A THEATRE OF Political Flying-Insects. WHEREIN Especially the Nature, the Worth, the Work, the Wonder▪ and the manner of Right-ordering of the BEE, Is Discovered and Described. Together with Discourses, Historical, and Observations Physical concerning them. And in a Second Part are annexed Meditations, and Observations Theological and Moral, in Three Centuries upon that Subject. By Samuel Purchas, Master of Arts, and Pastor at Sutton in Essex. Entered according to Order. LONDON, Printed by R. I. for Thomas Parkhurst, to be sold at his shop, at the Three Crowns in Cheapside, over against the Great Conduit, 1657. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, Truly Noble, and Religious LORD, Robert Earl of Warwick, Baron of Leez, etc. RIGHT HONOURABLE, THE Creatures are the Book of Nature, as said Anthony the Hermit, who being demanded by a Philosopher, Socrat. hist. Eccles. l. 4. c. 18. Niceph. l. 1. c. 43. how he could possibly spend his time in the Wilderness, seeing he was destitute of Books? answered, My Book, O Philosopher, is the nature of all things created by God, which when I please, I can peruse and read. The world is God's Library, God manifested and drawn out; and all the creatures are as Glasses, in which we may see, and as Scaffolds and Ladders, by which we may ascend and draw nearer to him: For God is a light too strong for our sense, therefore we must (with him in the story) look for the Sun in the West, not in the East; behold the Lord as he is reflected, and refracted, first in the glass of his Creatures, and his Works: And then secondly, in the face of his dearest Son. God in the School of Nature, useth a method so suitable and correspondent to our dulness, that our meditations should not want in the Creatures Volumes (I may say) wherein to read most excellent admonitions and instructions: In every creature are they engraven in ordinary characters, and in lesser a print; as in the Scriptures, they be written in capital letters once, the Creatures are as a bright glass, wherein we may behold our God; For as God is a glass in heaven, wherein all his creatures are seen, lo are the creatures a glass upon earth, wherein we may behold Sir John Hayward, David's Tears. and know our God. They are Trumpets of his honour, witnesses of his worth, bellows of our love▪ spur● to our dulness, and judges of our unthankfulness. There is some good in all creatures, the meanest hath a beam of God's Majesty, yet some have more than others, the Bees more Oswald Crollii b● silica chimica. than (almost) any. That a little neglected creature should be so curious in Architecture, and in the fabric of her hexangle Combs should observe as just proportions as the best Geometrician, we should suspect for an untruth, if we saw it not daily practised by them. Nicostratus in Aelian, finding a curious piece of work, and being wondered at by one, and asked what pleasure he could take to stand as he did still gazing on the Picture? answered, Hadst thou mine eyes, my friend, thou wouldst not wonder, but rather be ravished as I am, at the inimitable art of this rare and admirable piece. I am sure no Picture can express so much wonder and excellency as the smallest Insect: But we want Nicostratus his eyes to behold them. And the praise of God's Wisdom and Raymundus in Theolog. naturali. Power, lies asleep and dead in every creature, until man actuate and enliven it. I cannot therefore altogether conceive it unworthy of the greatest mortals to contemplate the miracles of Nature, and that as they are more visible in the smallest, and almost contemptible creatures, for there most lively do they express the infinite Power and Wisdom of the great Creator, and erect and draw the minds of the most intelligent to the first and prime cause of all things, teaching them as the power, so the presence of the Deity in the smallest Infects. What should be presented to great men, but great and goodly gifts? In this perhaps many will comply with me, but then readily deny, that a Discourse of Infects is to be offered to your Honour; but I easily trample on such exceptions, for although the creatures herein handled, be so small that they cannot fully be known, and (as worthless, and useless) be undervalved by many, yet by judicious wise men, who measure things not by greatness, but by goodness, they will not only be prized, but praised; not only magnified, but admired. In all parts of natural Philosophy, the knowledge whereof is most difficult; the contemplation laborious, and the nature most obscure. I have Aldrovand●●d●●ector. (saith Aldrovandus) found that most difficult which is conversant about Infects, and that for their notable, and admirable smallness, which is the reason (saith he) that no man as far as I know, hath delivered many memorable things of them: Only Ar●stotle of the Grecians have discovered some things worthy to be known; and Pliny of the Latins somewhat more, which he collected from the Monuments of Greek and Latin Writers (which are now lost) and some few things besides there are, which later Writers have taken notice of, but all so lame and imperfect, that still much remains to be added and amended; and so brief and obscure, that many still are ignorant and deceived. Scaliger is very angry with Cardane, that Scalig. de subtle. ●xo●cit. 191. after Aristotle he should write of Bees, and add nothing new, nor true: Whereas learned Scaliger endeavouring to confute him, is guilty of many absurdities, I cannot but expect to hear the same reproach from some, whom I only request judiciously to read, and then to censure. L●psii Praefa●. ad ●▪ Saturnal. Embroiderers, of threads of divers colours (in the new world of various feathers) make a costly and delightful Hanging: So Writers out of a thousand parcels, an uniform, and agreeing body; whom I have laboured to imitate, where I have failed, pardon my weakness, and accept my good will. But my long Epistle is injurious to your Honours more necessary employments. The Lord preserve your Honour's person, with your Honourable Consort, and all the Noble Branches descended from you. Your Honour's humble and lowly Orator, Samuel Purchas. THE CONTENTS OF THE Several CHAPTERS. CHap. 1. Of the Excellency of Bee's Page 1. Chap. 2. Of the Name p. 2 Chap. 3. The Definition and Description p. 3 Chap. 4. Of the Kinds and Colours p. 8 Chap. 5. Bee's nature and properties p. 11 Chap. 6. Bee's Politics, Ethics, etc. p. 16 Chap. 7. Of the Bees senses p. 22 Chap. 8. Of the Queen-Bee p. 27 Chap. 9 Of the Drone p. 35 Chap. 10. Of the Generation of Bees p. 42 Chap. 11. Of the Hives, and ordering them p. 57 Chap. 12. Of Seats for the Hives, and Bee-Garden p. 61 Chap. 13. Of the Bees-work p. 67 Chap. 14. Of swarming, and hiving of Bees p. 77 Chap. 15. What Flowers the Bees gather of p. ●● Chap. 16. Of the ordering of Bees p. 96 Chap. 17. Of Bees breathing p. 107 Chap. 18. Of Bee's temperature, sleep, and age p. 108 Chap. 19 Of Bee's Fight and Robbing p. 111 Chap. 20. Of Bees Enemies and Sicknesses p. 116 Chap. 21. Of the Honeydew p. 123 Chap. 22. Of Hony p 135 Chap. 23. Of Tree-hony p. 147 Chap. 24. Of Wa●e p. 157 Chap. 25. Observations and discourses Historical and Fabulous p. 161 Chap. 26. Observations, Physical, etc. p. 169 Chap. 27. Of divers kinds of Wild-Bees p. 179 Chap. 28. Of the Wasp p. 181 Chap. 29. Of the Hornet p. 186 Chap. 30. Of Humble-Bees p. 188 Chap. 31. Of Grasshoppers p. 193 Chap. 32. Of American Bees p. 202 A Catalogue of such Authors as are cited, and made use of in this Tractate. A MR. R. Abbot Abynzoar J. Acosta Actuarius Aelian Aesop Mr. adam's Agatharsis Raimund de Agiles Cor. Agrippa Albertus A. Alcynt U●isses Aldrovan does F. Alvarez Alex. ab Alexand. Ambrose Andernacus Amyretus Jo. Anglicus Appian Alex. Aphrodiss. Hier. Fab. ab Aquapendente Aquinas Aristophanes Aristoteles Athanasius Atheneus Augustinus Avicenna Ausonius B Dr. Balcanqual Hermolaus Barbarus Baronius Bartudas Broughton Basil A. Battle Bauhinus Gorop. Becanus Beda A. Bellunensis Pet. Bellonius Bernardus Pseudo-Berosus Bodinus Bonfinius Mr. Bolton Gio. Botero Mr. Brathwayt Geor Brawn Mr. Butler Buxtor●ius C Cajus A●oys. Cadomustus Cae●. Calcag●●nus Calepine Calvinus Camden Camerarius Al. Campense T. Cantipratanus Julius Capitolinus Cardanus Georg. Cedrenus Cor. Celsus Ranulph Cestrensis Chaucer Chrisostomus Chyt●aeus Cicero Ped. de Cieca Claudian Dr. Cleland Mr. Cobbs Columella Natal. Comes Val. Cordus Fernand. Cortese Mr. J. Botto●▪ P Botto● Mr. Cowper Bishop▪ Elias Cretensis Pet. Crescentiensis Pet. Crini●us Crollius Aelius Jul. Crotta Cael. August. Curio▪ Q Curtius Cuspinianus Cyprian D Dalechampius Dr. Day Diodorus D. Dike Dion discords Mr. Down E Jacob Ekcelius Mr. Elton Marcel. Empyricus Epiphanius Erotis Estates of the world▪ Euripides Eustat●ius Eutropius F Fazelius Dr. Featly Fernelius Fran. Fernandus Marsil Fi●inus G. Fletcher Florentinus Mr. Fosbroke Franzius Otho. Frisingensis▪ Fuchsius Mr. Fuller J. Fungerus G Galenus Mr. Garey Mr. Gataker Theod. Gaza▪ Cor. Gemma Geminianus Gilpine Hier. Girova Rob. Gloce●●rensis Godignus Godwin Mr. T. Goodwin Ber. Gomesius Mi●dis Mr. Googe Gregorius magn. Gregorius Nazian. Mr. R. Greenham Hil. Greg. Gyrald. J. Ja. Gryneus Gualther An●. Guevara Guild H Hack●nit Dr. Hakewill Dr. Hall Mr. Harris Mr. Hartlib Dr. Harvey H. Hawkes I▪ de la Hay Sir Jo. Hayward Helmont Mr. Herbert Herodian Herodotus Ant. le Herrera Hesychius Hesiod Hieronimus Higinius Hilarius Mr. Hill Pet. Hispanus Hypocrates Mr. Hoard Mr. Holbroke Hollerius Dr. Holland▪ Homer Horatius Job Ho●●op Hugo Cardinal. I Mr. ●. Jacombe Dr. James Jarricius Dr. Jeniso● Josephus Indicus C. Jobson Dr. Jones Mr. Johnstone Josephus Jovius Isocra●es Isidorus Hispalen▪ Pelusiot. Silius Italicus Justine Juvenal K Dr. Kilbie Kimchie Dr. H. King Dr. J. King Kran●zius L Lactantius Dr. Lake Jo. Langius Mr. Lawson Levin. Lemnius Ambr Leo Jo. Leo Nicol. Leonicus Lerius Mr. Levit And. Libanius Linschoten Lipsius T. Livy Matth. de Lobel Mr. Lockyer Lucian Lucretius M Mocrobius Magirus J. Magnus Olaus Magnus Majolus Bapt. Mantuan. Martial Episcop. Poeta. Matth. Martinius Marullus Matthiolus Pet. Matthew Mr. May Menosa Hier. Mercuri●lis Mr. Merideth Mesue Ped. de Mexia Mr. Milles Jo. Miletius Mizaldus Rhodol▪ Modius Moryson Mouffetus N Nicander Nicephorus Nicetas Nigidius Niphus Joach. Nizaeus O Julius Obsequens Onesicritus Paulus Orosius Adamant. Origines Ortelius Osorius Ovid Oviedo P Dr. Page, Sanct. Pagninus Palladius Guid. Pannyrollus Paracelsus Pausanias Pennius Perottus F. Picolomineus Phavorinus Philo J. Picus, E. of Miran. Pigafetta Pineda Geor Piscatorius Guil. Plantius Dr. Playfere Plautus Pliny Plutarch Polanus Polybius Porcacc●i Dr. Preston Dr. Prideaux Dr. Primrose Mr. Purchas R Mr. Randal Raymundus Mr. Remnant Mr. Reyner Mr. Reynolds Ramusio Beat. Rhenanus R●bera Matth. Ricius Rivetus Cael. Rhodiginus Mr. Roberts Mr. Rollenson Hier. Romano Rosinus Mr. Rowlandson Hieron. Rubeus S M. A. Coc. Sabellicus Salmeron Hen. Salmouth Salvian Sands Mr. Sanderson P. San●lorus Joaon does Santos Jo. Sa●isberiensis J. Caes. Scaliger Dr. Sclater T. Scot Scr●bonius Largus Selden Seneca Servius Dr. Sibs J. Silvester Huld●ichus Smidel Socrates Solinus Sophocles Mr. Southern Spanhemus Spencer J. Stobaeus Mr. Stock Dr. Stoughton Strabo Valfridus Strabus Mr. S●●uther Stuckius Mr. J. Stanes F. Stancarus Sylva●icus F. Suarez Suidas Mr. Swift Mr. Sym T C. Tacitus Tarnovius Dr. Jer. T. Tailor Tertullian J. Ra. Textor Theocri●us Theodoret Theophilact Theophrastus Ped. Teixeira A. Thevet Mich. Toxites Max●mil. Transilvanus A. Turnebus Geor Turonensis Willer. Tyrensis Arch. Tze●zes V Valerius Maximus F. Valesius Valleriola▪ Varro Garrillasso de la Vega L. Verulam Vigetius Vincentius Virgil Polyd. Virgll Vi●●chindus Fulvius U●sinus Dr. Usher W Dr. Wall Dr. S. Ward Mr. Watson Weckerus Dr. William's Jod Willichius X Xenophon Z Zanchy TO THE Author upon his Physio-theological History of BEES. WHence this brave flame? and to what sacred fire (Divine Prometheus●▪) do thy thoughts aspired Mysterious Nature takes it ill, to be dethroned from her retired Majesty: Thy daring hand hath taken off her dress, And showed her naked, midst her hid recess: Thou hast broke up her Archives, and hast set To sale, her Jewel, and her Cabinet: Her Iliad in her Nut; and now thy Bee Is not her work, but her Anatomy, Which thou hast handled too, at such a rate, That '●were but one step higher to create; Thou hast her Miracle so here made known 'Twas never hers once, more, then 'tis now thine own; Hers at the best was natural, but thine Is through thy learned labour made divine; Paradise is her flowery Garden, whence She sucks Elixir all, and Quintessence, This sacred sympathy we never did know Till thy high soa●ing search had found it so: That which we all have yet admined was but The shell, thou only feastedst on the Nut; Whilst towering far above our common sense Thou takest▪ heaven by thy violence; And with thy soul on wing, invad'st the sky, Bringing us Angels Manna from on high In pious raptures; thus this work of thine Gives us another table Smaragdine; Above and Here are like, the Gordian Twist Is thus unravelled by our Trismegist: Now Heaven and Earth in one combined we see▪ And God and Nature centred in a BEE; This we must owe to th●e, thy learned sweat Bankrupts, and leaves us dying in thy debt: Pardon me then if unto thee I do Assert the keys of Earth and Heaven too: Gather our Bees! and hived from Envies harm, Thrive may those stocks from whence these Grace's swarm. N. T. Upon the Authors Elaborate Treatise of BEES. Brokers' in verse condemn it as a crime To preface Tissue with a ragged rhyme. Oh this doth strike me dumb! and bids me look, I draw no Curtain to eclipse thy Book: No, if my Lackey-muse sets out, poor she Runs but to take up eyes to gaze on thee: Let others soundthy worth in silver mettle Whilst to thy Bees I ●ang a jarring Kettle. My Muse had kept at home, but that she sees Even Drones themselves indulged amongst thy Bees: I've sometimes viewed thy small Volaticks fly, Like golden atom's hovering in the sky; And then descending gently one by one, Like curled locks dishev'ld from the Sun. This object pleased me well, but when I spy By wings of fancy poised with gravity: Thy thoughts to soar a higher pitch, why then My mind's unpleased, but better pleased again: I've peeped into thy Hive, thy Book, and I Find Bees t'have less of art and industry; And sweetness too, and so must needs confess I long to taste thy honey from the press. Each page a comb, each word's a bell from whence Mellifluous dew's distil in eloquence. Were I to lead thy troops, hither I'd fly On every leaf to prove their Chemistry. Here tired and weary thoughts may sweetness scan, And reassume new life with jonathan. Thy observation's quick, what thou hast writ Speaks thee Dame Nature's chiefest favourite. The thoughts of various Authors thou hast shown, And proved them flye-blown fancies of their own: Thou knowest each Bee, their flight, and tracts their stage, And so hast wrote a second Pilgrimage. One honeyed o'er a Tyrant's eye to feast Did run the Gantlope through a Hornets nest. Wasp-like, who at thy Book exceptions take Makes thee a Martyr for thy sweetness sake. Io. Angier. Ad venerabilem Apiarium Authorem, Mr. Sam. Purchas Ministrum, de Poly-historico suo Mellificio; nec non lectorem candidum, carmen Anagrammaticum. Samuel Percas Nomen Mel, curas apes Anagram. MEl curas & apes, mag● oves has diligis illos Ne ●ugis, aut ullo negligis ipso modo. Sancta Theologiae pandit mysteria docte Sic tua conscribit suada Philo-lo●ia Rhetorem & historicum libro nunc asplee docto Ecce Minister ovum, atque ecce Magister apum. Ja. Norricius. To the Reader upon the Philo-logical and Theo-sophical Treatise of BEES. WHat Aristotle, Pliny, wrote before, Virgil, Aldrovana, Scaliger, Butler more; In this one book see thou mayest more than any, And marvel not if that I do say many. All that have written of these Infects nature So much, which very little are in stature. I do not know whether for mine own part Bee's nature most, t'admire, or Master's art; Who centuries hath perused, his eloquence Besides experience, mark t'history, Philosophy, i'th' Treatise, Theol'gy, You may call't an Encuclopedy, all For tongues, arts, matter, pos'tive polem'cal; A Beehive for thy life, most full of honey Purchase then this Purcasan work, thy money 'Twill far excel, exceed to thee as gainful, As 'twas though pleasant, to the Writer painful: For a subject so good you can't less give, Give then good words, and praise it while you live: Or else amend, choosing, or to do better, Or to desist from the censorious letter: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Critical, the letter of condemnation, Becman. See the Latin Anagram. There's honey in his name, more in his book, Which is mellifluous, come cast as look; Make this Anthology Pantol'gy thine Ambrosian Purchas Nectar Divine. I wonder not it is so natural For thee to be 'bout Bees historical. This Treatise framed with such artifice Shows some paternal metemsychosis: Though some Antilogists shall vilify The Work, Workman, both have my Eulogy. To Zoilus. Can Mim●s do the like, will Momus like This Polanthean Pantologick book? With tongue or pen do not perstringe or strike, Pie not be Mome, nor Mime, to be I look While Bees shall be, and shall their Honey give This Bee-masters name, fame, when dead shall live. ja. Norrice Pastor of Ca●ondun. Upon the Author's Learned and Elaborate Treatise of BEES in both parts of it, an Encomiastic. REader, read here a book of BEES dissected; Their nature, stature, feature, parts detected; Their feeding, breeding, building, industry, Their prudence, providence, sagacity, Their peace, their war, their love, their mortal hate, Their Prince their Leaders, order in their state; All these and more unfolded in such wise, That it a Hive of glass, thou mayest surmise. Then magnify this little Creatures Maker, That (it) of such endowments made partaker; Wherein his Wisdom, and his power Divine (As in the heavens above) do clearly shine In text hand-writing; whatthou there dost see, In smaller letters here imprinted Bee. Next praise the Author's Belike diligence, His reading, learning, long experience. And then read on to that which follows next, On the second ●●rt. Ecclesiast. 12. 10. The Preachers Sermon on this pretty Text, Doctrine distilling like the Honeydew, Mellifluous, most pleasant, upright, true. O gather then the Honey from these leaves, Those vices fly to which thy nature cleaves. And learn those virtues which the Bees do teach▪ Thine understanding, else this book don't reach. By his loving Friend and Neighbour, T. P. Master of Arts, P. P. Ad doctum Authorem, in Mellifluam ipsius de Apibus historiam carmen, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. FLoribus eximiis mel Apes producere lustrant Sic (Purchas) libris roseida mella legis. Quae veteres scripsere diu, tutestibus aequis Arte probas; Laudem dulce loquatar opus Tractatus doctus, permisce●s utile dulci; S●illans delicias Religione liber. Hic labor, hoc opus est, Apibus medicina salubris Conditur, ac medicam porrigis arte manum. Mystica naturae narras, amor urge● habendi Nectar Apis? placida discutis historia. Gratulor ingenium, librum dum men●e revolvo, Mel sapi● scriptis cum pietate ●ovum, Guil. Rogers A. M. Upon the Author's Treatise of BEES. WHat Creature is't that God hath made? But emblems forth some signal shade Of that divine and highest power, Who makes, unmakes, all in an hour, The sea is filled with small and great, The earth as full, and most complete, The glorious heaven beyond compare, That place where Saints and Angels are: The basest worm, who eats but dust, Speaks glorious praise, and that most just; Unto that God who made us all In his own way; mysterial. The eye of man is over dim To see the glory that's in him: His hinder parts we may behold Which he in Nature doth unfold, Here is the Bee, a creature small Which Sans, the rest, may teach us all His pains, who hath this Bee expressed, Shows whether Be or Drone be best; Who reads this work shall therein find A skilful pen, an honest mind. Peruse it well, and thou shalt see More Honey here than in the Bee. Io. Loane Minister of Little Stambridge. In Melissologiam a viro omnifariam docto Domino Purchaso Elogium. PLurima mandantur chartis de Apibus M●nimenta, Parvi a● moments; plaeraque ficti●iis Atque putatitiis v●nis sunt scriptar● ferta, Munous vult falli credulus & fa●uus Falsum pro ver● torpenti Com te pressus Dev●rat, (bine sophia maximus ill● labor Negligitur) satis esse putans in verba Magistri jurare, indubium quicquid id ipsus ai● Amplectens: Genio arridet fallacia dulcis Quodque ●ove● pigrum semper erit placidum. Sedlater in pu●ei veneranda scien●ia fund● An●lare ac debet continuo rigidus Qui studet optalum tandem comprendere Adeptum Ille nucem frangat qui volet & nucleum. Hoc iter adverum, quo tu mi Purchase docte Tendebas, credent nobilius sapere Ex rebus quam libris, mox commercia agebas Parvis cum Insectis in quibus ipse Deut Emicat illustris, quorum Idi●ma tenebas. (Qui Polyglossus eras) ingenio facili. Numinis hac tibi pandebant Magnalia summi Atque loquebant●r scibile quicquid erat De esse suo, absque mora ●u Pyramidalia tecta Ingrediens lustras Doedalea illa opera De coitu, Genesi, partu, pastuque stupendo Horum quid reginen, quae Polit●ia mane● Illis contemplaris, quae ad civilia bella Spectant, ad pacem quomodo sint reduces, Ambrostum succum quis sit modus eliciendi Stirpibus evariis arte sua Chymica. I●super ●is de parvis mille Arcana recludis M●llificis, penitus quae latuere alios. Quocirca tibi qui debetur bonore rependet Quicunque ingenuus, proferet & merit● Cunctis hac in re palmam preripuisse. Plus & Apes viles insti●uisse suum Impigrum Dominum de Diis, morum prob●tate Occonomi cura, regis & officio Qua spectam populum quem immensa volumina quorum Lector in hoc solo nititur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. G. T. To the Learned Author of this Belike laborious Treatise. What shall I praise the Author or his pen, Or run division twixt them both? oh than My Muse would tyre, his name needs not my lays His father's Pilgrimage erst beware the bays; I then will sing the praise of Monarchy In female sex, whose curious industry; Just rule, sweet concord and frugality; Mortals amaze, when into it they pry. But learned Purchas spite of spears is bold Their Castle to assault, and doth unfold Their nature, kinds, products, and curious works▪ Their valour, order, wealth, and what ere lu●ks Within the concaves of their golden wall He hath spied out, and doth impart to all Much worth's in least of things I now believe The busy Bee hath taught me from her Hive. Sith Nature's Ark's broke open, come all and view, Mysterious arts, secrets both old and new, But herein doth excel his proved skill Surpassing far the rudeness of my quill, Grave meditations both Moral and Divine, He hath extracted from dark Nature's mine; Much labour hath procured this precious oar, And gathered honey sweet sucked from each flower: And thus by imitation truly wise He doth not scorn to learn of puny slyes. Thank then the Author, admire the little Bee, But give the God of Wisdom praises free. Muse now be silent, let himself relate The rare news he'ath brought from Scythian state. I●. Fisher. ERRATA. PAge 9 l. 6. blot ou●● in Sc●liger, p. 10. l. 3 blot out not, p. lb. l. 14. r. about the Cape de burn Speranz●, so black, yet both under the same Tropic, why the Abyssines are but Tawny Moors, when as, etc. p. lb. l. 16 r. are very black, p. 12. l. 38 r. quiescent, p. 15. l. 22. r. A●drovandus, p. 30 l. 34. r. out of, p 30. in marg. r. Pod. de Mexla, p 35. l. 17 r. wasters, p. 42. l. 1. for may r. nay. p. ●4, l. 31. r. Aristotle: p 45. l 5. r. sit: p. 46. l. 37. r. milk: p. 47. l. 28. r. analogous: p. 49, l 37. for none, r. any: p. 51. l. 22. for for, r. from: p. 52. l. 6. r. excrements: p. 75. l. 20 r. sicula: p. 75. l. 21. r▪ Hymettis; p 75. in marg r. Maiop●●m●s▪ p▪ 97. l. 5. r. Mouse; p 99 l. 16. blot out then; p. 101 l. 19 r put a▪ p. ib. l. ●4. r. upon the empty hive; p. 104. in m●rg. r. Fazellus; p. ●10. l. 34. r. tattered; p. 115. l. 16. r. second ● p. 119. in marg r. Joaon does, etc. p. 122. l. 4. for after, r. often; p. 128. l. 10. blot out their; p. 130. l. 14. r. Pancy●ollus, p. 131. l. 4. blot out of; p. ib. in mar. r. Pancyrollus; p. 133. l. 20 blot out dew; p. 138. l. 32. blot out ascribed; p. 144. l. 10. should have been placed p. 143. l 35, p. 157. l. 18. r. Hollerius; p ib. l 35. r G●z●, p 160. l. 34, blot out which; p. ib l. 35 r. on the other side; p. 161. l. 10. r. Hermonax; p. 164▪ in marg. r. Tit. Livius; p. 165. l. 8. r. Olynth●a● p. 173 l. 7. for one ounce of; r. out of; p. 179. l. 29. r transverse; p 185 l. 32. r. once, p. 190. l. 1▪ blot out if; p. ib. l. 20. r. continue; p 195. l. 27 r. ●usset; p. ib. l▪ 36. r. yet within all, etc. p. 201. l. 5. r. once; l. 16. r Diaconus▪ ERRATA in the Second part. Page 258. in marg. r. D. Dike; p 261. l. 21. r. return; p. 267. l. 21. r. maketh them consistent; p. 310. l. 14. r. stubborn; p. 311. l. 5 r. make; p. 318. l. ult. r. spat; p. 3●5 l 20. r. wrought; p. 348. l 32. r. rain; l. 33. r. Bees; p. 364. l. 15. for ●angle, r tail; p. 370. last ●ine, for Drones ● Doves. p. 374. l. 6 r Plaucus; l. 24. r. in Pitchers; l. 26 r. advantage; p. 376. l 17. r. admit; l. 18 for were, r. are; p. 381. l. 12. for 10, r. T●; p. 382. l. 8. r. quaesitum; p. 386. l. 27. r. which i●; p. 387. l 9 r. last. A Theatre of Political Flying