to be in quantity.   

Upon the most Noble, Virginian natural Silkworm her wonderful, various, plentiful food; The infinite, speedy, great wealth she will produce to her protector; (in 45. days the time of her feeding) with small labour, cost, or skill, (learned in an hour's space by any child.) The singular aptness of that rare Superlative Climate, in Breeding them on so many several kinds of Trees in her Woods where they live● Feed and Spin, their mighty large, strange, double-bottoms of Silk: To the admiration of this our Old World; but to the exaltation and glory of incomparable Virginia, in the New.  
WHere Worms and Food do naturally abound,  
A Gallant Silken Trade must there be found:  
Virginia excels the World in both,  
Envy nor Malice can gain say this troth.  
Many a man the causes fain would hear,  
How these rare Worms came first or still come there.  
Infects produced are by heat and moisture  
Who in strange shapes and forms do oft appear.  
In Spring our trees the Caterpillars rear;  
Their trees likewise these noble creatures bear.  
And some proceed from eggs that scaped are  
From their enemy's sight, which thing is rare.  
They feed not only on the Mulberry  
Which in our World sole food is held to be  
For all such precious Worms of that degree:  
But Poplar, Plum, Crab, Oak, and Apple tree,  
Yea Cherry, and tree called Pohickery:  
So on the Shrubs and Bushes feed full many  
Her Worms are huge whose bottoms dare  
With Lemons of the largest size compare.  
And twenty one of ours will sure poise less  
Than one of theirs for weight and ponderousness.  
Master William Wright of Nansamound  
Found Bottoms above seven Inches round.  
And though the Silk prove not all out so fine  
As Persian, that's no let to the design.  
For since a thousand of our Bottoms make  
But one pound of fine Silk, you'll ten pounds take  
From theirs. If we at Thirty shillings sell  
Our pound, for twenty they'll afford theirs well.  
The pains that's taken is alike in either  
But the gains by theirs eight times greater:  
Then, we confined are to the Mulberry  
For food, their Worms have great Variety.  
Her dainty coloured flies and large Worms  
In length and bigness do surpass men's Thumbs.  
Whereas ours short of little fingers come.  
Our flies come out in twenty days and lay  
Eggs, theirs not still three hundred as they say  
O wondrous thing! a Worm to fast so long  
And then come out a painted Fly so strong.  
Nine mouths full out our eggs unhatched remain  
Nine days in Spring makes theirs revive again  
A Planter (I wish they had him named)  
A spoonful eggs from one fly he gained  
Which to five hundred at least amounted  
Loe shortly endless they must be counted.  
In March they first begin to live and feed  
In April they have done the Silken deed  
The sweetest, pleasantst time in all the year.  
You to this Wealth the chanting Birds will cheer  
And ten month's time they leave you with great ease  
To spend it in what profit you shall please.  
Rare Worms who feeding five and forty days  
On leaves of sundry Plants and shrubs repaies  
Their keepers with fine Silk which wants no strength  
And yet extends itself some miles in length  
And for the labour of a Man and Boy  
They gain you Sixty pounds which is no toy.  
If you from Birds protect them on the trees  
(Their natural mansions) 'twill them best please  
Your pains is spared in giving them the leaves  
By which alone you gain their Silken sleaves  
For non-parrel Virginia in her Woods,  
Brings forth as all men know these precious goods:  
Where thousand fleeces fit for Prince's Robes  
On Virgin-trees shall hang in Silken Globes.  
The noble Worm so hardy, strong and stout  
No weather ill is able them to rout.  
The reasons why the numbers are so small  
Less Cruel Birds devour most of them all  
When they are Worms yea Eggs or Silken ball.  
Most bottoms likewise on the leaves are spun  
Both falling to the ground do perish soon  
Those only found that spun are on the branch  
Not by their care but providential chance  
Which only show themselves when all is bare  
To Find in Summer any'tis most rare.  
If to prevent both dangers you intent  
A Reedy-Arbourwell will do't, you'll find  
Or slightest coverture in any kind  
The skill and pains to all each Child can do:  
As you shall find on trial 'tis most true.  
And may in Wealth compare with rich Peru.  
And for all Tools that appertain thereto  
A Twelve-peny Reel is all it will cost you,  
No wit, no strength, no purse, no stock will need  
But Eyes and hands, the Worms to guard and feed.  
And thus you see done is the Silken deed:  
Which brings you so great wealth with so much speed.  
Five hundred pounds worth of rich Silk, all know  
Fraights less than ten pounds in poor Tobacco  
Silks are no trash, no toy, nor Pedlars ware;  
Staple, good, and ready chink every where.  
Twenty shillings a pound 'twill yield you clear  
And Ships to fetch it will come flying there.  
Queens of the best edition need not scorn  
In her own Livery to serve this Worm:  
Only to give her leaves is all she craves  
And in reward with Silk she'll make you brave.  
Out of her rich belly by her mouth spun  
Weaves it into a most curious bottom  
Which by a Reel turning with hand of man  
Is wholly wound off most neatly again.  
To feed Silkworms no calling can disdain  
Seeing they yield you so much honest gain  
No employment in the World so likely  
To make so soon your lazy Savage Wealthy.  
For his Silk bottoms in exchange shall have  
From English, what he so needs, begs, and craves  
Red coats, hose, shoes, knives, they highly deem  
jews-trumps, Bells, Beads, all toys, no less esteem.  
If all be thus the cause you now demand  
Why hath this knowledge been thus long detained  
And but now by the Lady's Books inflamed  
Ignorance of Planters so strange hath been  
Till now ne'er knew nor dreamt of this rich thing  
Confessed it is, that of't some they have seen  
Regardlessly, but ne'er did them esteem.  
Which loss of Wealth and Honour they'll regain  
And Virgin's Counsel follow will amain.  
The happy onset they this Spring have made  
Assures them all a stately precious trade.  
Sir Henry Chichly that Heroic Knight  
Affirms there's not an ingenuous Wight  
In Virginia but makes all speed he can  
To be e'er long a Silken noble man.  
And say, Colonel Ludlow certifies  
That thence from Silk great profit will arise;  
Yea worthy Bernard that stout Colonel  
Informs the Lady the work most facile  
And of rich Silken stuffs, made shortly there  
He hopes that he and others shall soon wear.  
So major John Westrope saith, Silk will be  
A gallant design for their brave Country.  
Thunder was that, that some men only doubt  
But trial made this Spring puts that fear out.  
In all Lands where Worms are kept 'tis wonder  
To hear that any were harmed by thunder.  
Their natural Worm proves this more truer.  
Mr. Gorge Lob's that prudent old Planter  
Tel●s her that Worms ne'er spun Silk daintier.  
Le's give those Gentlewomen their full deuce  
Mistress Garret and Burbage for Silk clues  
That Colonels Wife needs not far to rove  
Her Court affords a pleasant Mulberry Grove:  
But noble Diggs carries the Bell away  
(Lass! want of eggs made so small the essay)  
His two Armenians from Turkey sent  
Are now most busy on his brave attempt  
And had he stock sufficient for next year  
Ten thousand pound of Silk would then appear  
And to the skies his worthy deeds upreare.  
Lo here what mistress Mary Ward hath sent  
And to her Lady Cousin she presents  
Ten rare Bottoms took from her Apple tree  
That all England may it believe and see.  
Her honoured Kinsman Esquire F●rrar,  
To confirm and make the wonder greater  
Ten more likewise hath sent her, which he found  
On stately Oaks and Shrubs that kiss the ground  
And Doctor Russell that learned Physician  
Hath with his, made a full addition.  
For things more slowly do affect the mind  
Which ears do hear then those that eyes do find.  
Now from smoke Virginia shall be raised  
And throughout the World be duly praised.  
Ah Blessed be God that now in his due time  
This Silken light apparently doth shine  
Then come, O come with sacred Lays  
Let us sound the Almightys praise  I. F.  