Infects. CHAP. I. The Excellency of Bees. Bees' are the most excellent of all Infects whatsoever, and express both worth and wonder in all their ways: They only afford delightful food, and pleasant nourishment for man, whereas the best in other kinds serve only for Physic, or the pleasure of the eye, or the delight of the ear, or the clothing of the body: the most part whereof is by these also some way or other abundantly supplied; so that nature's power is no less in Bees, than in the greatest, and most perfect creatures; Jo. Rains. Text. Epithet. Dr Jones Comment in Epist. ad Philem. Carden. l. 7. de Variet●t, rerum. for he that made the Camel, and the Elephant, made the Bee too. This is somewhat, but yet not enough; because they are the most excellent Creatures for Prudence, and profit, except man; and indeed the divine wisdom hath thus ordered it, that we might understand that Prudence consists not in the greatness of the body, but in the mind, which hath no need of magnitude, but as it is less, is so much the more excellent. Here is magnum in parvo, a little in quantity, but much in worth and quality. The Bee is a little creature, but God's smallest springs prove at length main Oceans, his least beginnings grow into great works, great wonders. Who can imagine that so many plights and joints, connexion's, and concatenations, should be orderly disposed in so small a fabric? That in a body so little, the joints should move so actively, the wings stir so nimbly, the sting penetrate so deeply, the senses utter forth themselves so sharply, Nay, the lungs, (though scarcely visible) to breathe so powerfully, Chrysost. Comment in Epist. Paul ad Philip. c. 2. c. 4. doth any then glory, or is proud for his skill in various arts! What in this respect is wiser, or better instructed than the Bee? What Artificer is so various, what Painter, what Geometrician can imitate her works? Why do we then marvel at the Tower-bearing shoulders of Elephants, and not rather where Nature hath planted so many senses, and such industry in such little bodies? where is hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling, yea where are the Pliny saith, no creature can live or move without them. Veins and Arteries in these so little bodies, which a little distance from us can scarcely be seen with our eyes: And what shall we say of the parts of the same? and yet in this little Bee is such sagacity and industry, as the like is not seen in creatures of greater quantity. The great Artifex of Nature hath enlarged the smaller creatures with wisdom, and invention, so teaching that greatness Tertul. adversus Martion. lib. 1. is to be found in meanness (as the Apostle saith) strength in infirmities. Imitate if thou canst the Bees buildings, the Aunt's hills, or lodgings, the Spider's nets, the Silkworms webs. Such therefore are not a little mistaken, who affirm that there is neither much strength, nor yet such beauty in small creatures, Ant. of Guevara famil. Epist. as in the greater; nay, that whereas the greater, as the Elephant, and Horse are profitable, the lesser serve only to offend, whereas what Creature for profit can compare to the Bee, or the Silkworm? And though the greatest thing the Vulgar praise her for, is her laborious industry, yet indeed the least thing that may be praised in her, is her industry. For, If old times admire Calicrates For Ivory Emmets, and Mermeoides Du. B●●●●s fifth. day. For framing of a rigged Ship so small, That with her wings a Bee can hide it all. Admire we then th' all wise omnipotenc●, Which doth within so narrow space dispense So stiff a sting, so stout and valiant ●eart▪ So loud a voice, so prudent wit, and art: Their well ruled state, my soul so much admires That durst I lose the reignt of my desires, I gladly could digress from my design, To sing a while their sacred discipline. CHAP. II. Of the Name. IN Hebrew a Bee is called, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deborah, from the order of their work, which they frame with admirable art and industry; Among the Greeks, Bee● had various names, according to the variety of Nations; and Countries, but the most Vulgar was, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (and Hesiod hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, from Honey, whereof the Bee is the Chemical preparer) and they are also called, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, because no Insect is so profitably industrious. The Latins call them Apis and Apes, because as Virgil, they are trunca pedum prime, first bred without feet: And indeed the Worm or Potential Bee, called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Scbad●n, is without legs, but after her Metamorphosis (of which afterwards) she comes forth a six-legged creature, but because this Etymology answers not Analogy, as other compounds, it is supposed by others to be a simple word: So also Servius and Pyr. Perottus in C●rnu●op. Lucian therefore calls them, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, A. Canlep. in dictionar. The word Bee, according to Goropius, is originally Dutch, Gorop. Be●an. Her●●th. lib ● and therefore English; and so composed (saith he) because it affords us many things: Wax, for curing of dolours, wounds, Ulcers; for lights, Ceare-cloath, and many other things; and for Honey it would require a day's work to declare the benefit and worth thereof. And though these be great benefits, yet there are more excellent and remarkable to be observed from this Creature: For every Commonwealth, every Kingdom receive their best directions and precepts, whereby the duties of the King towards the people, and of the people towards the King, and of the Citizens among themselves are most clearly taught. If they hold forth any patterns to us, we readily write after them, and practise them. For it signifies also, saith ●ee, to command or rule, because it is the same supreme Majesty, that affords and bestows all things, and commands all things. Wherefore the Architect of words by a singular prudence hath commended to us Monarchy, included in certain limits by the name of Bee; which state whosoever attains, it is necessary that he imitate the King of Bees, who so deports and carries himself, that he is beloved, provided for, and protected by all the Bees; and yet in the mean time so far from offering injury or wrong to any, that he hath no sting to hurt any (so Goropius) but which i●truer and better, he never useth it to the hurt of any. CHAP. III. The Definition and Description of a Bee. A Bee is a Flying Insect, four winged, six legged, best skilled in making of Honey, her shape is little, brown, bowing, oblong, not globous, as some: Her eyes are covered with Mouffet. Theatr. insector. a horny membrane, or tunicle for their better defence and safeguard; they are of a shining black, like Jet, transparent as Arist. de par●ibus, animal. lib. 2. ●. 13. and also Plin. lib. 11. c. 37. Glass, immovable, contrary to Aristotle, who saith, all Infects move their eyes, as fourfooted beasts their ears; not sunk within their heads (as Mouffetus) but somewhat prominent, no eyebrows: Their eyes are placed on the outside of their cheeks, or rather are in stead of cheeks; o● long, greater above than below, through which the species of things visible are conveyed to the common sense. The horns are called by Aristotle, Antennae, because they hold them forth before them; They are very pliable, and readily bending almost every way: they grow almost at the top of either eye, for defence with two joints, one close to the head, the other towards the middle, so that she can put them forth at full length, when she will, and draw them d●wn again close to her head: And they are the proper instruments of the sense of feeling by which, with the least touch, she suddenly scenteth any tangible object, The Drones eyes are far larger, being almost two thirds of their head, with two movable wreathed horns, growing out together between the eyes, but extending like a fork. For gathering her provision, she hath two instruments, her fangs, and her tongue; her fangs in fashion of a pair of pincers, hang not as the jaws of other things, one over another, but sideways, one against the other: Her tongue is of that length, that her mouth cannot hold it, but being doubled between her fangs under her throat, it reacheth to her breast; it is divided into three parts, whereof the two outmost serve as a case to cover the third, which being the chief, the Bee in her work, putteth forth beyond the other, and draweth in again as she pleaseth, and this third is likewise parted into three; so that there are five in all. In their fangs or chaps, wherein are their teeth, their principal strength consisteth; for in their conflicts, where they slay one with their sting, they kill twenty with their teeth, quickly biting off the wings, or breaking the legs of their adversaries: And therefore Mr. Butler was somewhat deceived, who accounteth this pinching of other Infects (for against them only do they▪ use them) to be rather a chiding, than a fight, a warning, than a punishment; being indeed a deadly and mortal instrument of revenge; so that after a battle you shall see them lie sprawling, hopping away, and crawling in great multitudes, either drawing on the ground one, or more of their legs, or doubling the nether part towards the ground, or turning the same awry to the one side, or other, but as many as are bitten, within a short space will certainly die. They ●unne at first limping away, but survive very little: And that they are not stung to death, that in such variety of motions, proclaim their various hurts is very apparent. First, Because there is no sting appearing in them; nay, more die lamed in their legs, than hurt in all other parts; and besides, their legs are not susceptible of a sting: And if you observe many of them, before they be let go by their Antagonists, the Victor retains her sting still: But saith one, their skin is so thin and Mr. Remnant Hist. of Bee●. c. 3. dry, their spears come away again without hurt to themselves; but this is not so, for I have often seen them stricken in their backs, and breasts, and also between their plights, or ringles of their nether part, and the sting herein detained. It is true in a great Carnage, very few are stricken with their sting, or spear which they are loath to use, when their fangs will right them; as they will against ●osects, because it is deadly also to themselves. — Animamque in vulnere ponit. But their stings they chiefly use against men, beasts, and Fouls, for knowing that their bitings are little, or no way prejudicial against such able creatures, they will kill themselves to injure others: for their sting like a barbed arrow, once entered into skin or flesh, is holden so fast, that they cannot draw it out again; and when they would be gone, leave therefore a part of their entrails fastened to it, so that when they overcome by stinging, they get a Cadmian victory, loseing thereby their own lives. They are hairy almost all over their bodies, especially the forepart. A Bee hath four dry pelluced skinny wings (and so have all Infects that live in fields, and wander about for their food) two Aristot. de partibus animal. lib. 4. c. 6. ● are growing near together, on either side of their shoulders, but the inmost are somewhat shorter than the other, lest they should hinder their flying; and these swiftly convey them into every place (though some miles remote) round about their habitations, until by often using of them, they grow torn and jagged (the infallible characters of old age, and death) and are unable to support them, yet will they venture forth (but with the price of their lives) not being able to return. The hinder part of their bodies is full of rings, or plights, of Cardan. de subtle lib. 9 which this reason is given: the beginning of motion must be in some part, which if it were hard, could not be moved, but with the legs, as Crabs, but if it were all soft, it could much less be moved, because there is nothing firm; and therefore there is a necessity of these rings, that interchangeably the hard parts may be mixed with the soft. Their tails are somewhat sharp (the Drones more obtuse) within which is their stings joined to their entrails, which ordinarily lie bid (as Aristotle) lest they should be spoiled, but they readily exert, and put them out on all occasions rather (as I said) co offend men, and beasts, than their own kind: there is another use of them for the consumption of the superfluous Avicen de anim ●. lib. 8. c. 3 humidity. They have a place for evacuation under them, and for generation also, as some conceive. Her feet are six, dew-clawed, pliant, full of joints, hairy; and as it were, two toes at the extremity of either foot: her hindmost feet are longest, that she may put them forward to her foremost, which receive from her tongue the Bee-bread, and wax, and working it on the thighs of the hindmost, she stands in the mean time on the middlemost; and though she can, and doth ordinarily stand and go on all her feet, yet the two foremost have with her the use of hands, therewith she strokes and clears her eyes, before her setting out, but principally in her working for the disposing of her labours to her thighs. All her feet are scabrous, and rough, to take hold at the first touch, and not that the flowers which they carry may readily stick on them, as one saith; this cannot be, for they carry no flowers, but suppose him to understand the Bee-bread gathered of flowers, yet still he fails, Aldro▪ vand. de▪ Insectis. lib. ●. for this is carried on the thighs, and only of the hinder feet. In their head is a brain, their back and breast is a kind of reddish fibrous flesh, in their stomach, is a heart and other necessary members (of which more afterwards) in the hinder part of their bodies, is a little bottle, or bladder (it is not in the stomach, as Mouffet delivers) the mouth of it reacheth, or openeth into the stomach. In this they carry honey, which with their heat, they defecate; purge, and concoct, whereby it lasts longer than all Aerial Honey, or Manna, and rarely, if at all, corrupts. Sometimes they carry water likewise in this bottle, and not in their bill, according Mr. Hill Treatise of right ordering Bees. to Mr. Hill his expression, nor yet in the soft mossiness of their whole bodies, as he also delivers; they have but one contracted entral, which extended, is as long as the body: The excrements are liquid, fluid, and yellow. Aristotle in the Description of the Chameleon, a vile (and in many Countries a Vulgar) Creature, is very exact, particular, Julius Caesar Scaliger come. in Aristot. de Hist. Animal. lib. 2. c. 14. and large. Scaliger having commended this, and wished for like diligence in others, saith, My judgement is, that a Philosopher must omit nothing, for though some things be known to some, yet it is a secret to many, wherefore, whosoever writes, seeing he wites to all, must do this common courtesy to all. I question not, but that many will account me too full, nay, tedious many times in this discourse; but I cannot shut a long foot into a little shoe, nor enclose so many Iliads of observations (as one did the Iliads of Homer) in a Nut shell; for this Ecclesia. cap. 11. v. 3. would prove an indecorum, for though the Bee is little among such as fly, yet her fruit is the chief of sweet things; and she is full of wisdom▪ and as the great Ocean hath in it things creeping innumerable, both of small and great beasts, so doth the Bee afford observations innumerable. Political, Moral, Physical, and Metaphisical, it is no wonder then if the Fishermen in this Sea cannot take all, yet with industry may they have draught enough, and such plenty of various speculations as may delight, if not satisfy the patient Reader. Too much curiosity may drown us with Aristotle in the bottom of the Sea, or burn us with Pliny on Mount V●s●vius. CHAP. IU. Of the Kinds and Colours of Bees. ARistotle reckons nine sorts of Bees, and Scaliger commends Aristot. de Hist. Animal. lib. 9 c. ●0. this distribution, wishing he had been so exact in other creatures, whereas here he abounded more in words, than things. Albertus, herein Aristotle's Ape, enumerates as many, but Albert. Mag. tract. 4. c. 2. in strange and barbarous terms, which it seems he forged in the shop of his invention: But whatsoever the Ancients have related concerning divers kinds, and some neoterics, to appear as knowing as any in former ages, have described; we in these parts of the world acknowledge (because we know) but one sort of Domestic honey gathering Bee: Some indeed live in woods, as wild, others in hives, as more familiar and mild; but these interchangeably shift their habitations: And I question not, but the wilder (because more remote from the company Aristot. de Hist. lib. 5. c. 19 of men) by familiarity will prove as gentle as any. Aristotle commends a little round Bee in the first place, and in the next that which is somewhat long, and in shape (not colour) like a wasp. But (as I said) we have in these parts of Europe, but one sort of domestic Bee. And yet Pliny, Varro, Columella; and in a word, all receive this distribution of Bees from him; And which is more, he confounds the Drone into two sorts, a Thief and a Drone, which Scalliger reconcileth well thus, that by the Thief is to be understood that which others call a Drone. Varro citing Menocrates tells us of three kinds of Bees, one Varro de re rust. lib. ●. black, a second red, a third particoloured, which he commends for the best. In all the Islands of the Moluccas their honey is made of Pigafetta. certain Flies less than Ants. It is a report not confirmed by any, but supposing it true, the Bees (not Flies) were small, like unto the American Bees, and the Ants great, such as are in some parts of the Indies greater than our Flies. Moreover, there is some difference in the bigness of Bees, but it is accidental, for they that are loaded (especially with water or honey) seem greater and longer than those that are empty. The Nymphs also when they come first abroad are not grown to the full bigness, which afterwards they have; and the old ones do wither and become little again. Likewise in these three Ages their colours also do vary; for in their middle age they are brown, whereas before they are more pale, and at the last they grow grey, of whitish again, but these are differences of Bees in the same hive, and not of one hive from another, since these divers sorts are in every Hive. Natal▪ Com. Mythiolog. lib. 2. The report is, That all Bees were at first of an Iron colour, but for feeding of jupiter, had this reward bestowed on them to be changed into a golden colour. But not to insist upon Fables. In some Countries there be white Bees, Aristotle saith, in Pontus. Many such are in America, not because they are thinner, or of a more transparent substance, or feed more sinely as some, rather they are a fainter and feebler kind of Bees, for L. Verulam Silva S●lva●um cent. 1. 5. white is a penurious colour, and where moisture is scant, so blue Violets, and other flowers, if they be starved, turn pale and white. Some assign this as a cause of colours, the excrementitious moisture, which as it passeth through a courser, or more fine, and delicate strainer, so are the colours brighter or darker. Others, Bees are not therefore brown or black, because their thin substance is easily dried, and that which is burnt and Card de v●rietat ●er. c. 28. moist as a coal becomes black. Nor are Bees of one colour more than Wasps, because they feed of fewer sorts of food, than Wasps: For colours are disposed unto all things by the great Arist. de gen. animal. l. 5. c. 6 Creator, of which no more certain reason can be given, then why some men are Negroes, others are not. Now Negroes are not black by reason of their seed, this is confuted by Aristotle; nor yet by the heat of the climate, for this is confuted by experience, in that Countries as hot, produce Selden's illustrate. on Drayt. Polyalbion▪ ●. song. of a different colour, who can certainly show why about the Magellanique-S●raits they are so white? about the Cape de Buon Speranza, when as in the East-Indian Isle, ●●ilan, and the Coast of Malabar, they are black both in the same parallel. Nor of the soil as some have supposed, for neither haply will Onesicritu● apud Strabon▪ l. 11. other races in that soil prove black, nor that race in other soils grow to be better complexioned; but rather upon the curse of Noab upon Cham, or the posterity of Chus. But of this can we be no more assured of than the former; for Chus inhabited a part of Mesopotamia watered by Gyon, a river of Paradise, and one of the branches of Euphrates. Sands Relat. lib. 2. Some leaving the hot impressions in the air, attribute it to the dryness of the earth, as though the Libyan Deserts were not more dry (and yet the people no Negroes) than many parts of Africa, where they are all blacks. Some ascend above the Moon to call some heavenly constellation and influence into this Consistory of nature, and there will I leave them; yea, I will send them further, to him that hath reserved many secrets of nature to himself, and hath willed us to content ourselves with things revealed: As for secret things both in heaven and earth, they belong to the Lord our God, whose holy Name be blessed for ever, for that he hath revealed to us things most necessary both for soul and body in the things of this life, and that which is to come. CHAP. V. Bee's nature and properties. BEES are neither absolutely wild, nor altogether tame creatures, but of a middle nature between both. Some Bees are not (as some conceit) ignorant or negligent in gathering honey, and framing their combs, but yet serviceable in meaner employments (as fetching water, watching, and warding) but all are naturally skilful in all their proper labours, and interchangeably perform them. Their sting is more often the cause of their ruin, than instrumental for their relief; for losing it (which they always do when they sting) they avoidable lose their lives; but with the fear of it they often chase away timorous persons from their Hives. Some fancy that the cause of their humming noise while they fly, i●, lest they should be deprehended for thiefs; whereas the robbing Bee, or thief, boldly discovers his purpose, as soon as he comes near the hive which he intends to assault, with a loud threatening noise, proclaiming their destruction, if they shall resist, and not willingly permit their goods to be plundered, endeavouring by fear to betray the courage that self-preservation should arm them with. That some Bees stay at home to receive the labours of those Arist. in histot. Anim. l. 9 c. 40. that go to work (as Aristotle delivers) is but a fable; he saith the Bees returning from their labour, shake themselves, and three or four attend and follow, and ease them of their burden. That they carry in a windy season little stones to poise themselves, is a false relation; yet in a storm they will help themselves by flying under the Lee-side of an hedge, or encompassing a high and hilly place (if there be any) and so as it were by making a board (as Seamen speak) take the advantage of the wind. But if it be a plain Champaign Country, where evasions avail nothing; then if the wind blow strong against them, they fly low, and almost close to the ground, and rest often. Aristotle saith, The smaller Bees are more industrious than the greater; his reason is, their wings are worn and jagged, their colour black, and their backs bowing, when saith he, the greater are smooth and beautiful (like idle women) when indeed they are originally of one magnitude, but growing old, their bodies, are small thin, and grey, and their wings torn and tattered, a certain symptom of an approaching death, whereas the others beauty, and lustiness is a Crisis of their youth, not their idleness. In the morning they are hushed and still, saith Aristotle, until one (surely the Master of the watch) with two or three loud buzzings calls them all up as it were to work: But no such exciting sound could I ever hear; nay I am confident there is none at all. But some such like thing is practised by the Apes which some have transferred to the Bees. Near the River Gambra in Africa, and in many other places ●●pt. Jobsons' Golden trade. it is certain, that the Apes gather together towards night, some hundreds in a company, and in the trees (especially near the River's side) dance their Lav●lita's, and perform many strange Garbo●les; but about the setting of the Sun, one of the company (called by the English Mr. Constable) with two or three loud voices ceaseth all their disports, and after that they continue quiet and silent until the next morning when by a like voice they have liberty given them to play and recreate themselves. When the Bees likewise return from work, they are (as Aristotle, and others) a while in a tumultuous hurly burly, and then by degrees make less noise, and less, until one flying about gives notice as it were that they must all to sleep; but it is nothing so, for in full Hives in the latter part of the Spring, and in the heat of Summer, they make a great buzzing sound all night. Bees live in a Martial discipline like Soldiers in a Garrison, some always watching and warding, understand it of the Summer season, when the chilling cold, or nipping frost doth not force them into their Hives: yet in the day time they continue it longer. A hot Sunshine or warmer air (even in Winter) will quickly prompt them out of their Hives to take a short vagary near their stalls, but if the cold be intense, they are quiessent, if not dormant. Bees are indefatigably, that I say not covetously laborious, always working, but never satisfied, always toiling, but never coming to a period of their endeavours, sti●l progressive, never at their journey's end, being impossible to be st●nted, and the longer they work, the more ●a●●est they are, and impatient of delays, or loytering, while there is matter to work upon in the fields, and the weather is seasonable. Nay if the flowers decay and grow scanty; The Stocks that have enough, and to spare, will to keep themselves doing, rob from their neighbours. For every Hive, or Commonwealth, endeavours to be a Non-such, and to engross all within its own circumference, and by any means to make itself the increasing figure, though toil, and restlessness continually attend it. They are not offended with red coloured clothes as some affirm, nor yet inebriated with sweet ointments, no nor much offended with stinking favours: I have known twenty Hives together stand against a dunghill divers years, and thrive and prosper well, yet would I not persuade any to set them in such a place if he can provide another. They express not more love to their keepers than strangers, but they being used to them with greater confidence venture among them, which some (more fearful) beholding fancy, that the Bees respect and love them more than strangers; whereas would they boldly come among them, nay take them in their hands, and carry themselves peaceably towards them (except when they be irritated and offended before) they should find all love and favour from them. They feed not on any flesh, nor need Pythagoras caveats for that purpose. That some Bees gather not honey, but water for the King, and his guard, is a mere fable, for they mutually perform all employments. Aelian lib. 1. c●p. 10. That there is such an order that the elder Bees should have a proper place in every Hive, and the younger another, peculiar to themselves, is (as most of the opinions of the Ancients) a fabulous narration, for they are all promiscuously mixed together. Bees (as many other Infects) have neither visible bones, nor Cartilages, nor Nerves, nor fat, nor flesh, nor a brittle shell, as some land, and Sea-creatures have, nor that which may be properly called a skin, but a body of a certain middle nature between all these like to a dry Nerve, but far softer. Their body is divided into three principal parts, and there is motion in every part severed one from another, so that whatsoever is the reason of their life, it is not fixed to any one member, but in the whole, and therefore Pliny was deceived, who accords in the former, but denies that Infects, and therefore Bees have any symptom of life by motion in the head, except it be cut off with the breast. Aristotle taught him this lesson, which Arist. de hist. Animal l. 4. ●. 6. without trial he took upon trust (as many more.) And Sealiger also after him, and is not content to entertain an error, but insolently insults over Galen, for placing the chief residency of the Sealig. come in loc. soul in the brain. It is true, that the heads of Eels and Snakes cut off, live not long, when as the body lives a great while; nay a speedy L. Verul. cent. 4. 4●0. way to kill an Eel, is to pierce her through the middle of her ●●il. Upon dissection I have found that only the head being cut off, the horns, the chaps, and the tongue also will stir, and that a great while after the separation from the body. Now the reason hereof may be this, Bees have the spirks diffused, amost all over, and therefore they move in their several pieces, whereas men and beasts move very little time after their heads are off: And therefore it is certain, that the immediate cause of death, is the resolution or extinguishment of the spirits, and that the destruction or corruption of the Organs, is but the mediate cause; but some Organs are so peremptorily necessary, that the extinguishment of the spirits doth speedily follow, but yet so, as there is an interim of a small time; but for Worms and Bees the spirits are diffused almost all over, and therefore they move in their several pieces. Further to illustrate this, john Leo, reports that men condemned Jo. Leo. to suffer death in Egypt, have lived a quarter of an hour, divided asunder set upon a heated Cauldron, sprinkled with unslaked lime, and understood, and given answers. A living creature is sensible in every part, so that it can exercise Ca●d. de subtle l. 9 it in regard of heat, and can also perform in every office that the organ, or instrument for that office is remaining; and hence are determined many controversies. Some query whether a living creature can subsist without the head, others whether without the heart? Without the head they are not sensible, but live; without the heart they are sensible, but the heat quickly decays, and motion, and life also. Bees revive easily when they seem dead, being brought to the Sun or fire; the cause whereof is (as before) the diffusion L. Verul. Silva Sil. cent. 7. 69●. of the vital spirits, and the easy dilating of them by a little heat; they stir therefore a good while after their heads are off, and that they be cut in pieces, which (as before) is caused for that their vital spirits are more diffused throughout all their parts, and less confined to organs, than perfect creatures. Augustins' mentions the same with astonishment and wonder, August. lib. de quantit. anim. c. 3. Aristot. de pa●tib. animal. lib. 4. c 6 supposing that no reason can be rendered for it, but that it is a secret work of God, left one soul should seem to be divided into so many parts. Aristotle saith, that Infects are most like plants, because they have many beginnings in their essence, for as plants cut in pieces live, so Infects for a time, but plants more fully. Bees when they fly lift themselves up; thus they do when Arist. de hist. anim l 4, c▪ 9 they arise from the Hive, but they can fly forthright, without any visible elevation of themselves. Aldr●mandus would give a reason for it, because, saith he, they want a tail, and therefore continue not long in the air. But this by experience is found to be otherwise, and birds that have long tails, yet have a jumping motion in their flight, as the Wagtail. When the Hives are full of Bees, and well supplied with meat, neither moths, nor any other hurtful creature can much endanger them; but when they are few and weak, they easily miscarry by every adversary; so that it is not a sign of a better sort of Bee, as Aristotle delivers, but only of want of numbers or strength, when they neglect their own preservation, which sometimes they having formerly endeavoured, and finding their labours frustrate, they grow desperate and careless; but though in number they be but few, and therefore their dangers many; their provision little, and therefore their fare poor and pinching, yet will they not forsake their own Commonwealth to communicate of the wealth or strength of others, but without repining rest contented, yet by diligence endeavouring to improve their store and numbers. But when they are so few that they cannot thrive alone, they will with a general consent (except their Generals, to whom such a resolution is deadly) sometimes join themselves to another Hive, but always with hazard, often with destruction. Bee's delight to play abroad before the Hive, flying in and out as thick as if they were fight or swarming, in breeding time, once a day usually, if it be fair weather, and ordinarily at a set time, each Hive observing the same hour of the day if it be fair; and then they will expatiate and dance the Hay in circling motions, and surrounding Vagaries; and at other times when they have been long shut up with cold, or closer weather, the first fair day they will thus abroad both to recreate themselves, and also to ease their bodies, for they evacuate for the most part flying. CHAP. VI Bees Politics, Ethics, and economics. ONe drop of water hath no power, one spark of fire is not strong, but the gathering together of waters called Seas, and the communion of many flames do make both raging and invincible elements. And una Apis, nulla Apis, one Bee is no Bee, but a multitude, a swarm of Bees uniting their forces together, is very profitable, very comfortable, very terrible, profitable to their owners, comfortable to themselves, terrible to their enemies. Bees are political creatures, and destinate all their actions to one common end; they have one common habitation, one common work, all work for all, and one common care and love towards all their young, and that under one Commander, who is not an elected Governor; for the vulgar often want judgement, Basil. Concio▪ in Go●dium Martyr. & Hexame●▪ homil. 8. raising the worst and wickedest to the Throne; nor hath he his power by lot, for the chances of lots are absurd, and ridiculous, conferring command often upon the meanest: Nor is he by hereditary succession placed in the Throne; for often through pleasures and flatteries are they rude and ignorant of true virtue, but by nature hath he the Sovereignty over all, excelling all in goodliness, and goodness, in mildness, and majesty. They have all the same common laws, and with common Ambros. Hexam. l. ●. c. 21. care, observe them all, and have one common bond, not to have any thing lawful for one, which is not lawful for another, but whatsoever is lawful, is lawful for all. And they have one common respect, and reverence to their Commander by whose counsel their Commonwealth is governed; a common house, a common care of posterity, common labour, common food, common generation, a common use and fruition of all things. A Bee, like a man cannot live alone, if she be alone, she dies: J. Stobeu● lau● nuptiar▪ p. 67. As in the Fable of Menenius Agrippa, the whole body soon perished, when the rest of the members to ease themselves wronged the belly; so the whole Commonwealth of Bees will quickly be dissolved if they labour, each Bee for herself, and neglect the public. Nay the Drones, though they be idle, yet are useful instruments for the good, and preservation of the Commonwealth. The Polity of Bees is admirable and imitable: Plato and Cicero after a divers manner prescribed the form of a Commonwealth, one how it ought to be, the other how it was of old, but both lay down this as a maxim, that a civil life should imitate nature which is the best instructor. But what is Nature's lesson, the irrational creatures best express, and chiefly Bees, and therefore Plutarch sends his Trojane to Virgil, that he Plutarch. reip. gerend. precep. might borrow a civil life from the Bees. For a civil man by nature's rule is always chief of the City, as the Commander among the Bees. And again, he saith, Bees conserve community unto their Plutarch. ●n seni si● geren. resp. last; for no man ever saw a Bee degenerate into a Drone, which some require of Civil Governors, that the vigour of their age being past, they should live idle at home. Great spirits degenerate no●. They express if not great reverence, yet I am sure great love to their Commander, without whom, they will be, they will Pet. Matthew continuat. Gen h●st of France. do nothing, and with whom they will be any thing, go any whither, stay any where, be content with any thing. The Poet elegantly thus writes, Virgil. Georg. l. 4. Besides not Egypt, nor rich Lydia●●re ●●re, Nor Medes, nor Parthians do their King adore; Whilst bee's alive in concord all obey, But when bee dies, all leagues are broke, and they Themselves destroy their gathered food at home, And re●d the fabric of their Honeycomb; 'Tis bee preserves their works, him all admire, And guard his person with a strong desire: They carry him, for him they bazzard death, And think in War they nobly lose their breath. Xantippus therefore the Lacedaemonian being General of the Polytius. Carthaginians said, He had rather serve under the Commander of the Bees, than lead an army of Ants. I say, under the Commander of the Bees, who useth not his sting, that is, exerciseth tyranny against none, and orders nothing but that which is profitable for the Commonwealth; when as they that lead an army of Pismires, that is, men who neither will, nor know how to obey, never perform any thing notable, and praiseworthy; so that aptly Him●● describing the Greeks, hastening to the Oration of Agame●non the General of the whole Army; Homer l. 2. ●●●ad. and as he calls him the Pastor of the people, compares them to Bees swiftly flying with their labours to the Hive, where their Commander is constantly resident. The Egyptians on this ground placed on the top of the King's Sceptre the bird Cu●●phus (which is a Stork) with a Aldrovand. de insectis lib. 1. Caelii Calcag. Apol. p●o Alfonso duce Fe●tar. Cornucop. Pyr. Per●●ti. & Petr. Crinitus de honest. disc plin. River-horse underneath it, implying that piety must suppress impiety, clemency freity▪ And from hence the Tribunes of the Soldiers among the Romans carried their swords without edges, intimating that the Generals of Armies ought not to kill the Soldiers, but to correct them, as the Commander of the Bees doth her subjects; and perhaps on this ground, the Egyptians by the Hieroglyphic of a Bee signified a King, because it becomes a Commander of a people, to mingle with the sting of justice the honey of clemency. Memorable to this purpose was the practice of a certain King of Fr●●ce, who having conquered the Ins●brians, and entered their City, by a symbol or type thus expressed his clemency Baptist Mantuan in exhort ad In●ub. wearing a coat full of Images or pictures of Bees, and this Motto written upon it, Rex mucrone caret, the King wants or useth not his sting. Their Ethics and economics appear in many particulars, They make frugality the basis of their subsistence, and therefore as they laboriously gather store of honey they shut up the Cells still as they fill them, and until Winter come, will not open them, but live in the mean time of Bee-bread, and such provision, as they get abroad, lest if they should prodigally waste while they may work, they might after starve when they cannot work. And in the pleasures of this life they are so moderate, that perfect temperance seems to rest only in them. They are neat and cleanly creatures, never suffering any filth or excrements long in the Hive, emptying themselves always abroad. And if in the Winter while they are weak, and not able to endure the colder air, filth be contracted, yet as soon as the Spring comes, and they grow numerous, and strong, they diligently cleanse their Hives, and carry out all. Their cleanliness also thus appears, That they will not suffer their dead to continue long in the Hive, but carry them forth to burial. Their chastity is admirable, for whereas many other creatures couple together openly; Wasps also and Humble bees, and many sorts of wild Bees scarce specifically differing from them, yet whatsoever the Bees do in Venus' service they act in secret, and far remote from the eyes and knowledge of all men. The Poets say, That this is the reason of it▪ Saturn the husband of Ops, and father of jupiter, was wont to devour his own children when they were brought forth (the reason of it was, because Saturn was named the god of time, and all times passing and returning, revolve again into themselves) which gave occasion to this history; when jupiter was born his mother Ops fearing the cruelty of her husband to him, concealed his birth, and the Cretans for fear that Saturn should hear the child cry▪ ●ung their brazen pans and kettles, which noise the Bees following, came to the place where the Infant was, and fed him there with honey. jupiter for so great a benefit, bestowed on his Nurses for a reward, this admirable gift, that they should have young ones, and continue their kind without wasting themselves in Venery. Others report that jupiter being much in love with a fair Mr. May Annotat on Virg. Georg. Nymph called Melissa turned her into a Bee, and for her sake bestowed this, and other privileges on the Bees. And they are not less valiant than chaste, though industry and diligence may do much with all other creatures, yet little with these, no not to palliate their fierceness, let them be exasperated near their Hives, you may as easily bind a Lion with a single hair, as by opposition and resistance, compose and quiet them, though the creature is but little, yet virtus no● minima. Is it not strange to behold such a little Insect to contend with the most mighty, to see such vigour in a creature without bones or scales, or hard defences, and yet to be offensive to, nay prevalent over the most strong, and powerful creatures! In valour therefore, and magnanimity they surpass all creatures, Mr. Buller Femin. Monar. cap. 1. there is nothing so huge and mighty that they fear to set upon, and when they have once begun, they are invincible; for nothing can make them yield but death; so great hearts do they carry in so little bodies. In private wrongs and injuries done to their persons (for which cause men will soon quarrel) they are very patient, but in defence of their Princess and Commonwealth, they do most readily enter the field, — For them they hozzard death, Virg. And think in War they nobly lose their breath. Their War whatsoever some say to the contrary, is only foreign, for though in the same Hive, by a violent or accidental congression of two swarms, there be sometimes a deadly contest, and bickering, yet still it is foreign, for they were never united under one Commander. They never fight (whatsoever some unexperienced Observers report) for food, nor fall out among themselves for meat, but Mous●e● The●●um Insect. alike communicate of all they have (though but little) and when it is spent (if it be no gathering season) starve altogether. Their Geometry appears in the fabric of their combs; and their Astronomy in the knowledge of the weather, for they foreknow and presage winds and storms, and either keep themselves in their Hives, or go not far, perhaps fetch water, and quickly return. When they fly not far from the Hive, but fly about it, the theophra. l. 1. de sig▪ tempestat. weather being serene and fair, it is an usual token of an approaching storm, or tempest, Aratus prompted him (if not experience) with this observation. But above all, one excellent skill they have, which the most experienced females, though they much desire it, must yield themselves to want; for they know certainly when they breed a male, and when a female, which appears by this, that they lay their Cephen-seeds in a wide comb by themselves, and the Nymph-seeds in the rest, which are of a smaller size. In their own Commonwealth they are most just, not the least wrong or injury is offered among them: but I cannot commend their justice towards strangers, for all that they can catch is their own, unless they may be excused in this respect, that the Bees of divers Hives are at deadly feud, or rather as Kingdoms that are at difference one with another. If Bees, creatures without reason, have such Prudence, Providence, Fortitude, Chastity, Loyalty, Natural affection, such Government, Order, Discipline; How much rather ought men to express the same in their carriages and conversations. If they abhor Intemperance, Luft, Sloth, Rebellion, Cowardice, shall men practise them? They are then worse than Brutes, and deserve rather to bear the names of savage Monsters, than of civil and reasonable men. CHAP. VII. Of their Senses. Creature's produced of putrefaction are little, and weak in the senses; defective in their exteriors, much more in their interiors; yea they altogether want wisdom, and are Cardan. de subtle. l. 9 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 1 i▪ c 10. Arist. de Hist. animal. l. 4. Scalig. come. in Arist. de hist. an. l. 4. ●7. stupid. And therefore Bees are prudent, because they are generated of a certain matter, and not without a parent. Bees have all the five senses, though there do not appear all those outward Organs of scenting, which some other Animals have: And so likewise Fishes have no visible Organ of hearing and smelling; and yet hear and smell, there is not seen perfectly in their heads a brain, yet is it the beginning fountain and feat of all these senses, fantasy, and memory. Of all the five senses their sight seems weakest, yet is it clear, especially afar off, which guides them abroad, and directs them home, though sometimes they are three or four miles from their Hives. But their sight is not so quick near hand; for sometimes they will fly against you, if you come suddenly cross them when they are laden; and also near the mouth of the Hive, if Mr. Butler Feminine Monarch. they light besides the door, they will run up and down seeking for it, as if they were in the dark (hereby verifying this truth, That things nearest the eye are furthest from sight) but then up they rise, and flying back a little way, turn again with a better view. As many as fall besides the stool when it waxeth dark, ten to one but they lie abroad allnight; yea if at such times being troubled by any thing, they come forth out of the Hive, although they be fresh and lusty, they will leap up and down, run, and fly to and fro, until they be weary, but by no means can they find the way in again. And therefore it is, that when they fly abroad they take much pains at the door in rubbing, and wiping their horny eyes, that they may better discern their way forth, and back against. It is said by some of the Ancients, that Infects have only the sense of feeling, which is manifestly untrue, for if they go forth right to a place they must needs see. Their smelling is quick and excellent, for they will sent honey a mile from their Hives, and make haste to it, and when they fly aloft in the air by it, sent any flowery Mead or Heath near them. As soon as the honeydew is fallen, they presently sent it, although the Oaks that receive it be afar off; which the Poet (speaking of the excellency of this creature in this sense) thus expresseth, — Ideoque per auras Lucret. l. 4. Mellis apes quam longe ducuntur odour. Their feeling is as active as their other senses, nay more, for it is most individuate, it inheres in the subsistence of the creature, Mr. Brathwayt Third Essay of Touching. and cannot be separated, or taken away without the detriment, or utter decay rather of the subject wherein it is. It may therefore be called the living sense, although in divers diseases and occurrences also oft-time befalling the subject wherein it is, it may be deprived of it. As we read of Ath●n●goras of Argos, who never felt, any pain when he was stung by a Scorpion. Their feeling is so quick, that if you do touch a Hive very softly, or knock upon the ground near the stool, they presently resent it, making a general murmur, and many of them coming out of the Hive door, as it were to examine the cause. And for their taste, this is evidently as active as their other senses; thereby they make choice of waters, and all other gatherings for their use and purpose. And lastly, for their hearing, that also is good, though Aristotle doubts of it, nay denies it. Cardan saith, That Arist▪ de hist. a▪ ● 9 c. 40. Metaph. l. 1. c. 1. Card. de subtle. l. 9 Idem de varieta●terum l. 7. Bees, because they are so small creatures, cannot hear and see too; but being flying creatures, there is a necessity of seeing, and therefore an impossibility of hearing; but he contradicts himself, when he tells us, though untruly, that every morning (all being yet silent if not asleep) one (the Constable sure, or the Master of the Watch) by two or three Bombes or shrill sounds like a Trumpet, calls them all up to their work; and so likewise in the evening, flying about the Hive, with a small humming murmur commands them to sleep. But if Bees hear not▪ to what purpose is the calling before they swarm, and also their encouragements in fight,— — And then a voice Virgil. I● heard resembling Trumpets winding noise. And Scaliger acknowledgeth against Aristotle, that they hear Scalig. Comment. in Arist. de Hist. animal. l. 9 c. 64. signa enim dont intu●, alia atque alia etiam foris, mutate murmur. But in a word, further to manifest that they hear: If a swarm rise, and the Queen Be miscarry, and fall by the way (as it oft happens) her company notwithstanding will light, expecting her coming. But being hived, they presently miss her; and with a mournful murmur bewail their condition. Some run up and down distractedly within the Hive, others without; and by and by making a sudden stop, fall into a passion of mourning, and then run up and down again, and then mourn again, but in the mean time they send many to seek for her. I have often found her where she hath been fallen, and taking her up, carried her to the Hive, where I have observed (not without admiration) how that at her first coming they have in a moment changed their former note and carriage, and with clapping of their wings, and a rejoicing murmur congratulated her presence; and those that were seeking about for her, although some rods distant from the Hive, in an instant, as it were, returned all home, and with a rejoicing gratulation welcomed L. Verulam. Silva. silvar. cent. 7. 