To the most Noble deserving Esquire Diggs: upon the Arrival of his two Armenians out of Turkey into Virginia.  
Courage, brave Sir: sith Aid from God is sent  
Proceed, go on, drive forth thy great intent.   

A Comparison between the gain and labour of TOBACCO and SILK.  
TObacco requires 9 month's time, much care and labour, both without and within doors, and a man's Crop is commonly 15 hundred weight of Tobacco, and this at two pence a pound is 14 pound gain.  
Silk requires six week's time, if done in a house, and by the labour of a man and boy, in gathering leaves, and tending the worms that come of six ounces seed, there is by so many worms spun as much Silk as will weigh sixty pound weight, and this but at 20 shil. a pound, yields 60 l. in ready money.  
Tobacco, leaves a man but 3 months in the year for other business.  
Silk, leaves a man ten month's time in the year, for any other employments.  
14 pounds a man gains by his Crop of Tobacco.  
60 pounds a man and boy gains by his Crop of Silk.  
Then let all men judge which is the more gainful.  
But what will be the gain and profit, by the worms feeding and spinning on the Trees is more considerable, and also the natural Virginia-worms bottom exceeding ours in Europe 20 times in bigness, and in weight: what a Treasure than will this be, and no labour, cost, hazard, expense of time at all, a Boy only to keep away the Birds from eating the Silkworms on the Trees, etc.   

Thus learned Bartas upon this noble & admirable Creature.  
YEt may I not this Wondrous Worm pass by,  
Of fly ●r●'d Worm, and of a Worm a Fly.  
Two Births, two Deaths, here Nature hath assigned her,  
Leaving a Posthum●, dead-live Seed behind her;  
Which soon transforms the fresh and tender leaves  
Of Thisbe's pale tree, to those tender sleaves  
(On Oval Clues) of soft smooth silken Flax,  
which more for us then for herself she makes.  
O precious fleece! which only did adorn  
The sacred loins of Princes heretofore:  
But our proud age, with prodigal abuse  
Hath so profaned the old honourable use:  
That Shift●rs now, that scarce have bread to eat  
Disdain plain Silk, unless it be beset  
With one of those brave Metals, whose desire  
Burns greedy souls with an impartial fire.  
Had Du Bartas fully known all the virtues and rarities in this incomparable Creature, even a miracle in Nature, he would have enlarged his Poems in a more ample manner in the praise of it, to the great honour of the Creator. Cui Gloria, Amen.   

Homo Vermis.  
We all are creeping Worms of th' earth,  
Some are Silkworms great by birth,  
Glow-Worms some that shine by night,  
Slow-Worms others, apt to bite,  
Some are muck-Worms slaves to wealth,  
Maw-Worms some that wrong the health,  
Some to the public no good willers,  
Cancker-Worms and Caterpillars;  
Found about the earth we're crawling,  
For a sorry life we're sprawling,  
Putrid stuff we suck, ●t fills us,  
Death then sets his foot and kills us.  
FINIS.