6, 8. their Queen. And therefore they have hearing, which shows likewise, that though their spirits be diffused, yet is there a seat of their senses in their head. And as they have the outward senses, so have they the inward also, else could they not be wise and prudent; understand wisdom or prudence equivocal, so called by reason of the resemblance F. Picolomin. universa phillip de m●ribus. it hath with true wisdom or prudence, being able to find out, and to manage convenient means unto natural and self-ends. Virtue is not taken or understood one, but many ways, sometimes for the shadow, and a slight or light resemblance thereof, in which signification Bees are called prudent, whereas prudence properly so called, belongs not to them. Bees have memory, which is not a sense or imagination, or Caelius Rhed. l. ect. Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 3. understanding, b●t a disposition or habit of any one of them, when the time also is joined, or added to it, wherein the impression is made, and the vision is left in the mind; whence this is a consequence, those creatures have memory, which have sense and understanding of time, for we remember only in the sensual part of the mind; for if a horse hath been mired in a slough, when he meets with the place again, he will presently remember that he was there mired. And herein Brutes differ from men, That a reasonable creature doth not only remember that he hath seen, or heard, but also differenceth the spaces of the present time, from the time past; but Brutes only know thus much, that they have fallen (into a pit, or other dangerous place) at this present, or sometimes formerly. Again, a man observes that he remembers, which irrational creatures do not. And among all living creatures they have the best memory, which have the most clear, pure, and perfect imagination, of which sort are Bees and Pigeons. As some creatures besides sense, have memory, and natural prudence, so some go further, for they are disciplinable; but none have experience, or very little. Now by sense we are to understand that sensitive knowledge which is only in the presence of the object, whether it be by the internal senses, or by the outward common sense or fantasy: For under the name of sense, the Philosopher comprehends whatsoever is necessary to perceive or understand in the presence of the object, but there is necessary in all, somewhat of the fantasy or imagination, to understand even that which is without. And therefore it is common to all brutes, as to understand, so also to have imagination; but memory adds an inward strength, and power of conserving the species and using them in the absence of the objects, that by this means any thing may remember those things which it takes in the sense, even then when they are not present, in regard of the external senses. This faculty, saith Aristotle, some creatures have, but not all, but yet he declares not what creatures have, or what want it. They are commonly thought to have memory, which may properly and perfectly be moved from one place to a more remote, either by a progressive motion on the land, or flying through the air, or swimming in the waters, for memory seems for this purpose to be given to creatures, that they may be removed to a distant place, either to avoid that which is nocive and prejudicial, or to find that which is useful, which they have any ways made trial of. Further, some creatures, saith Aristotle, with memory, have prudence, which (as we said before) is not to be understood properly, but metaphorically, for they use not discourse, nor acquire a habit, whereby they may judge of what they are to do; but oftentimes so act by a natural instinct, and so provide for the future, as if they had reason indeed, and therefore by a figure are called prudent. And this prudence of Brutes is a special sagacity in some, which by the instinct of nature, are so ordered as that they seem to imitate the reason and prudence of men; but all brutes have not this prudence, but those creatures that have it, are so perfect, that they have all of them memory. And we may add further, that this natural sagacity, then chiefly merits the name of prudence when it is trained up, and perfected by the memory of former things. Some creatures have not only memory, but are also disciplinable, but others are not: Of this last rank are those, which though they have memory, want the sense of hearing, for hearing is the sense of discipline; for we see many creatures, dogs, and horses, act by external signs, but never without a co-operation of hearing, whereby they are called and stirred up to understand the signs. Arist. Metaph. lib. 1. cap. 1. Now Aristotle sets down an example in Bees which he supposed not to hear. But Pliny, Scaliger, and many others affirm the contrary, and by good arguments prove their Assertion. Albertus' willing to salve the Philosopher's credit, invented this distinction. There is, saith he, a hearing of a sound, as so, or of a voice, as it is an articulate sound, now Bees hear in the former way, not in the latter; but this latter hearing, saith he, is necessary to make a creature disciplinable; but whether many disciplinable creatures so hear, might bear a great question; for although when they hear such words or sounds, they come, or fly down, or speak after the fashion of men, yet are all these things done by a natural instinct (supposing memory, and the experience of such a sign, or voice.) And therefore Suarez ●r. Suar●●▪ Metaph, disp. 1. saith well, It were better to say all creatures which are disciplinable, have hearing, and perhaps sight, memory, and a metaphorical prudence or sagacity. But to leave these nicer disputes, (as perhaps by some supposed) impertinent to our present Discourse. CHAP. VIII. Of the Queen-Bee. THe Queen-Bee is a fair and stately creature, longer by the half, and much bigger than a common Honey-Bee, yet not so big as a Drone, but somewhat longer. She differs from the Common-Bee both in shape and colour; her back is all over of a bright brown, her belly even from the top of her fangs, to the tip of her train, is clear, beautiful, and of a sad yellow, somewhat deeper than the richest gold: Her head is more round than the little Bees, by reason her fangs be shorter, her tongue is not half so long as theirs; and thereby nature hath disabled her for working, for it is impossible for her short tongue to extract much out of any flower, were she never so industrious. Her wings are of the same size with an ordinary Bees, and therefore in respect of her long body, they seem very short, resembling rather a cloak than a gown, for they reach but to the middle of her train, or nether part. She hath straighter, and stronger legs and thighs than a Honey-Bee, which are of the colour of their belly, but her two hind-legs more yellow. She hath a lofty pace and countenance expressing Majesty: That she hath a white spot in her forehead glistering like a Diadem, I never saw, though it be frequently reported: Nay I am sure of the contrary. Her nether part is much longer than her upper part, and more sharp than any ordinary Bees, having in it four ringles or partitions, and in each ringle a golden bar instead of those three whitish rings, which other Bees have at their three partitions. The spear or sting she hath is but little, and not half so long as the other Bees, which like a King's sword, is rather born for show and authority, than any other use. I believe they cannot use their sting, for I have provoked and forced them to sting by hard holding of them, and putting their tail to my bare hand, but could never perceive them willing to put it forth. Nay when I have forced it out yet she would not enter it in my hand. In a word, the Queen Be in her whole shape and colour, is a goodly and beautiful creature. — Velut inter ignos. Luna minores. As the Moon when in a clear night, she fills her circle, is more and more eminently beautiful than all the lesser stars, so is the Queen Be among the other Bees. There are not two sorts of Kings, or Queens in any Hive, as Aristotle, and after him Pliny; and the most have delivered, but only one, and though a King in place and power, yet Arist de hist. Animal. lib 5. cap. 19 is in sex a female, Vocantur ab aliquibus matres qua●i quae pariant. That two several Queens or divers companies should agree in the same Hive, though divided in their works, and neither entrench on the others subjects and labours, although the Ancients very confidently deliver it, yet it is a mere fable * Mr. Googe ●. Book in Treat. of Bees▪ . Many Kings in a Hive, but falsely: As Aristotle makes two kinds of Kings, or Queens, so in every Hive he would have at once several Kings, for although one be enough for government, yet not for generation, saith Scaliger, supposing with Aristotle, that they were instrumental, as the males, for the generation of Bees. Arist. de hist. Animal. lib. 5. cap. 19 Scalig. Comment. in loc. The Queen's cells wherein she breeds, are not usually in the bottom, or under the combs, but on the edges, some on the outside, some more inward in the middle of the combs. And they often exceed Aristotle's number, who determines them to be six or seven, whereas in some hives there are not so Arist. de hist. Anim. lib 5. cap. 19 many, in others nine or ten. It is a Chimerical fable that some have asserted, that the Bees first build their Commanders houses in the most eminent part of the combs, more large and beautiful than their own, and of the purest wax, and then enclose it with a waxen wall from the rest. Whereas indeed neither Commander, nor subjects have any particular habitations, for they live and lie between the combs, and the hexangle cells are repositaries for food, and nurseries for generation; and the orbicular cells are breeding places for the Royal issue. And yet Aldrovandu● delivers it as a received and ancient Andro. de Insect l. 1. truth that the Queen Bees cells are made in a more eminent part of the hive, very large, environed with a fence, or wall, for an emblem of their greatness. And as in conditions they are of three sorts, so they make a triple division of their cells; those nearest to the Queen's Palace, for the most ancient inhabitants, as the Queen's guard, and next to those the younger, and such as are not yet a year old; but to the middle sort as the most strong and lusty are committed the extremities. This is a fancy also. The materials for the Queen's generation are yellow, and Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 5● c. 22. Columel de ●e just. l. 9 there is not first a worm, but presently a Bee, ut aiunt, saith Aristotle. And Higinius as he is cited by Columella, saith, the Commander is not procreated of a worm as other Bees, but in larger cells than the Honeybees, are found holes filled with a matter of a red colour, out of which the Queen Bees are bred, even at first with wings, so that it appears there was some glimmering light among the Ancients concerning the Queen's generation, but dark and uncertain. Know thus much, that into those orbicular cells is injected a spermy matter thick like cream, but inclining to yellow, wherein and whereout the Queen Bee is bred, it being both matter of generation, and augmentation, for she is at first (when she is visibly any thing a perfect Bee in lineaments and shape, though not in magnitude and dimensions, and feeds of that wherein she is bred, until she comes to her perfection. The Bees never destroy the Nurseries, or breeding cells of the Queen Be, as Aristotle delivers▪ and also Pliny, although after they intent to swarm no more, they kill all the Royal issue then in being (nay although they be imperfect embrioes) to preve●t a future distraction. Before the Bees swarm, the Queen Be by a peculiar and distinct voice (Hesic●ius calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which we in English Hesic●ius▪ say Sing, for it is performed in a musical manner) some days before makes it known throughout all the Hive, that all may be ready. Ridiculous is the conceit of Didimus to pull off the extremities of the Queen Bees wings, that they may not fly away, for sometimes for recreation, and also for evacuation of their bodies, they use to go forth; and if their wings were cut would be disabled to return. I once had a good swarm likely to miscarry, the Queen Bees wings being accidentally torn, so that going out of the Hive, she fell besides the stool, and could not get up again. And although once and again finding her before the Hive, I put her into it, yet afterwards she went forth, and was lost. And almost all the Bees (in her loss) neglected their work, and began to pine away, until I furnished them with a new Commander. The Queen Be never voluntarily deserts her subjects, as Aelian and others intimate, affirming that the Bees diligently Aelian. lib. 5. cap. 12. seek her out, and return her when she hath fled away. Oftentimes when a swarm goeth forth, the young Commander being weak, is not able to follow, but falls down, sometimes besides the stool, or sometimes further off, with whom some of the company will stay (such as being near her saw her fall) and encompassing her round will continue with her, except she be taken up, and conveyed to the swarm or hive, until they perish together. The Bees find not their leader by the P●d. mexia de Bedae ●xiomat. Philosoph. & Cantiprat. in bonum universale de apibus, lib. 1. c. 19 smell. Many are confident that the Queen Be never goeth off the hive, but with a swarm. Cantipratanus asserts this, but forgetting himself in the twentieth Chapter, he saith, If her subjects be weary with working, and cannot, or wander, and know not the way home again; the Queen Bee goes forth and finds them by their smell, and relieves them, and conducts them to the hive; but this is more fabulous than the former. It is more than probable, that the old Queen Bees, go forth sometimes with the latter swarm (whether out of curiosity, or wantonness, or indulgency, or dislike of her proper house, or love to ●er ancient subjects, I determine not) and this is the cause of the not thriving of many old stocks, after they have cast a second swarm; for although the Bees that are left, be in a well replenished Hive, and therefore live out the Summer well, and work too, though not with that order and diligence as formerly, yet will they rarely breed, but by degrees consume away, and come to nothing. I have exactly viewed divers such stocks that I have taken, and could never find a Queen Bee among them. If therefore you perceive a hive, after it hath cast twice, to have some quantity of Bees, and yet to work negligently, or not to increase in the Spring, suspect them to want a Queen, and supply them with one as soon as you can, if no other way, by driving a poor swarm into them, for which purpose always reserve some. It hath been a constant tradition, that the Queen Bee hath a special guard always waiting on her, and that when she goeth forth, she is always attended with them. I have often seen her to go forth, but always without attendance. It may possibly fall out that some Bees may go abroad with her, and some others return when she comes back to the hive, but never as her special guard. Mr. Butler saith, If the Queen Be by her voice bids them go, they swarm; this is warily to be understood, namely of the latter swarm only; for the first is for aught I could ever find out, at the will of the Commons; but there may be a tacit consent of the Queen, but not solemnly by voice, allowing their departure as in after swarms. And again this is not always true in second swarms, for after the Queen hath approved of their going forth, yet they will sometimes refuse, and manifest their dislike by massacring all the Infants of the Royal family. I have observed some few Bees in the Spring in every good Hive, with crests, tufts, or tassells on their heads, some yellow, some murrey, in manner of a plume, some standing upright, some turning down, but in all other respects like other Honeybees. Mr. Butler supposeth them subordinate governor's and leaders, as Captains and Colonels: They are seldom seen but in May, and a little after; that they have any authority, or command over the rest, or special place about the Queen Be, I believe not. This I am sure, I never saw any one of them attend her in her short progresses. Their working, I conceive wears oft this ornament. The Queen Bee goes first out with the swarm, say some: T. Cantiprat. bonum universale de apibus, lib. 1. cap. 14. but it is not so, for she goeth almost last, sometimes indeed she comes forth half an hour before the swarm riseth, with a great company which environ, and attend her on the stool; but her company moves not until the greater part are passed out of the hive, and then those that environed her begin to arise, and she with them. And as in the emission of a Colony, the Queen Bees go not Aelian lib 5. c. 11. before, neither are they carried at any time as some report. Sometimes as I said, she comes forth before, and stays without; at other times she comes first to the bottom of the stool, and perhaps out of the door, as it were chiding their slackness; but then when the swarm begins to arise, she returns in until the greater part be come forth, when she follows, and where they usually light, joins herself to them. Bees are governed by a Queen, which many hold not properly to come to the supremacy by succession, but by a judilcious and prudent election, whereas it is most apparent, that the elder of the Blood-royal goes forth with the first swarm, and so the next in order with a second, although sometimes especially in castlings, or second swarms; some others venture forth. I have known eight go forth in one swarm, for they can but die, going forth, and death is certain and inevitable if they stay. And a younger by dividing the swarm, or first getting the highest place of the Hive, may be peaceably obeyed, with the destruction of all the rest. Nay being necessitated, their own leader miscarrying in swarming, or by some accident afterwards. I have preserved the stock by putting to them a Queen Be taken from another. And once, because I would be sure, I pared off a little of one wing, and some months after, for experience sake, took the Hive, where I found that Commander put in by me, and no other Leader. So that though ordinarily the Queen Bee comes to her government by birthright and seniority, yet sometimes by election, as in the miscarriages of their old Queen, and in second swarms when two are united together. When several Leaders go forth, one whose party prevails gets the Throne, and all the other competitors are slain. When their proper leader by some mishap hath been lost, I have given them another (as I said before) with whom they have well agreed, and prospered, so also in the union of swarms. And although they are willingly subject to a leader, yet do they not altogether lose their liberty; for the first swarm goes always forth at the will of the commons; and although the second, and also the third, must have the Regal assent which usually (being indulgent to their issue) upon petition they grant; yet if the Commons see it not convenient to diminish their numbers, upon the Queen's grant, they kill the Probationer, and all of the Blood-royal; so that Prerogative avails little in the Commonwealth of Bees. The Queen Bee (for it is an Amazonian Commonwealth) transcends in greatness and beauty of body; but which is most praiseworthy in a Commander, in mildness and gentleness, therefore though they have stings they never use them, which the breeding or mother Wasp doth, stinging more venomously than the smaller. The Laws whereby this Commonwealth is ordered, are natural, not written in letters but engraven in their manners; and so studious are they of peace, that neither willingly, nor unwillingly do they offer injury to any of their subjects. Who will not hate the Di●nis●i of Sicilia, or the O●●●man family among the Turks, of the present great Mogore, or Persian Tyrants? who (in practice) hold Monarchy to be nothing else but a lawless exorbitancy in all manner of lusts and mischiefs, which ought to be far from a good Prince, le●t while he seems to be a man, he discovers himself to be far worse than these irrational Infects. And as their life is not vulgar, ●o neither their birth and original; for whereas all domestic Bees, at first are imperfect creatures, worms fixed to their Cells, wanting many senses for twenty days together, and then that they may live a more perfect life after a death of twenty days, more transmuting their shape, come forth winged creatures; The Queen Bee is bred (as I formerly hinted) in another fashion. There be in every Hive ordinarily on the outsides of the combs (yet sometimes in the middle) but not near the verge●, little concave cells (but one in a place) almost like acorn cups, but nothing neat so broad, yet somewhat deeper, very strong and thick of wax, orbicular, wherein the Queen Be injects a spermatical substance thick like cream, but somewhat more yellow, wherein the Queen Bee is bred perfect at first in all the parts, and lying almost round in it, feeds of it, and so grows as the chicken in the shell, first of the white, and then of the yolk (while the Hen sits upon it) until it be disclosed. The Atbenians banished Pisislratus from their City; and the Syracusia●s Dionisiu● from his Royalty; and many other people several Tyrants for their want of humanity and moderation: But in the Bees Commonwealth, never any Commander gave occasion of dislike to the Commons. She order others what to do for the public good, or rather nature directs them; she is provided for, and maintained by their labour, and they directed, protected, and preserved by her society. How the Queen Bee governs, I will not (as many conjecture) cannot certainly determine; each Bee readily fulfils, and follows her proper task, and all in all, aim at the public welfare; none, how old soever, desiring a Writ of Ease, but all labour until their labours kill them. The Queen Bee lives not retired (constantly) in any part, but as occasion serves, is sometimes in one part of the Hive, sometimes in another, but works not▪ nature denying her fitting organs. And because some have observed large orbicular cells on the edges (for the most part) of the combs, they have therefore supposed them to be their palaces, but they are sca●ce capable of half their grown bodies, and are only seminaries for generation▪ ●ot places or palaces for habitation. CHAP. IX. Of the Drone. THe Drone is a great Bee without a sting, the Vulgar opinion is, that he is made of a Honey Be that hath lost her sting; but no man ever saw that a Bee became a Drone. Others seeing the fondness of this opinion, have thought J. Stobaeu● de po●entibus ser. 45. that the Drone is a different species, and that as Bees breed Bees, so Drones breed Drones, which concelt, if the Author had observed, that at the time of their breeding, and many months before, there is not a Drone left alive to breed them, he would have liked as well as the former. Aristotle saith, That they only are bred of the Bees, but the truth is, they are of the same species with the Honey Bee, but of a different sex. Many reasons are laid down by Mr. Butler to prove the Mr. Butler Feminine Monarch. c. 4. Drone to be the male. First, because though they be great Masters of the Honey, yet until the Bees begin to leave breeding, and have conceived for the next year (which some do in july, most before August is expired) they suffer them, afterwards they begin to beat them away, which if some stalls do not, they die naturally before October; and from thenceforth all the Winter until the Bees breed again, there is not a Drone to be found in rerum natura: When they are quite gone, then do the Bees lay no more seeds that year, but only hatch and breed up those that are in the cells. Secondly, because as the rather, and the more the Drones are, the greater and the earlier are the swarms: So where the Drones are few and late, there is small increase. And therefore if you kill the Drones of a Hive before they have done swarming and breeding (as some sondly have done before Midsummer, to save their honey) neither will the swarms come forth that were formerly bred, nor the stock thenceforth breed any more. After which time bringing in Bee-bread as much as before, and having no young ones to spend part, they lay it up carelessly in their cells, where it corrupteth and tuineth to stinking, stopping, which will cause them so much to mystic their Hive, that in Autumn they will yield to the robbers. And if by your care and watchfulness they be then preserved, in February following, when the breeding time begins, finding their wombs barren, and therefore loathing themselves, they yield their goods to them that will take it, and after a while by conversing with the strange Bees, like of their company, and go away with them to their D●one●. But every fair day they will with them return to fetch that they left behind. Thirdly, because every living thing doth breed male and female of his kind, and experience doth teach us, that the Bees do yearly breed as well Drones as honey Bees; and seeing the honey Bees are females, it followeth necessarily, that the Drones are the males of the same kind: And therefore the Drone in the learned languages hath his masculine appellation, as the honey Be her feminine. Fourthly, we see the like in the likest Infects, the Wasps, Hornets, and Humble-Bees, of which in their proper places. Fifthly, I add the Drones are males, and the honey Bees females, because of the smallness of their voice, which is always Arist. de hist. Anim. lib. 4. cap. 11. smaller, and sh●iller in females than males, except Cows which bellow louder than Bulls. When the old Bees have ended their first brood of females, than last of all after the same manner, first in the Drone comb, which is one, and but one in every Hive, and almost the backwardest, made with deeper and wider cells for the nonce, Plin. Nat hist. l. 11. cap. 11. they breed the male Bees, or Drones, as was long since observed. In the latter part of the year they breed some promiscuously with the Nymphs, but then they elevate their covers. That not many are bred before Mid-May, not any before Mid-April (except a few by chance which are not suffered to live) as Mr. Butler asserts, is not so; for there are some in all swarms, and some stocks (with us) swarm by Mid-April, therefore must the breeding of many of the Drones be then finished. And after a Hive hath swarmed, though before you saw not one stir, yet then shall you take notice of their flying abroad every day about noon. But when the Hives are full, and yet swarm not so early as their fellows, they will then (but not often until Mid-May) fly forth, and play a while, and then return into the Hive to fill their bellies. But to put all out of doubt, that the Drones are males, I add that the Drone in diffection hath two large testicles, greater, proportionably to his body than any other creature. They are joined together upward, but hang down towards the tail in two visible parts, of a whitish watery colour towards the ends, their ends or points are of the bigness of a small pin's head, milk-white; the testicles are half as long as the nether part of the Drones body. In the belly is a white entral longer when it is extended then the whole body. They have lungs (if my ●yes deceive me not) of a reddish colour, divided as it were in the middle. The outward part of the back and breast is of a grisly substance, under which is a kind of flesh, all of a reddish colour, where is the heart, and other necessary parts, although (without a magnifying glass, by an expert Anatomist) not exactly to be distinguished. The eye hath a watery substance, and there is a visible brain in the head, of a reddish colour. In the tail (which I had almost forgot, though often made trial of it) upon a little pressing, a saffron-coloured Ox-head, with stretched out horns, and a crooked snout will discover it Bernard in Gomesiu. ●iedis, lib. 1. de Sale. self, which one (cited by Aldrovan●●) pressing a Drone to experiment whether it had a sting, reports as a strange, and never before heard of relation (I often saw it before I read him, or any other.) And he concludes that nature in this portent doth show the seminal reason of them, and how being lost they may Mr Remnant discourse of Bees, l. 1. c. 2. Arist. de gen●r. lib. 4. cap. 4. be recovered; which how to effect, Virgil and others have at large discoursed. This is supposed to be the instrument of generation. The testicles are in the upper part of the belly, and so likewise the males among birds have the testicles drawn inwards. L. Verul. Silva Sil. cent. 9 852. The difference between male and female, in some creatures is not to be discerned, otherwise than in the parts of generation, as in Horses and Mares; but some differ in magnitude, and that diversely, for in most the male is the greater; the chief cause is, for that the males have more strength of heat than the females; now heat causeth greatness of growth generally, where there is moisture enough to work upon: But if there be found in any creature (which is rarely seen) an over great heat in proportion to the moisture in them, the female is the greater, as in Hawks. Heat also dilateth the pipes and organs which causeth the deepness of the voice. Aristotle delivers that the Drones are bred by themselves if the Commander lives, but if she dies, they are produced in the Bees cells by the Bees, and these so bred, are more hardy and courageous than the other; but the truth is (as I hinted before) all Drones are bred by the Bees, when they are wearied, and almost spent with breeding of females, that by them they may have a new prolifical power whereby they may breed females afresh; but the Drones are first bred in the Drone comb, which is afterwards at least a great part of it filled with honey; and then in the latter part of the Summer, they breed some Cephens among the Nymphs. As Aristotle could not determine about the breeding of the Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 40. Drones, so neither of the making of the Drone-comb, sometimes he lays it down, yet as the judgement of others (sus-spending his own, as in a thing uncertain and dubious) that they made their own combs in the Hive, or did assist at least the Bees in that labour; sometimes that the Bees made the Drone-combs, but yet only then, when there was great expectation of much honey; whereas in a Hive stored with Bees, there are not many day's difference between the beginning of their own combs, and the Drone-comb. Nay they begin the Drone comb and half finish it, before they make the Nurseries (for so I rather call them, than with Aristotle, houses or palaces) for their Queen, of which there be always some in every hive. And therefore Aristotle was deceived, who saith, They made the Queen's Palaces or Nurseries only, Cum faetus la●gior esset, when they had a numerous issue. The Bees never destroy the Drone-combes as Aristotle affirms, although they do the Drones, when they have no more need of them for that year. Aristotle saith, The Drones are useful, if not too numerous, and the Bees because of them more industrious, but wherein they are useful he mentions not. Nay, he allows the Drones no service in the hive; but by his leave they are profitable to the well-being and generation of the rest, being the males; and also by their heat in hatching the young, especially after the stock hath cast a swarm or more, there being few Bees left, and most of them in the day time abroad at their work. But the Drone works not at all as Mr. Muffet affirms, who Mr. Muffet Theatrum Insector. saith, they gather wax, and sometimes build the combs; but had he seriously viewed them, he should have seen a disability to gather, nature having denied them fitting fangs and tongue, for they are very short, and not fitting to gather. Aelian tells a long story, how that the Drones lie hid among the combs in the day, but in the night when the Bees are asleep, rob and purloyn the honey, which when the Bees understand (for most of them sleep being weary with working, and a few only watch) they first correct them gently, and drag them out of the Hives by the wings. But for all that they will not be amended (for by nature they are gluttonous, and lazy) as soon therefore as they are gone abroad to work, they follow their work, namely fill themselves with honey; but when the Bees return and find the spoil, they deal no more gently with them, but kill them out right. Once the Drones do not only serve for generation (as hath been showed) but do also much help the females by reason of Plin. Nat. hist. l. 11. c 11. their great heat in hatching their broods. And for these causes they are always in breeding-time mingled with them throughout the Hive: Although afterwards (when they have been much beaten, and can go no where single, but one or other will be on their jacks) they gather all together in a cluster for their safety in one side of the Hive; so that it is true at sometime, Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 40. which the Philosopher spoke indefinitely, Ten●nt alvei locum penitiorem. And yet their hanging together will not serve their ●um, for the Bees, when they are disposed, will quickly make them part, and depart, when there is no use of them, there will Mr. Butler. be no room for them. The Bees breeding, or laying of seeds, beginning to cease in some sooner, in some later; and these Amazonian Dames having conceived for the next year, begin to wax weary of their mates, and to like their room better than their company. It seems incredible to some, that the honey Bees should receive a prolifical virtue from the Drones, which they should exercise eight months after, and yet they consider not, that if a Hen be trodden a day or two, some affirm the eggs will be prolifical Hier. Fabriciu● abaqua pendente de ●ormatione o●i & pull●. the year following. And Dr. Harvey attests the same; but yet upon the experience only of twenty days, it is confessed, that it is sufficient for that latter; and Aristotle saith, That generous Hens will lay sixty eggs, before they sit, others more; so that they will be sometimes prolifical two or three months, but afterwards they must be trodden again, or the eggs will be addle. But to leave this until we treat of Wasps, when we shall have a more fit occasion to handle it. The Bees having conceived, begin to neglect, nay to molest their Mates: At first not quite forgetting their old familiarity, they gently g●ve them Tom Drums entertainment; they that will not take that for a warning, but presume to force in again among them, are more shrewdly handled. You may sometimes see a handful or two before a hive, which they had killed within, but the greatest part flieth away, and dyeth abroad. They are but short lived creatures did they live their utmost date; for eating much, and being idle, only in the heat of the day, with a great humming sound, they fly forth, and fetching a short compass or two, having emptied themselves, and whetted their stomaches, they return to feed, and that always of the purest honey, whereby they may become so foggy, that oft▪ times before the Bees meddle with them, you may see hundreds in a day crawl rather than fly out of the Hive, but not able to recover the stool again miscarry abroad. And whereas poor stocks (I mean such as have few Bees, though otherwise well provided) despairing of their own continuance, let the Drones alone, not disturbing, much less killing of them, yet not one will outlive October. Some may ask, Is not the male more worthy than the female? Bedae axiom. How is it then, that the Drones are but vassals to the honey Bees? which as they excel the Drones in virtue and goodness, so in power and authority, ruling, and overruling them at their pleasures. Albeit generally among all creatures, the males as most worthy, do master the females. And this Sesostr●tus King of Egypt, who conquered a great Coelli Calcag. Comment●e verborum & rerum significat. part of the world did thus express according to H●rod●tus. If he overcame any people without contention, or battle, he made them bear the badge of a woman engraven in their weapons, but if they did fight it out courageously, the cognizance of a man. Yet in these, and a few others, the females have the pre-eminence: And by the Grammarians leave, the Feminine gender is here more worthy than the Masculine. So in all the kinds of Hawks, the female doth command the male, as being the stronger, and the better armed. And the female of the Arist. de hist. l. 9 c. 1. Bear, and the Panther are more bold and courageous, stronger, and of greater spirits. The female Ounce likewise, though less than the male, yet is Jo. Caii hist. rarior Animal. Weeker. de secret. l. 8. more cruel. Ridiculous is the conceit of Democritus to catch the Drones. Wet, saith he, the covers of the Hive with water, and in the morning you shall find the Drones busy sucking thereof, for feeding of the best honey, they are always thirsty; Nay because they feed of the best honey, and not Sandaracha which is hotter, they are not thirsty; for the Bees all Winter long, while they live, thereof drink not at all. Timely ridding of the Drones by the Bees, is a good sign that they are like to be forward the next year; because the stocks that have cast often, do beat long with their Drones, although there be twice so many as be needful for the Bees, that are left, therefore (to save the honey which these would devour) it is not amiss to prevent them; and about a fortnight after their last swarm to diminish their numbers, which you may do safely in the heat of the day, killing them with your fingers: And the bruising of them with your fingers before the Hives mouth, will sometimes cause the females to take the work out of your hand, and fall upon them themselves. Some use Drone-pots made of Oziers', the twigs being set so close, that the Drones, although they go forth, yet cannot easily return in again. But the catching this way doth much trouble; the Bees may sometimes keep out the Queen. And therefore I like not of them. CHAP. X. Of the Generation of Bees. IT hath been an ancient tradition, that Bees have a twofold production, as many other creatures, by generation and putresaction. About this latter way, Virgil, Cardan. Aldrovandus, and many others have been copious; but whether there be any solidity in this particular, I am somewhat dubious, because it was never authentically proved to be performed by any. But they tell us that the best sort is procreated of a corrupted Lion; And therefore say it is no wonder, that being so small creatures they fear not any, ●ay prevail over the greatest, with a Lion like courage assaulting them. A second sort is bred of a Bull, and therefore they are called the daughters of Bulls, because they are bred of their carcases. Suidae Histor ca A third sort of a Cow. A fourth sort of a Calf, but tell us not wherein these kinds differ, for they forgot waking what they dreamt of sleeping. Would I spend words to no purpose, I might easily for the general, evince the invalidity of this opinion, for in Brasile, Peru, and most of the new world where are many sorts of Bees, and some in colour and magnitude not differing from ours, there were no such creatures, whereof (if they were lost) they might be again recovered, before they were transported by the Spaniards. But more absurd is that opinion of others, that of the ashes of Bees bedewed with sweet wine, and exposed to the Sun in Muffer Theatrum Insector a warm place, there will be a present resurrection of the former burnt Bees. Perplexed and various are the opinions of the Learned, concerning Dr. Harvey de general Animal. exercitat. 13. the generation of Bees. The first workings of nature are as dark as midnight, and with their subtlety do not less be-fool, and deceive the strongest understanding than the bodily eye. Some not comprehending their conception and generation, have fond delivered that they carried the spermatical matter of their original into their hives, gathered out of flowers, and after hatch them, either from the white honey suckle, or the reed (or Arist. de hist; l. 5▪ c. 19 Calamus) or from the Olive because, in years abounding with Olives, there are plenty of swarms. Not considering that the first brood is hatched before any of these flowers blossom, and that some of these flowers are not at all in the Northern Regions where is the greatest plenty of Bees. And for the Olive, Pliny denies that they taste of it, and Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 21. c. 12. idem. lib. 11. cap. ●. Card. de subtle. l. 11. Scalig de subtle, ● 51 exer. therefore saith, it is better away; and yet he was sometime of a contrary opinion. Cardan denies that they lay eggs, but are bred of honey. This Scaliger well opposeth, because, saith he, There can be no generation of honey, for than it should be the seed of the Bee; but this is false, neither of honey corrupted, for it corrupts not, but preserves from putrefaction. Scaliger questioning whether Bees did copulate or not, saith that of the dew in leaves of plants, worms are produced, and therefore dew opportunely gathered, and fo●erted with a genital heat of the Bee may be animated into a worm. But the first, and chiefest breeding of Bees is in end of February, when they scarce stir forth at all, or not until the dew be exhaled. And howsoever until May, dews are known to have little efficacy, or excellency, besides you may visibly see the eggs when they are first injected into the cells, they are eggs, and not a dew. Scaliger, though he propounded the former opinion, yet held not to it; for whereas Aristotle delivers it as an opinion of some that the Bees bred by copulation, and that the Drones were males, and the honey Bees females; this saith he is false Scalig Comment in Arist. de hist. Anim. l. 5 c. 19 (although without reason or experience) for the Bees indeed are females▪ but the Kings are the males: And Muffet also acknowledgeth no males but the Kings. I believe, saith Muffet, they propagate by copulation, and the greater are males (namely in his sense the Queens) and the Muffet in Theatr. Insect. l. 1. c. 3. less females, but whether they tread as Cocks he professeth that he knew not. Toxites supposeth that Bees copulate, and that the Bees are Michael Toxites in Onom●stico super theophra. the Males, and the King's Females: And that the Kings do at certain seasons cast forth worms in multitudes as flies, their flyeblotes, and that the Drones sit upon them, and hatch them after the manner of Serpents. Another saith, the matter in which they blow or breed, is Mr Remnant hist. of Bees. something that they gather of the flowers or plants, and bring home, and put into the holes, or cells of the combs, which they mix finely with a little water, and then blow in it a thing less then, or as little as a flye-blote. But this cannot be, for we find nothing in the cells wherein the seed is injected, but the seed itself. And again, the Bees seed is much bigger than a flye-blote. And as to others, so to Aristotle, the generation of Bees Arist de gene. lib. 3 cap 10. seemed very ambiguous and doubtful; for whereas among fi●●●es some generate without copulation, he sometimes supposed the same of Bees, and argues thus: They must either fetch their young elsewhere, as some in his age opinionated, which young must be either bred of themselves, or be produced by some other living creature, or they must generate them, or partly fetch them, and partly generate them: For so some supposed that they fetched only the Drones, or else they must generate them by copulation, or without copulation. Thus Bees by copulation among themselves to breed Bees, Drones to breed Drones, and the Queens to breed Queens. Of all the rest from one kind, either from the Queens, the Drones, or the Bees; for some, he confesseth in his time, held that the Drones were males, and the Bees females: Others held a contrary opinion, that the Bees were males, and the Drones were females. But against all these tenets, Aristotle's reasons as impossibilities. If, saith he, they breed not, but fetch their young elsewhere, of necessity it must be, that there be Bees without any labour of Bees, namely in that place from whence they fetch their seed; for why do they come to perfection, being carried away, and not in their own proper places. And again he saith, It agrees not with reason that the Bees are females, and the Drones males, because nature never gives females weapons to defend themselves withal. Now the Drones are weaponless being without stings. And on the contrary, it is not reasonable to imagine that the Bees are males, and the Drones females; for no males are diligent and laborious in educating of their young Cock-pidgeons, and most males among birds, sits part of the day, as well as the female, and as diligently ●eed their young. Some say the Partridge makes two nests, and the Hen sits upon one, and the Dr. Har. exercitat●, 8. Cock upon another, but they are mistaken. The males also of beasts of rapine seek out, and provide for their young. And that some Bees should be males, some females, is altogether likewise improbable, for in all creatures the male differs from the female, externally many fowls differ not, as Crows, Rooks, and many small birds. And that by generation they should procreate, is as unlikely, because no man ever saw it. At last he determines that the Bees are females, but as plants have both sexes, because the sex is not to be distinguished. But if the Drones are bred without copulation, than also keeping the same order, the Bees, and their Commanders, are bred without copulation. He concludes after a long uncertain discussion of this doubt, That the Kings or Queen's Bees breed themselves, and the Bees. It is necessary also that the Commanders be procreated by some, but neither of the Bees, nor of the Drones, therefore of themselves. Now the Commanders cells being last made, and but few in number, they breed therefore their own kind (few according to the cells) and also the Bees. And the Bees breed the Drones, and they breed nothing; and so the Generation determines in the third number, Non tamin satis adhu● explorata quae eve●iant babemus; so that in all this we have it confessed; there is much to little purpose: The Drones, whatsoever some say to the contrary, is the Mak-Bee, and although he be not seen to engender with the Honey-bee, either abroad as other Infects do, or in the Hive, which (whatsoever some have projected) is impossible, yet without doubt is he the Male-Bee, by whose natural heat, and masculine virtue, the Honey-bee which breeds, both Hony-Bees and Drones conceiveth; that they are Males, we have sufficiently proved in the former Chapter. In the next place the main Query i●, how the Bees receive a prolifical power from them. Albertus denies by copulation; but granting the Drones to Albertus Magnus. lib. 16. be Males (which is undeniable) and the Hony-Bees Females. Aristotle concludes for it, he saith, co●●nt ea in quibus m●n it Arist. de Hist. animal. lib. 5. c. 2 femina est. Those creatures conceive by copulation where there be Males and Females. And again; they that are bred of the same fort, or kind, if there be among them Male and Female, e coitu generantur, are bred by copulation: And this is asserted Idem de Hist animal. lib. 5. c. 1. Geor Piscato●●us. by others. That they engender not together, Aristotle's Argument is, because there be but few young in their cells; but other Infects that are procreated by copulation engender long, and hatch quickly: This Reason is frivolous, nay false, for the Bees are Arist. de Generate. lib. 3. c. 10 numerous in their young (that I say not almost innumerable) and they hatch quickly, sooner than the Wasp. And yet that Wasps are bred by Generation (being cognatorum generatio) and not Bees: He attributes it to a defect of Nature's bounty towards them, because nihil ut apum, habe●t genus divinitatis. So that according to the Philosopher's axiom, and the weakness of his reason to the contrary, they do engender together; but because this is not visible, and therefore perhaps may be denied by some cavilling Sceptic. I will further show that the Honey-bee may have a Masculine virtue from the Drone, otherwise than by copulation. For in the Eel, and the Purple, (a Shel fish whereof Purple comes) is no Sex visible, yet by their slaver, not by copulation do they produce their young, and perpetuate their kind. And many other sorts of fishes do not by copulation become fruitful, and generate their kind; but when they have brought forth, or laid their Eggs, the Male bedews, or sprinkles them Arist. de Hist. animal. l. 6. c 1● Dr. Harvey de generat animal. exercitat. 40 with a seminal mo●stuie, whereby they are not addle but prolifical. I have seen, saith Dr. Harvey, the Male-fish to follow-the Females in shoals in breeding time, that they might sprinkle their new laid Eggs with their Milt, or seed. Thus the Sepia or Cuttlefish. There is a Fish called Glanis, in the River Glanis in Hetruria: The Female whereof by rubbing her belly on the Males Arist. de Hist. lib. 6. c. 13 belly is fruitful; and so the Scate and all Fishes with a full tail with the rubbing of their bellies together engender: And so in a word do all fishes, besides broad griftly fishes. All Fishes that bring forth Eggs, their copulation is scarcely visible, but without a Male they conceive not, nor any other Ambrose hexam l. 5. c. 20. Creature where there are Males. Vulture's faith Ambrose conceive without a Male, and generate without conjunction; but Aldrovandus on good grounds denies this; and also Albertus, U●ys Aldro. O●n●holog. l. 3 who saith, they are often seen to tread. When the Bees have conceived, they deliver their seed, not by their tail, but by their mouth, faetum edu●● ore editum ut Arist. de Hist. animal. l. 5. c. 19 a●unt quidem; and this was the cause that some thought that they fetched it elsewhere from some flowers: Aristotle therefore speaking of it, speaks doubtfully 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, for it is a very obscure thing. And that they blow their seed, our Vulgar expression intimates, for their young is called spat, that which the Bees spit forth, or deliver by their mouths. If we affirm the seed of the Bee to be blown, it cannot so properly be called an Egg, Aristotle saith Aquapendens was very Aquapen. de formatione ovi & P●lli. p. ●9 Arist. de Hist. lib. 5. c. 29▪ 30 Dr. Har. de generat. animal. exercitat. 61 careful not to call the seed of Infects Eggs, but Worms, yet Dr. Harvey citys him, as if he sometimes or promiscuously, called the Worms, Eggs; It is true, he called the seed of a kind of Grasshopper Eggs, but it was before they were quickened but when they are hatched, he calls them no longer Eggs, but worms: Although indeed they may seem when they have done feeding, and are enclosed in their cases to be amalogous eggs, but not while they feed; and therefore Aristotle saith, Arist. de gener▪ l. b. 3. cap. 9 Every kind of worm when it hath attained his full end, and perfect magnitude, is as it were an egg, for the shell hardens, and for a time it stirs not, which, saith he, is apparent in the worms of Bees, Wasps, and Caterpillars. But the Philosopher enumerated too fast: Of Caterpillars it is true, and of all others that have proper, or natural cases, but such as have adventitious, as Bees, and Wasps, never harden. An egg properly is that, out of a part whereof a living creature is produced, and the residue is meat for it, improperly that is an egg out of the whole whereof, a living creature is Aqua penned. bred, as the eggs of Spiders, Ants, Flies. Infects first breed a worm (although it be not yet a worm Arist. de gen. lib. 2. c 1. until it be hatched, but indeed rather an egg) and this after a space of time is a kind of egg, for the Aurelia hath the faculty of an egg, and a living creature is bred of it, receiving in the third nutrition, the end of generation. That the Bees blow as a Fly or Wasp, is affirmed by some. Mr. Butler, Mr. Levit, Mr. Remnant. And a● the blotes of the flies are nourished by the flesh wherein they are blown, and by the earth wherein they are bred, so the spat or brood of the Bees, saith Mr. Levit, are nourished by honey and water; but of this in his place. The Bees seed is white, about the bigness of a Butterflies, not round, but oblong, which they lay close under the honeycombs. In the middle of the bottom of the void cells Mr. Butler round like a ring, saith Mr. Butler, but although he was a great observer, yet for want of observing himself, and following, as he supposed Aristotle, he was mistaken in Theod. Gazas translation, T. Gaza who renders the word, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by obliquus, which Scaliger well reads ad latus. The Bees seed first sticks to the side of the cell, saith Aristotle, ad latus jacet, always (as I remember) at an angle, Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 19 some distance from the bottom, and so doth the Wasp lay her seed, and not close to the bottom; thus it sticks with one end, and with the other end bends slope-wise towards the middle of the cell. And after it is hatched, it lies a while cross, or sideways, with the mouth somewhat erected, and grows so long as the matter of augmentation continues, which is not long, and then it falls to the bottom, and raiseth itself up that it may be fed. It will raise itself up, and sink as it were within itself by contraction when it pleaseth; for though it have not feet, yet the skin is somewhat scabrous whereby it rolls, or moves itself higher, or lower within the cell. The Bees in their breeding descend by degrees towards the nether part of the combs, filling one cell after another: But when their chief breeding is past, they do not precisely observe this order, but lay up their food promiscuously among the young Bees, where they find the cells empty. First, The seed sticks to an angle above the bottom, when it is hatched, it falls after a little space to the bottom, but cannot come forth to take food, which yet Aristotle seems to grant to be necessary: First, he saith, It is nourished, but tell● not how: Secondly, he saith, over against the cells, where the young are bred, the honey is laid up, he tells us not wherefore. But Scaliger saith, That the young may eat thereof, ut Accumbe●●i Scalig. Comment. in Arist. de hid. l. 5. c. 19 c●●us opp●natur, supposing, as he professeth, a few words before that, the worms and honey were both together in one cell, for he rationally concluded, they could not live and grow without food, they were not locomotive, and therefore could not go forth of their cells for it. How therefore they should receive it, was the great mystery. He supposeth the worms to stick fast on one side of the cell, and the honey on the other, that with bowing of their bodies, they might ●eedthemselves. The worm, saith he, sticks so fast to the side▪ as if she were glued or riveted there, but by no means at the bottom, lest she should be drowned with the honey. And this supposition of the worm and the honey being together in the same cell, made him conceive the worm smaller than the Bee; for saith he of the seed is generated a worm, which worm is always less than the Bee; but this is not so, for the grown worm is every way as great, and as large as the Bee. But neither of the former opinions are true ordinarily, for the Bees are bred usually in the combs before, or in the lower part of the other combs, the honey (if there be any) being reposited in the backward combs, and the upper parts of the other. It is true indeed, that the Bee-bread is oft laid up in the void cells, among the breeding cells; not that the young may feed themselves, but that therewith being ready, and near at hand they may be ●ed by the Bees. The seed is never visible in Bee or Wasp, that I could discern upon dissections of many in one part or other. Cardan affirms that they cannot have eggs within them, and Cardan. de subtle. l. 11. be exercised in their continual labours, because neither Silkworm, nor Grasshopper as long as they fly, have none; suppose the assertion true, that they have not eggs within them (but blow their seed which I believe) yet is this instance and reason very weak. Scaliger answering him, justly denies what he saith, but contradicts not his instance, only saying, That they that are well versed in nature's secrets can determine this; whereas it is well known, that the Silkworms when they have wound up themselves into their bottoms after twelve or fourteen days eat themselves out a winged creature, but have little lust to fly presently for fulfilling their lust, and engendering together: Whereby the male having spent himself▪ falls down, and dies, and the female also as soon as she hath laid her eggs, which is not long after. As for the Grasshoppers, they will fly nimbly with eighty, nay one hundred eggs in them as big as the eggs of Pismires, and the claw-tailed Humblebee (of which afterwards) works as diligently, and flies as deliverily when she is great with young, as when she is barren. Fabricius concurs with Cardan, and therefore renders this as Fabric ab Aqua p●nd▪ exer. a reason why some creatures lay eggs, and bring not forth living creatures, because if they were detained in their bodies until they were hatched, with their weight they would hinder their flying: It is true, if many were animated within them at once, it might be so, otherwise not, as is manifest by the former example. And that it is possible for Bees to fly with eggs, Scaliger Scaliger de▪ ●u●til. exer. ● 91. makes good by these following instances: He took a Glow-worm engendering with a female, and put them all night into a box with a hole in it. The male continued at his work next day, and at noon giving over, dies; from that hour until evening the female laid many eggs which were hatched in twenty hours, and presently went their way; so that some Infects speedily hatch, and perfect their eggs. Therefore he concludes Bees may copulate in a few hours, and presently lay their eggs. Likewise he relates, that when he was a stripling, that he took of the greater sort of flies, one marked with white strikes, and holding it some while in the hollow of his hand, being delighted with the shape, it brought forth many white worms notable for their motion. And therefore as she carried worms▪ so may Bees eggs when they fly. But the Flesh-fly, Butterfly, and many other Infects without all controversy fly about with their eggs in them. Now Scaliger at last discovered his little experience in the nature of Bees, when thinking to answer more fully; he mars all: For whereas Cardan saith truly, they are in continual labour, he denies it, and affirms, that the Bees having gotten honey by labour, they take the benefit of it without any more working: Whereas it is certain, that they never give over working (the season being fitting)▪ as long as there is any thing to gather, and they give over breeding, before they give over working. The seed being hatched lives, and excerns excrements▪ All Infects first make a worm, except a certain sort of Butterfly, which produceth a certain hard thing, like wilde-saffron seed, but fluid within. Now the generation of Infects in these worms, is not caused in some part only, as that some part of the egg, turns to the formation▪ the rest to the nourishment, but the whole altars until it attain the just and due proportion. Creatures which produce a worm first; bring forth a small Arist. de generat. l. 3. c. 4. one, which is increased by itself, without any addition, as meal by leaven is made of a little mass a greater. And again, some creatures have this property in themselves, that Idem de generat. l. 3. c 9 they have an increase for themselves, as the worms of Bees, others gather it abroad, as the worms of Butterflies, called Caterpillars. This is, if at all, but partly true; for after they are hatched, there is a small augmentation from the seminal virtue; but as soon as they are capable of food, they must have it, or else after three or four days they will die, as I have often experimented▪ whereas when they have done feeding▪ and are shut up with their waxen covers, they will (though out of the Hive) live, and come to perfection, but will be perhaps longer in their Metamorphosis, than if they were continued in it. I have had some three weeks before they have eaten themselves out. Creatures shaped without the females womb have in the egg, as well matter of nourishment as matter of generation of the body, because after the egg is laid, and severed from the body (of the Hen, or other creature) it hath no more nourishment from the Hen, but only a quickfling here when she sits, but as soon as the chicken i● disclosed▪ there is not much longer any matter of nourishment, but it must receive it elsewhere. Aristotle acknowledgeth that they void excrements, and can there be excrements without a supply of food, or a mutiplication of a little seed above a hundred fold by the feminal virtue, or ambient air, especially where the excrement are four times so much as the seed, or egg was at the beginning; yet Aldrovandus concurs with Aristotle, saying, That the worms of Bees and Wasps have within them that which is the matter of their augmentation; the contrary whereof is evident, for if the Hives be not provided before hand, or supplied daily with food in stormy▪ and unseasonable weather, the young brood will die in the cells, and you may see the old ones carry them out in abundance upon the first change of the weather, and then breed again. Often towards the end of Summer, if hony-gathering be not plentiful, they will draw out the young unfledge Cephens, and sometimes (though rarely) the Nymphs, lest for want of sufficient meat they should all starve together. Fishes produced of eggs (as almost all are) either within the females, or without them, at first receive no meat, sed ●rescunt hausto ●vi humour, but afterwards are nourished when they grow with the river water. In the generation of Animals which are procreated by an after Dr. Har. de gen. animal. exer. 44. addition of parts (as the chicken in the egg) there is not to be sought another matter, out of which that which is to be produced, is to receive the shape of a body, and another out of which it is made, nourished, and increased. But here in the eggs of Infects, it is otherwise, because they are not at first perfect, and therefore must have an increase, and augmentation elsewhere, until they attain their just magnitude. The eggs or worms of Infects have from without them that Harvey de gen. exer. 62. whereby they increase. But how they have it, is a riddle. Seeds of herbs▪ as Beans, etc. attract by their husks, or shells the moisture of the ground, which they suck in like sponges, and Idem exercitat. 9 are therewith nourished as well as if they received the same by veins. But thus the worms in the combs cannot be said, the meat being remote from them. The Bees vomit forth the honey which they have gathered Idem exer. 6. and digested in their bellies, and lay it up in their Hives, and after the same sort the Hornets, and the Wasps nourish their young. The assertion is not true, or very ambiguous and imperfect. If he understands that the Hornets and Wasps empty into their cells what they collect, and gather, then is it not true, for they lay up nothing that ever I could find. If it be understood that they feed their young with what they gather, as also the Bees, with what they gather, and also with that which they have formerly injected into their combs, when the weather will not permit them to gather abroad, than it is a truth, but darkly, and imperfectly delivered. So then we see after that they are disclosed, they must have meat; out of their cells they cannot come, nor creep, they are not locomotive, like Caterpillars. Now the main Query is, how they should have it? And the ignorance of this caused Aristotle, and others to deny, that they received any, so that from the history of their being a worm, to their metamorphosis into a Bee, we hear of nothing. Concerning this, I was long without satisfaction, and finding that it was impossible to observe the particulars among the Bees, because of their numbers and closeness, I sought to find it out by observation in other Infects of somewhat differing, yet of a like nature, in many particulars. I considered that yearly in my empty Hives there Hornets, I took notice therefore daily of the progress and order of their work, and generation, which I found to be thus: The Hornets nest is begun by one mother, or breedinghornet at the first, which in the top of an empty hive wrought a very short little drossy pendant peg or pin, about the bigness of the tag of a point of the outer dry parings of pales, or other old timber with a mixture of a gummy liquor that flows from oaks principally (of which matter are all her combs framed) this short peg she made the foundation and centre of a Canopy, or Tent like to a half globe, in the centre of which with ●o, she worketh six or seven hexangle cells, all concurring and meeting together in the centre, but all ju●ting out on each side downward, and having wrought them half their depth to an angle of every cell somewhat above the hono●●e, she injecteth into each a several seed, and then on the outside of those cells begins six, or seven more, but all co●entring in the same point with the former; and when they are wrought half their depth, she injecteth into each a particular seed; but before this is done and finished, she quickens and hatcheth the former, encompassing with her body, or lying round like a ring about the pin that is the centre of the globous depending Tent, or Canopy, but in the inside of it, that her heat may equally transmit itself to each cell, and enliven every seed. Within a few days thus receive they life, and begin to stir, at first sticking at the tail end, and then falling to the bottom, do they raise themselves upward. Now the mother sometimes sits upon, or rather about them, and the latter brood also to hatch and comfort them, and sometimes goes abroad and fetcheth food for them, and giveth it them as a bird her young, with her mouth going from one to another: And as they grow she worketh the cells deeper, until they attain their perfect growth, which will be above three weeks; and then the first brood begin to be torpid and dull, and receive no more food, which when they refuse, she worketh a cover over them, whiter than the combs, and they so continue shut up about three weeks, and being transchanged from a worm to a Horner, eat of the cover, and come forth, and work, and breed their kind, but then being many, in broad combs. And as they are fed, so also I am confident are the Bees, although they come to their perfection in a shorter space: For they also after they have fed about eighteen days, and attained their growth, are shut up by the Bees, with awaxen cover, and continue so about the like space wherein they are metamorphosed, and eating the cover before them, lift up the rest with their head, and come forth winged creatures. Of this metamorphosis of Infects, Aristotle thus; Every Arist. de gen. Animal. l. 3. c. 9 imperfect conception produceth first a worm, which is afterwards perfected by a change and metamorphosis, and becomes a living creature. In the generation of Animals form and transfigured of a Dr. Harvey de generat. Anim. exercitat. 44. 56. matter prepared and provided beforehand, and all the parts begin to appear, and are distinguished together by a metamorphosis, and a perfect creature is brought forth: But some, one part or member being made before another of the same matter, afterwards are together nourished, augmented, and form. The frame of those begins from some one part as the original, and by the help thereof, the other members are added and joined together; and these we say are done by a Epigenesis, or after addition of parts, namely, by degrees, part after part, and in respect of the other, properly i● called generation. After the first sort is the generation of Infects, where the worm by a metamorphosis is bred of an egg, of the beginnings are procreated of a corrupting matter (the moist drying, or the dry moistening) of which as▪ of a Caterpillar grown to a perfect magnitude, by a metamorphosis a Butterfly appears in the just magnitude. Give me leave to vary from so learned an Author, and diligent observer. It is a truth that there is no metamorphised creature, and addition of a new matter or magnitude, yet in many there is a diminution for those that have not adventitious cases, or covers, as Bees, Hornets, and Wasps, but natural hardened shells or covers, as Caterpillars, etc. have so much (as the shells or covers) subtracted from the being and substance of the future Butterflies. And this also holds not that all the parts begin to appear, and are distinguished together for the change and metamorphosis of Infects is not altogether, but by degrees, part after part is changed, and altered, as we will further make appear in the particulars. The alteration of Infects in some is made of the whole, as Bees, they having no membranous skins or shells about them, but the cells of the combs, and not of any parts of it: But every such kind of worm, when it hath accomplished his magnitude and greatness, is made as it were an egg, for the skin hardens, and all that time it is immovable from its place, yet moves in its skin, cell, or shell, as is visibly evident, for touch the outside and they will contract, and s●●●. Now the cause hereof is, because nature hastens▪ and before it be a perfect egg; brings forth so▪ that the worm by degrees, grows to the bigness of a soft egg, and after in season▪ eats through the cover or shell (for they are not reposited in cells as Bees) and comes forth as a chicken out of an egg being perfected Arist de gen. lib. 3. cap 9 in the third generation. Their metamorphosis is their perfection, and yet some groundlessly have delivered the contrary. Mizaldus' memorabil, cen. 1. 60. Wonderful, saith one, are the metamorphoses of some creatures, for Caterpillars getting wings degenerate into a Butterfly. The worm being now dead, presently the alteration begins Mr. B●●●er Feminine Mon. c. 4. from a worm to a Bee which is twofold in shape, and in colour. The first alteration in shape is the division in the middle▪ than the other division between the head and shoulders, Thus Mr. Butler. But it is otherwise, for the transmutation as in a Wasp, begins to be first visible in the superior part, and the eyes are first discerned, and then the incision between the head and the shoulders, which yet as it grows more perfect, becomes smaller, the middle incision or division is scarcely visible, when the eyes may be seen, than the legs, and the horns begin to be framed, and the wings are last finished. When they are perfect they thrust up the covers over their heads, which hang at their backs till they come forth, their fangs and tongue hang down on their breast, but when they are come forth, they then contract them (until they have occasion of their use) and draw them up close bending under their throats, that they are scarcely visible, but when they eat or work; their colour is at the first ash colour, and so are their wings, but in a little space they convert to a dark brown until they grow old, when they become grey. And thus it is in many other creatures. Fishes procreated of Arist. de hist. l. 6. c. ●. eggs, have their eyes apparently great, and oblong, contrary to those creatures which are bred of worms, where the head and eyes are last. But he was deceived, for in the metamorphosis of flying Infects, the alteration begins at the head, and is first visible in the eyes. As in dry weather Bees gather most honey, suppose it with moderation, for immoderate drought (as in the year 1652.) withers away the flowers; so moist weather produceth store of Bees, suppose it still with moderation, for otherwise (as in the year 1648.) the perpetual reins washed away all the substance of the flowers, that not only the swarms, but old stocks generally died. I lost above half a hundred, 1648▪ for my share. Now the reason why moist weather produceth store of Bees, is because the Bees do spa● and breed the faster, and preserve and nourish their brood the better by the moisture that falleth in those times, which in dry weather they cannot so well get, or rather approve not so well of, for after a warm rain, you may see them drinking on every herb, you can hardly set your foot on the ground or grass near the Hives, but you must tread on them, and that when their water is just by. Too much fair weather is destructive to the increase of Bees, for going forth every day to gather, they are there with wearied, and neglect breeding, and so though they leave fat stalls, yet in a short time few Hives, and therefore Columella adviseth to Colum. lib. 9 stop them in, every third day, that they may attend to breeding. The Bees breed best, saith Aristotle, when they gather Aristor. de hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 19 most honey, but herein he was deceived, for they gather most honey, according to his own position when the honey dews fall, which saith he, is not ante vergiliarum ortum. But we have often swarms, a first, and a second also out of the same Hive before that time: And generally all good Hives are well furnished with young before that time of the year. Indeed honey is not the ordinary food for the Nymphs, but Bee-bread, which from Mid-March, and in some temperate Springs from Mid-February, they plentifully gather. CHAP. XI. Of the Hives, and ordering them. NOw having at last, though not without trouble and travel delivered our Bees, and brought them into the world, it is high time to provide them a house, and a sitting station, which when I have done, with as much brevity as may be: I will entertain the Reader for his pains, and patience with a collation of sweet meats. They have Hives of several shapes and matter, in several, and divers Countries, some of Ozier, some of Barks, some of Petrus Cresc●●. lib. 9 c. 105. Trees hollowed (and this sort the American● about Mexico use) some of square boards, three foot high, and a foot broad; so in scarcity of Hives, I have known some use Butter-firking●▪ Some of earth, which they daub with Cowdung within, and without, because the smoothness is offensive, and the heat and cold also otherwise would be too extreme. Pliny saith, The best Hives are made of barks of trees; a Plin. hist. ●. ●●. c. 14. second son of Rods, and a third sort of Wickers. Each Country almost hath his several fashion, as well for the matter whereof they are made, as also for the manner and form of their making. In our Country, the Hives principally in use, are either made of wickers, or of straw. The wicker Hives, if they be not often repaired, will be at a fault, and lie open unto Wasps, Robbers, Mice; any of these if she finds but a crack, or cranny, will dig her way in. And the Mouse, unless the twigs be close wrought, although she find none. The straw Hives when they are old and loaded, do usually sink on the one side (especially if they take wet) and so break the combs, and let out the honey. Yet I have divers which have been continually used above twenty years together, and never lost spoonful of honey out of them. Hives made of the fashion of a Bell, which they use in Norfolk, are not so subject to sinking, but being generally large, they are not fit for single castlings; and besides they are colder than the globous Hives. All things considered, the straw Hives are the best; and the Bees do best defend themselves from cold when they hang round together in manner of a Sphere or Globe, and therefore the nearer the Hives come to the fashion thereof, the warmer and safer they be; but of necessity the bottom must be broad, for the upright and sure standing of the Hive, and for the better taking out of the combs▪ and the top must rise three or four inches higher than the just form of a globe, whether they be covered with hackles or not, because they delight to hang in a cone, and work from a point; but chiefly to prevent sinking when they are full of honey, or young Bees, to which the broad crowned Hives are generally subject. So then that Hive hath the best shape that is likest to an egg, with one end cut off, as we usually order it when we eat it. It may consist of twelve strawn wreaths or rowls, or more, according to the bigness of the Hive. Let the three first rowls be of one magnitude, and compass, and about a foot or somewhat more in the Diameter, the four next above them more large, bellying out a little each beyond his fellow that the combs may be more firmly fastened: Let the other five by little and little be narrowed to the centre at the top that it may be pyramidal. And after this proportion, if the Hive consists of more wreaths or rowls, for this is the shape of a small Hive. I have some consisting of seventeen or eighteen wreaths. Hives are to be made of any size between a bushel and half a bushel, saith Mr. Butler. I have many Hives containing five pecks which swarm yearly, and last (by succession) longer than those that are hived in small Hives: And although a half bushel Hive will contain a competent stock, yet the swarms for the most part are small, and the castlings of themselves worth nothing; and the Bees that are ordinarily left when they have cast twice are so few, that they quickly miscarry. However let your Hives be rather too little, than too great, for such are hurtful to the increase and prosperity of Bees. If the Hives be too great, the Bees will be more lazy, working uncomfortably, because they despair ever to finish and furnish their house; but yet if there be a competent number of Bees, they will work industriously (though the vacuity be large) and complete as much with combs as shall be sufficient for them. But an over large Hive is prejudicial to their swarming. When you have provided your Hive, clip off, and cut away all the staring straws in the inside, and make it as smooth as you can. The best and readiest way to perform it, is this: First wet the skirts of you Hive, then hold it a turn or two over a blaze of straw, and then take it off, do it a second time, and if need be a third; and after rub it with a piece of a rubbing stone, such as Mowers use to whet their scythes withal. And so shall you much ease the Bees, they will do it themselves in time, but not without much pains and labour, which might be more profitably employed. Howsoever when you have ●●mmed it as well as you can, yet shall you hear them if you listen in an evening harping like Miso (as if Miso were gnawing on every side) and that for divers nights together. And if it be an old Hive, though it were musty, yet holding it over a fire several times, will sweeten it. And the Bees will better like in such a Hive so ordered, than in a new one, not purged with the fire. Mr. Southern, and others after him advise, that if Bees find Mr. Southern. fault with a Hive, and will not continue in it, to pull out the spleats, and put into it a little quantity of Barley, Pease, or Moult, and let a Hog, eat it out of the Hive, turning the Hive with your hand as he eats, that the slaver or froth he makes may remain in the Hive, and then wipe it lightly with a cloth, and having put in your spleats again, hive your Bees in it, and they will undoubtedly tarry. I never had occasion to experiment it, because that I never had swarm that I could not make to ta●ty in one Hive, or other. Many rub their Hives before they use them with fennel, or other sweet herbs, and sprinkle them also with Honey and Beer mingled together, Sweet-wort, Milk, or some other sweet liquor, but I seldom use it, but only as I said before, purify and sweeten them with fire; and perhaps set them, before they be used, open in the air a few days out of the danger of rain. I have scarce (in forty swarms, and more that I have had in a year) hived one twice, or had any return after that they have been hived, except when the Queen Bee hath been wanting. Having prepared and dressed your Hives, the next thing that you are to do is to stick them. And various are the fashions that are observed, some doing it one way, some another, Mr. Mr. Levit ordering of Bees. Levit prescribes this course. Take a stick of Sallow, or Hasel, about the bigness of a man's thumb, let it be a foot long, or somewhat more, then cleave it crosswise from one end till you come within a handful of the other end, and no further, then bend each quarter a several way, cutting off the sharp edges in the midst of every one of them, then may you put the end that is not cleft into the crown of the Hive, and bending every of them a several way, stick them into the side of the Hive, that they may force the upper uncleft end hard to the crown of the Hive; but if the Hive have a little hole in the crown (as many straw Hives have) then cut the upper end of your said crown tree where it is not cleft small enough to go through a little way, leaving a shoulder on the inside to stay it: And this is to keep the crown of the Hive from sagging downwards as they will do (except your Hives be exceeding good) when they are heavy laden with honey. Lastly, Take a small stick and cleave it clean through in the midst, cutting both the parts flat and smooth, and put them crosswise into the Hive within four fingers of the board they shall stand upon. But this inconvenience I find in this manner of sticking, that they cannot be taken out, but altogether, and therefore the combs will be much broken, and the honey run out when you take a Hive. This course I observe; I take a willow stick, about nine, or ten inches long, and (according to the greatness) cleave it into several thin pieces, each spleat I shave till it will bow, then sharpening both the ends; I stick three such spleats in the centre of the crown of the Hive, and bow the three other ends to the sides of the Hive (that they stand like so many bows) and there enter them in a triangle. And then after put a strong spleat quite through the middle of the Hive within four inches of the bottom. If it be a large Hive, I put another cross that (otherwise not) about an inch lower. That the Hives should have holes quite through them to prevent Spiders webs, or by the wind passing through to blow away any offensive matter, is an idle fancy, yet prescribed by Florentinus. Florentinus. CHAP. XII. Of Sea●s for the Hives, and the Bee-garden. LEt your Bees be seated not far from your house out of the Columell●▪ danger of an echo; not too hot in Summer, nor in too shady a place in Winter. This counsel may be profitable to some, but it is of little worth to us where the hottest Sun in Summer if they be well defended with covers, or a Penthouse hurts them nothing, and the greatest frost in Winter (supposing them covered above, and also well stopped below) damnifies them nothing. Nay, I have found experimentally that in a row of Hives standing on the North side of a long Barn, whose height hath intercepted the Sun's beams all the Winter, less provision (almost by half) hath served those Hives than would have served others standing always open to the Sun, for coming seldom forth they did eat little, and yet in the Spring were as forward to work, and to swarm, as those that had twice as much honey (otherwise alike) in the Autumn before. Some Bees will be late at their work after Sunset, and if when they return they find it dark about the hive, they must lie abroad, if not altogether perish. Let the door therefore be somewhat to the West. Let your Bee-garden be well fenced from cattle, and as well as may be defended from winds, especially let them be secured from the West and South-west winds, which are with us most constant in the Summer. The time of Bees labouring, Virgil thus prescribes, First for your Hives a fitting station find Virgil Georg. lib. 4. Sheltered from winds rough violence, for wind hinders their carriage— Mr. Butler would have them defended from the rising Sun, because it invites them to work when the air is chilly and cold. Suppose there were such an inconvenience, which yet I never found, yet where there were many hives, a fence on the East side could not defend many if any at all. And if they stand on benches with backs or walls behind them, and a Penthouse over them, they will be at work in a fair day two or three hours before the Sun can shine upon them. And for swarms, it is best to uncover them on the first shining of the Sun upon them the day after they are set up (till they know their station) that they may be alured forth by the heat thereof, yet when the Sun shines hot at noon, let them be slightly covered. Columella prescribes that the hives stand with their mouths somewhat to the East, that the Sun may shine on them in the morning, and make them more early to follow their work; but upon experience, I commend the setting of them somewhat to the West, that (being late often at their work) they may have more light (their eyes being weak) to enter their Hives, and also that they be not prejudiced with the Easterly winds, which are cold and hurtful. Let their entrance be low (because of the Mouse) but longer in Summer, and shorter in Winter, but in Autumn shortest of all, not having passage for above a Bee or two at once, to prevent the danger of robbing both by Bees and Wasps. Some prefer single stools as not subject to divers inconveniences, which Bees standing on benches (as they imagine) are liable to, they are kept saith Mr. Levit by Penthouses from the rain, but neither from the heat of Summer, nor cold of Winter, for they stand naked, the heat or cold easily takes hold of them, especially any great and long frost. Again, the Wind many times makes a great noise in the hollowness of those kind of houses, which sore annoyeth the Bees; Mr. Butler saith, that many stalls upon a bench in Summer may cause the Bees to fight, as having easy access on foot to each other. And again, standing so near, they some time mistake the next Hive for their own; and again, in Winter the benches will be always wet, which looseth the cloome, rotteth the bottom of the Hive, and offendeth the Bees; and lastly, the Mouse at all times hath free passage from one to another without fear. I have tried both ways, and found none of these evils that are objected, in setting Bees under a penthouse, and whereas in the first place it is urged, That they are always subject to Heats, and Colds; I answer, that if any are much offended with either of these extremes, they are the Hives that stand on single stools where the Sun penetrates, sometimes through the hackle and the cold winds every way pierce them; and in the Spring, when they begin to work, will blow many of the Bees from their Hives when they would enter in. And for the noise that is occasioned by the Winds to Hives under a penthouse, it is less loud and violent than where it hath an open passage on all quarters; but they are more apt to fight on benches than on single stools. In many years' observation, having more Hives upon benches than ever I knew any to have on single stools, I never had any robbed by his next neighbour, but most commonly (if at all) by some of another Bee-fold; and whereas it is objected, that in Winter the benches will be always wet, I answer, that this objection is altogether frivolous, nay false, for the same cause shall wet the single stools that will wet the benches under covers; nay, they are much more subject to it, for only a driving rain from the South can wet a little at most before the entrance, which the Sun or Wind will quickly dry, when as they are liable to wet on every side; and for the Mouse, she will more securely visit them where she may unseen (getting under the hackle) eat her way into the Hive, Mr. Lawson new Orchard. Mr. Lawson therefore commends a penthouse. But if any delight in single stools, let them be of wood rather than of stone, for they are too hot in Summer, and which is worse, too cold in Winter; be careful that they be well covered with hackles, which you must often take off, both to dry the Hives in a Sunny day, and also for fear of Miso and Spiders. And whereas it is objected, that Bees standing on benches are apt to mistake their Hives, especially the young ones; and if a Swarm return home they will settle upon the next Hives, to their own and others ruin, and thereby occasion a great loss of Bees; to prevent this, let them stand half a foot at the least between Hive and Hive (it were best a foot) and these miscarriages would be avoided, and to secure you from Miso, keep a Trap constantly on every Bee board. Take notice of some advantages that this way you may enjoy, which you cannot so well when they stand on single stools; oftentimes a poor Hive standing by a full neighbour, if they lie ou●, and the weather be not sitting to swarm, they w●ll (as it were) make a League of amity with them, and first growing familiar, will with their supernumerary Bees (all not being able to work in the full Hive) replenish their neighbour with bread and meat, whereby they will swarm almost as soon as the best, which otherwise would not have swarmed that year, or very late. But besides (which is more considerable) you may have much pure Honey without any trouble, or loss; about mid April in a warm Spring, observe what Hives are full, and begin to lie out, and set a Hive with the Combs that the Bees died out of the Winter immediately before, next to such a full Hive, and you shall have them work into it presently, and carry in abundance of Honey; of necessity many of them must have been idle in their own Hive, there being no room for half to work; they take this as a retiring house which they will work in, and stay in too, night and day, only keeping an intercourse with their own, which will swarm never the later, and as soon as by the emission of a Colony there is room made in their own Hive, they will go again to their Leader and leave their provision; if some few stay when you take it, knock them out, and they will return to their old habitation; I had this last year, one thousand six hundred fifty six, in four such By-hives thus gathered, in eight days before the end of April near four gallons of Honey, and the Hives also swarmed in April▪ this Honey was pure Virgin Honey, as white almost as milk. But if they stand a week in May and swarm not, then take the retiring Hive and carry it some distance from the stool, and knock it on the crown and sides, and they will all go out to their own Hive. But if you dare not venture on this course▪ then drive them into an empty Hive, and the day following knock them out near their own Stock, and they will quickly return into it. By this, conjecture how much honey Bees gather in the Spring, but of this more afterwards, so that it is neither for want of room, or stools, or wit (as some imagine) to set Hives on benches under a penthouse. Mr. Butler designs to set sixty three Hives of Bees in a plot of ground of fifty foot square (if any, saith he, be so happy to attain this number, which I have much exceeded) but I would rather advise to set your Hives if you have many▪ at a larger distance, if you have room, whether upon single stools, or upon benches, namely, not above sixteen, or at most twenty in a row (still take notice to set them from East to West) and three or four rodds to the Southward, another row, and so according to your numbers, or at double that distance if you have room enough, for it cannot otherwise but often fall out, that you shall have many swarms rise together, or before you shall have Hived the first, especially in a plentiful year, to your no little disturbance, and prejudice: Whereas standing at that distance, you shall more frequently prevent it; and the more, if you have a row of trees planted thick to the Southwards of every row of hives, some two or three rods distant, where they will readily light and seek no further. Another inconvenience of many hives standing upon single stools one before another is, that sometimes the swarms will settle on the hackles of the hives before them, and if you be not present, and speedily hive them, hazard the loss of the swarm, and perhaps the stock too, as I have found by experience. Let the ground before your stools or benches, for a rod or two at least, be kept short with often mowing, for long grass and weeds, much more Beans and Pease are prejudicial: for the young weak Nymphs falling on those shady places (except the weather be warm and dry) are in danger to be chilled, before they can ●●se again. Let it not be a bare ground, for in Winter it will be wet, and chill the Bees when they light on it, and in the Summer dusty, and falling on it if they rise not presently, but go a little, their feet being dew-clawed, and scabrous, will quickly sur, and they will be so clogged, that they will not be able to rise at all. Let them not stand above a foot, or a foot and a half from the ground at the most, for if they stand higher (as most set them) they are more subject to the violence of the winds, for though they do well enough abroad in windy weather, yet when they return home, especially in the Spring, they will be beaten down besides the hive (and the more if they stand upon stools than on benches) and if there be a present shower (the weather then i● variable) or the Sun suddenly overcast, they will quickly i'll, and perish. That they infect one another with their smell if they stand too hear together (as Mr. Levit surmifeth) I never found, nor do I believe. And i● great noises offend them, the higher they stand, the more 〈◊〉 they subject ●● them. I have observed that Bees fly more frequently to their work East ward than any other way, though there be as good gathering to the West▪ Smoke is very offensive to Bees, let them not stand therefore near a Brick-kilne, Lime-kilne, Brewhouse, or where any long continuing smoke may beat down upon them. Let your Bee garden, or the ground adjoynin to it, be planted with all sorts of Plumbs, Cherries, Apples, Pears, Goosberries, Rasps, Ribs, and beds between planted with all sorts of flowers that they delight in, I will give you a Catalogue of them in their proper place. The humble Plains, or lowly Valleys are commended as the Columel. best place for a Bee-garden. CHAP. XIII. Of the Bees work. WHen the Earth begins to put on her new apparel, and the Sun runs a most even course between the night, and the day, then most commonly, sometimes before in warmer seasons, the industrious Bee hating idleness more than death, diligently visits every tree and flower that may afford her materials for her livelihood. Hear how an ancient Poet expresseth it. When forget had the Earth his poor estate Chaweer Prologue to the legend of good women. Of Winter, that him naked made, and ma●e, And with his sword of Cloud so sore grieved, Now hath the attempre Sun all that rolieved, That naked was, and clad it new again, The busy Bees of the season fain, etc. Pliny was deceived in the time of the Bees working, for he saith, they lie quiet in the hive until after the rising of the Vergiliae, which are the Pleiades, or seven stars in the neck of Taurus, about the third of May. This incessant labour while the time permitteth, with the three singular effects thereof, working of wax, making of honey, and the feeding of their young. The Poet in few words hath elegantly expressed. But when bright Sol hath banished Winter chased Under the Earth, and Summer light hath graced Virg. Geor l. 4. The sky again, over the fields and woods They wander straight, lightly the brinks of fleods; They sip and taste the purple flowers, from thence (What sweetness ere it be that stir their sense) Care for their brood, and progeny they take, Thence work their wax, and honey clammy make▪ Bees gather of all things which have flowers (as it were) in a Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 19 hose or socket, and of all other things which are sweet; but either assertion is too general, as we will show when we particularise what they gather of. Scaliger commenting upon him, goes further, and saith, They gather also of bitter, and sharp things, as Radish, and Mustardseed, but he mistook himself, for the flowers (which they only gather of) are neither bitter nor sharp. The fabric of their combs is an inimitable excellency, without all rules or compasses do they make their hexangle Aeli●n l. 5. c. 1. cells. As soon as they are furnished with a new house, they begin their work. They gather not, whatsoever some groundlessly imagine of the Sallow, Elm, or other trees any gummy substance other than Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 2●. wax. Indeed the Horners, and Wasps suck the sap that leaks from some Oaks, Elms, and other trees, wherewith they temper the dry rossie dross, that they gnaw off from old decayed posts and pales, of which mixed together they frame their ●▪ combs. Much ado the Ancients make about the foundation of their work, which they conceit to be framed of some tough and glutinous matter other than wax, and they fancy a triple foundation, for the combs, all of such tough, but pliant, and lim●er stuff, differing somewhat one from another, and all from pure wax: The first foundation they call Commosis: A second, which they over-lay the former with Pissocera; and the third, wherewith they cover the two former Propolis. But whatsoever they fancy, the foundation of the Combs is not any other than ordinary wax: Take an old Hive wherein some remna●ts of the Combs have been left sticking to the sides, or if there be none, fix towards the crown of the hive in several places, little fragments of wax, and hold the hive a little over a blaze of straw that the wax may melt and diffuse about the sides of the hive, and such a hive will they more contentedly work in than any other, presently to that foundation of wax, fastening wax new gathered from the flowers (for in some Islands plentiful of Bees, there are no trees for some miles, as Foulness, etc.) They fasten the first wax near to the centre of the hive, if they be many, but if there be few Bees then near the side, they make their combs perpendicular, beginning at the top, and so working down to the bottom; the heat of the Bee (that I say not of their breath) maketh the wax warm and pliable, that at the first gathering they can work, and turn it to their purpose. They will not only work artificially the wax they gather into thin hexangles, but blow and soften, and work a solid piece of wax into a comb, as I have often experimented, putting a piece of wax under a hive almost combed to the board. The order of their work is thus: They fasten their first wax to the hive, and adding more still, make first the middle between the cells, and having wrought a little of the thin bottom, than on either side begin to raise the hexangle cells, and so still descending to the bottom, as some are fully finished, others are but half way, others new begun. Their combs are placed otherwise than the Wasps, for the Wasps hang theirs one under another, and the Bees theirs one besides another, beginning still at the top, and at that distance that a Bee may reach from one to another. And usually supposing them to stand with the entrance into the hive Southwards, they fasten and order them so, that in the breadth they are from East to West, thereby better securing themselves from cold. Their cells are made six quare, according to the number of their feet of that length and wideness that each of them may easily contain a young Bee. More particularly they make their Basil He●em. Homil. 8. combs with such artificial prudence, that they seem to out go Archimedes, for the wise Bee is not ignorant of Geometrical inventions, all her cells are hexangles, and have equal sides, not leaning by courses right forwards, that the lowest being joined to the empty one, may not be pressed or prejudiced, but the angles of the lowest hexangles may be a basis and support for that that leans upon them, that they may securely hold up, and bear the burdens put upon them, and the Honey may be contained severally, and apart in every cell. And again, the Bees contrive their Hony-cels both wisely, and artificially, for distending the Wax into a thin membrane, they frame together many and numerous cells, that by the frequency of the binding or knitting of the small cells one among another, there may be a stay or p●op for the whole work; for every cavity or cell takes fast ●old of his fellow, being separated by a small division from it, and all joined to it. And lastly, these pipes, or cells, are twice or thrice arched, and framed together like the rafters of houses. O● they thus make their hexangle cells, which with a divers Nice●s comment. in Greg. Nazian. orat. 43. ●●. 1. and opposite order answer one another, for some are placed at a right line, others are instead of foundations to them that lie upon them, and stays for the honey, both for the elegancy, and also the security of the work; so wisely and skilfully doth she fabricate her Storehouse, for drawing out the Wax into a thin skin, or membrane, she makes thick and continued cavities, so as that thick composition of small things among themselves do sustain and underprop the whole work, for every cell doth join or hang to his fellow, being divided by a small partition, and also (as before) conjoined together. In a word, the cells are so framed that they have two or three floors or rafters, for she is afraid to make but one through the whole cavity, left the honey pressed down with the weight, should sink to the external part. Now all the cells in every Comb are hexangle▪ and equilateral, not leaning strait forth one to another, left the lowest parts joined to the empty ones should be too much burdened, but the angles of the lower hexangles are instead of a basis, or prop to the superior. After this fashion the Bee frames her work, varying Elias G●etens. Antist. come. ●● Greg. Nazian. orat. ●. de theol. right lines with angles. And thus saith another, where had the Bees such studious industry and workmanship, that they should after such divers manners knit together their Combs by hexangle Pipes turned one against another, which connexion's made wisely, and with much cunning, do hold together by hexangle pipes, which pipes are the long and concave Storehouses for the Honey; now these are opposite to, and turned one against another, for some are placed strait, others on the contrary are obliquely stretched forth on the bottoms of them which are drawn forth right, which do afford their sides for the pipes that hang over, instead of a foundation, and as it were a shore, whereon the honey may rest. Now what Euclid busied in representing lines which are no where, and anxiously labouring in demonstrations can imitate them? The frame and manner is most curious, with holes on both sides of the Combs, many hundreds, and yet they are none of them just one against another, but placed triangular one among three, and that most neatly and artificially, which argueth their feeling to be good, for they do all in the dark. How much Wax they bring at once doth appear by the new Swarm, whose first week's work is spent chiefly in building Comb●, wherein they are so earnest, that it falleth out with them, as it is in the Proverb, The more baste the worse speed; for part of many of their burdens do fall from them before they can fasten them to the combs. You may see great store upon the stool by the skirts of the Hive, like unto the white scales which fall from young Birds feathers (but whiter and brighter) and therefore some have imagined that they also are soles, which the young Bees do likewise shed from their wings; but put you some of these parcels together, and you shall quickly be resolved of that doubt. The Swarm when it begins to work falls low towards the bottom of the Hive (in appearance filling it) that there may be a vacuity and hollowness above, that those that work (for a● first all cannot) may neither be crowded, nor disturbed, but as the Combs descend, so do the Bees ascend, and after a week or ten days will be all above. Now to say something of their gathering of Honey, which they fetch in little or much nine months in the year; this is of two sorts, the one pure and liquid, called therefore by some Nectar, as the other which is gross and more solid Ambrosia, and both of them are the Bees food, but in several seasons. The gross honey Sandaracha, or Bee-bread, is gathered by their tongues, with the assistance of their fangs, from whence it is conveyed by their forelegs to the thighs of their hind-leggs, and that so nimbly, that unless you have a quick eye you cannot perceive it. In the Spring, when the air is colder, and the Bees duller at their work, it is more visible: namely when they gather off the Aglets, or Catkins, of the Hazel, or the Willow a little after. Many out of curiosity have supposed, that they might be able to observe the Bees work if they had a transparent Hor●-hive, as a certain Consul in Rome had, or a clear Glass-hive; but the Gullel, de Conchis. vanity of this opinion will quickly appear to any intelligent and rational man; for imagine the Hives were more transparent than Crystal, unless the Bees also, and all their work too were transparent as well as the Hives, this cannot be; put an opacous body into the hollow of it, your sight is dulled and darkened, but more when they once begin to frame their Combs, the foundation of their work, which they frequently compass round about; and howsoever such Hives would not be profitable, for they are subject to violent heats and colds, and therefore earthen Hives were justly condemned by the ancients. But if any be desirous to satisfy himself, as much as is possible, I will direct him in a more certain way, often experimented by me, yet I say not, that I will altogether undeceive his expectation. Let the board or plank whereon the Beehive stands have a small hole, or cleft thorough the middle of it (big enough for a Bee to go through) or let the Hive stand a little over the board or stool, and when the Hive is full you shall ordinarily have them work Combs to the bottom of the board under the Hive; I have had under one hive six or seven Combs about a foot long a piece, wherein they bred their young, laid up their honey and Bee-bread as in the hive; and although they were in the open air, yet was I thereby little the wiser, only sometimes in a colder season I have observed them blowing, and working of the lower part of their Comb, but was not any thing at all enabled to understand the generation of their young, or other curiosities which were performed in the inmost combs; and within themselves (except the Bees and their work too, had been transparent) they still some of them encompassing their work; and therefore except you can with your eye penetrate a solid body, you will conceive thereby little of their work (only sometimes on the edges of their Combs) and much less in a Glass-hive. They unload into the empty cells the Bee-bread which they have gathered for food for themselves, when they cannot go forth to work, and also to feed their young, but if it continue any long time uneaten, it will grow dry, insipid, and sour, and thereby as tasteless, so useless, and oft cause the Bees to forsake their Hives (as some suppose) but this is never the chief cause of their departure, but rather paucity and fewness of Bees, having overswarmed, or else the loss of their commander. For, hive a swarm into old combs where is much stopping, yet shall you find that they will thrive well, for they will draw it out of the cells with their fangs, and carry it forth. And let the combs be never so old, except they have taken wet, and so be rotten and crispy, they will like well of them, only if they be very old, they will do as Masons do with old stone buildings, take down the out-part and work it again with new materials, whereby it shall be as good as new, and they continue as long, and as well in them, as if they had been put into new combs. Into old combs (after nine or ten years standing the Bees by casualty dying) I have hived little or late swarms, which have continued in some of them ten years more. Sometimes my own, sometimes my Neighbours Bees have trimmed up such Hives as they have found standing (the Bees being dead) and have gone of themselves into them, and thrived better than others hived into new hives, or new combs; so that blackness (as it is commonly thought) is not an infallible sign of a faulty hive, for the combs have successively sundry colours. The first colour is white, which in a good Hive before the end of Summer will turn to a light yellow, and by the beginning of the next Spring▪ this light is changed into a sad colour, and so by degrees it becomes brown, and then black, but not in all parts of the Hive alike, for the combs will be black before, and brown in the middle when they are yellow, if not white in the backward combs. And this alteration of colour, is caused by the heat of the Bees, who lying for the most part before, do soon discolour them; but the blackest combs (tried or melted) will turn again to yellow. It is not amiss (especially if the Hives be poor) to cleanse away in the Spring the dross and filth that the Bees have contracted all Winter when they could not go abroad▪ but for fuming of them, as some require, I never saw any cause, nor found any profit in many years that I have been conversant among them. To seek (as Varro requires) if there be divers rulers, because divisions would make them lazy, is a ridiculous, if not impossible task: They kill after the last swarm all of the blood Royal, and in the Spring early breed new, that they may be ready to go with the first swarm. The Vulgar when they see the Bees go home laden with Bee-bread, suppose they carry way, and so they call it, but if you taste it, you will easily resolve yourself. Besides, if you would coagulate it together, with the heat of your fingers (as you may wax) you cannot, but shall find it crumble, and not stick together like wax Put it into the fire, it will not melt like wax; besides, it is of divers colours according to the quality of the flowers, or plants whereof it is gathered, so that by the colour with a little observation, you may say of most of the Bees, when they return with it, where they have been gathering. Taste it when it is new gathered, it is sweet, and not unpleasant, but not so sweet as honey. And that it is not wax, take notice of an old stock into which they carry plentifully of it, and yet at the end of the year there is no more wax (if so much) then there was in the beginning. Whereas a swarm will sometimes work down half their hive in a week, and yet you shall see them carry▪ little of it if any at all. And the reason that the old stocks carry inso much, is, because they have many young ones to feed, whereas a swarm for the first ten days, ordinarily have not hatched much spat, or young brood, and they feed for the most part abroad, and therefore need little of it in the Hive. The liquid honey the Bees suck or gather with their tongue, whence they let it down into their bottles, which are within them like bladders, each of them will hold a drop at once; you may see their bellies strut withal. Many think because they see nothing on their thighs, that they come home empty, but they are better, and more heavy laden than the other. This sedulous diligence and indefatigable industry of the Bees is most evident and eminent in the Spring, after they have been long confined to their hives with the Winter's frost and cold, but being set at liberty by the Sun's warmer beams, they speedily scour over hills and dales gathering of every blossom, and flower as greedily as the griping Usurer graspeth gold, which diligence of theirs, is notably expressed by a Modern Poet. Quales vere novo siculeae sub collibus Hyblae Aelius Julius Crota. Eidyl. 3. Vallibus, aut riguis late fragrantis Hymeth Exercentur apes, stabulis ubi pinguibus agmen Prodit mane novum, & coelo bac●batur aperto. Hae veris popul●ntur opes, Tymbraeque laborant: Illa Apii lachrymam, & graveolen●is Centaureae Narcissique legunt florem, Casiasque rubentes: Caetera dum legio ●ectis ascripta, tenaces Suspendunt caeras, & mella liquentia fundunt. Thus in the Spring the diligent Bee spreads forth her wings, Greg. Nazian. orat. 43. ●. 2. yet stiff as it were with the Winter's cold, and with haste leaving the hive, flies to the slowery Meads and pleasant Gardens. But for your further delight, consider the Bees labour, in the words of one of our best English Poets, yet somewhat altered, because not intended by him for this purpose. The Woods, the Rivets, and the Meadows green▪ Spensers' Minopotm●s. With her air-cutting wings, she measureth wide, Ne doth she leave the mountains bore unseen, Nor the rank grassy Fens delights untrod; But none of these how ever sweet they been, Meet please her fancy, nor cause her ●'abide Her choiceful sense with every change doth flit, No common things may please a wavering wit. To the gay Gardens her unstaid desire Sometimes her carrieth, to refresh her sprights, There lavish nature in her best attire Pours forth sweet odours, and alluring sights, And art with her contending, doth aspire T'excel the natural, with made delights. And all that fair or pleasant may be found, In riotous excess doth there abound. There she arriving, round about doth fly From bed to bed, from one to other border, And takes survey with curious busy eye, Of every flower and herb there set in order; Now this, now that, she tasteth tenderly, Yet none of them she rudely doth disorder Ne with her feet their silken leaves deface, But pastures on the pleasures of each place. And evermore with most variety, And change of sweetness (for all change is sweet) She casts her tasting sense to satisfy Now sucking of the blooms of herbs most meet; Or of the dew, which yet on them doth lie Now in the same bathing her tender feet. And then she percheth on some branch thereby, To weather her, and her meist wings to dry. And then again she turneth to her play, To spoil the pleasures of that Paradise; The wholesome Sage and Lavender still grey, Sweet Carrowayes, and Cummin good for eyes, The Roses reigning in the pride of May, Sharp Isop, good for green wounds, remedies; Fair Marigolds, and Bees alluring Thyme, Sweet Marjoram, and Daisies decking prime. Cool Violets, and Borage growing still, Embathed balm, and cheerful Galingale Goodly Tulips, and breathful Camomile, Dull Poppy, and drink quickening set wale, Vein healing Ver●●n, and Head-purging Dill, Sound Savory, and Basil hearty hal●. Fat Coleworts, and comfirting Strawberry, Cold Le●ice, and refreshing Rosemary. And what so else of virtue good or ill▪ Grew in the Garden, fetched from far away, Of every one she takes and tastes at will, And on their pleasures greedily doth prey, etc. CHAP. XIV. Of the swarming, and hiving of Bees. Bees' breed in May, when there is plenty of honey dews▪ Dr. Harvey de partu. Wasps in Summer, when the fruits begin to ripon. It is true Bees breed in May, but their chief breeding is in March, and April. And although the Wasps appear not in great numbers until the latter end of Summer, yet they begin to breed in the Spring. The old stocks having bred in the Spring, and with a new supply replenished their hives, they presently prepare to send forth a Colony or two (if the weather prove seasonable) out of every good stall. In extraordinary dry and windy times, many, though they be full, yet they will not swarm at all. For having wa●ted long for an alteration of the weather in vain, and the year wearing away, and they by lying forth under; or about the sides of the hive▪ cooling themselves, and being well provided for, are loath so leave their labours to go anew to labour. Sometimes it falls out▪ because they have no Commander ready. I once had a very good hive full, and multitudinous with Bees, and yet never swarmed in many years, I was resolved to let them alone, to try whether they would ever swarm; in the eighth year they swarmed twice, and also other years after, what might be the cause of their long delay, I cannot certainly assign. The swarm consists not of younger Bees, than the stock, for there go forth both old and young, and therefore Aristotle was deceived, who said that the swarm consisted of young Bees, Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 64. and was not contradicted by Scaliger commenting upon him. The swarm parts not into several companies, but when there are more Queens than one. Some Drones go along in every swarm, but not many, seldom a dozen: And therefore whereas some lay it down as an insallible rule, That those swarms that have not many Drones will not thrive, is not always true. Many times the weather proving stormy, and cold, the Drones will all be starved, when as the Bees will supply themselves by going sometimes (though seldom) abroad. Nay the Bees often in such seasons jealous of their own safety (and knowing them to be great devourers) will kill them; and yet the weather proving seasonable, afterwards have thriven and prospered well that year, but perhaps they had a conceptive power by a masculine virtue from the Drones before they swarmed. It is impossible to determine the precise time of the year when Bees will swarm, but by the forwardness of the Spring, and warmness of the weather you may probably guests. A warm, calm, and a showing Spring causeth many and early swarms; but it is to be supposed if stormy, cold, and close weather follow, not a great while together, immediately after. I once had many Hives (the beginning of the Spring being mild and warm) very forward, so that by the end of March they began to lie forth. And although the weather within a week of April, did somewhat alter, yet (being full of brood within which came daily to perfection, they lay forth in abundance by Mid-April, but the Spring continuing tempestuous and cold until a week in May, ●●● of the very best wholly perished, having many mouths and no meat, and not being able (because of the cold) to go forth to gather any, in january before▪ I am confident the worst of them had not less than three quarts of hoay. Now those that were poor and weak began not to breed so early, and though they were not so well supplied, yet had they few mouths as they had a little meat, and endured the extremity, and swarmed that year, but somewhat later than ordinary; the first sort lying forth without the Hive I could not securely feed them, which otherwise I would have done, when I perceived them to perish. Sometimes also in regard of the uncertainty of the weather, early swarms are not the best; in the year one thousand six hundred fifty two, I had twenty swarms before mid May, and many more after, and of all, but one survived until the next year, for the year was so dry that by Midsummer there was scarce any flowers, and they yielded little honey, except in the Woodlands, where the Bees among the moist and shady pla●●s found better provision. Many times May swarms prove not so well as those that are cast in the beginning of june, the Wind oft times continuing high and cold, and the season close, so that without a little refreshing many swarms are like to perish. If a swarm by bad weather be checked, and hindered in their work the first week, they will seldom work courageously all the summer following. Dry weather makes plenty of hoay, and moist of swarms, so that when a d●y summer follows a moist spring, the Bee-folds Arist. de Hist. animal. lib. 4. c. 22. Mr. Butler, Fem. Mon. are rich, but if the summer be also moist, the increase of Be●s will be great, but because of the scarcity of honey, this increase will prove a decrease; the more swarms you have at the end of summer, the fewer stalls shall you have at the beginning of the next, for except some very early swarms, and some good stocks which cast betimes, or not at all they will all die for hunger; and the reason is, that the weather keeping them much in, they can do nothing but breed, and when they go abroad, bring in nothing but Bee-bread and water, wherewith they seed their young, but can find nothing to lay up in store; so that moist weather gives them two causes of swarming, plenty of Bees, and penury of Honey; the one makes them able, the other willing, and then neither Winds, nor Clouds, nor Rain can stay them, whereas in times of plenty it is otherwise. Before they swarm some days, they will by a peculiar and Arist de Hist. Animal. lib. 9 c. ●0 distinct voice, make it known throughout all the Hive, as in the dislodging of an Army by the sound of Trumpets, proclaim, pack up, and be gone; so that as a presage of their swarming, there is a peculiar sound heard two or three days before. — And then a voice Virgil. Is heard, resembling Trumpets winding noise. Mr. Mouffet mistakes this place strangely, and applying it to Mr. Muff. Theatrum Insect. the Bees, saith, When the Bees for the Queen's tyranny will forsake the Hive (which falls out at the Greek Calends) there is a peculiar and solitary voice, as of a Trumpet, heard two or three days before: when therefore they are ready for their slight, away they go, and if the Tyrant whom they forsake follow them, they put her to death. But this voice is not at all, or but some few hours before they go forth with their first Colony, it is true indeed always of the after swarms, but by the way, if they hear not at all, (which Aristotle elsewhere denies) to what purpose were this call, or proclamation to make ready to be gone? The signs of the first swarms are somewhat uncertain, but Varro de re ●ustic●, lib. 3. lying out, about, or under the Hive, in the mornings and evenings only, is a very probable sign of swarming, whereas to lie out constantly, is a sign of not swarming. When they will presently swarm you may sometimes know, by their gathering together without at the door of the Hive, and not only upon the Hive, but on the stool also, where when you see them begin to hang one upon another in swarming time, and not before, and to grow into a cluster that covers the stool in any place, then be sure they will presently ●ise, if the weather hold; but commonly some few do first fly forth to and f●o the Hive door, with a greater noise than ordinary, and so allure out more company unto them, and when by this means they have got out a pretty many, the noise made by them is more smart and vehement, when they begin to dance before the Hive, and making many circling mourns turning from, and yet again returning to the Hive, with delightful melody singing a loath to depart, invite all their Sisters to hasten apace, and wait upon their Queen now on her coronation day. Their murmuring small Trumpets sounden wide, Spenser Fairy, Q. lib. 2. can●. 9 Whiles in the air their clustering army flies, That as a cloud doth seem to dim the skies. When Bees lie continually forth of the Hive, they usually swarm late, sometimes not at all that year, the reason thereof is, because the Hives being full of Bees, and therefore very hot, the Bees to refresh and cool themselves lie abroad under the Hive, or upon the sides thereof, whereby the Hive never seems over full; and they having used a while to lie forth, find no inconvenience from their multitudes, and are loath to forsake that plenty which they have painfully gathered. If they begin a Comb under the board, it is a sure sign of not swarming; sweep them down that hang under, and embitter the place, and gently drive them into the Hive with a brush of wet stinking weeds, or smoke them in, as you shall be more fully informed afterwards. But do what you can, some Hives will not swarm at all, or not a great while, perhaps they want a Leader. Always choose a Hive answerable to the swarm, a forward swarm if great, may be put into a Hive that contains somewhat more than three pecks, but if it be a prime swarm, in the beginning of june, into a Hive containing three pocks; if at Midsummer, into a Hive somewhat less, but I like no Hive that holds not somewhat above half a bushel. By this time the swarm is settled, go presently therefore to hive it (having Hives of all sorts always prepared) for fear of rising again, or of others coming to it. If it be in the heat of the day, and the Sun shine upon it, it will not stay long, if it be provided of a place (hive or tree) as some are before hand; presently after they are settled, and all their company gathered together, they will uncluster, rise again, and be gone, and fly forth right thither (not as at other times uncertainly) and will not be stayed by any course you can take. If they be not provided beforehand, as soon as they are gathered together, they design, or empower some of their company to espy out one, and if they return with the news of it before swarming time be past, for that day (and they yet unhived) they will presently uncluster, and away, otherwise they will hang until the next day. They therefore deal indiscreetly, that let their swarms hang until night, losing thereby many, and hindering them in their work; for as soon as they are hived, if it be not late in the afternoon, they will presently ply their work, and sometimes make a comb a handful long before night, and fill much of it with honey, as I have often found, when I have united them to another. And besides by long hanging, they will be wont to the place, that for some days after, they will hanker thereabouts, and neglect their labours. And where there are many Hives, there is great likelihood of others rising, and then if they be within hearing, they will fly all together; bestir you therefore to hive them presently; and if you espy any other to arise before you have done, stop them up with a cloth (and when you have dispatched, let them out) but if you have finished before they come forth, or come towards you, cover the first with a sheet until the last be settled elsewhere. But if they fly about the covered Hive, seeking to enter there, set down a prepared empty Hive by it, and they will often go in of themselves. But if two prime swarms rise together, then there is no prevention, but for the most part they will settle together: Hive half of them into one Hive as near as you can guests, and the remainder into another. And if the Queen Bees be divided, they will continue severally, otherwise, will go out of that Hive where is no Queen, into the other. When they are all entered into one, knock them down into a fan, or upon a very broad board, and set two Hives over them, having first laid sticks along in the fan to bear up the Hives a little from the bottom, that the Bees may on every side easily enter in, and with a wing or brush of weeds, sweep some to one, and some to another, as equally as you can. But if notwithstanding all your endeavours, they will go to one Hive, then fetch a weak castling, and knocking down near half upon the fan, carry the other away the distance of a rod, or more, and set the castling over those in the fan, and so shall you have two good Hives howsoever. If your swarm light upon a bough, shake them in gently, and set them upon a board o● fan, underneath the place, having laid two sticks first (near an inch about) about half a foot asunder, to rear up the skirts of the Hive, that no Bees may be crushed by the Hive, and the Bees may more readily enter. And if any rise as (usually some will) shake them down, and lay a handful of May-weed, Wormwood, or other wet herbs in the place where they settled, and they will quickly remove, and go to their fellows; but if they light very high, then carry up a cloth with you, and cover them that you have in the Hive, and bring it down with the mouth upwards, and set them below (on a fan as before) and fetch the remainder in another empty Hive covered, and when you are down, knock them out by the side of the former, sometime you must do it, a third, nay a fourth time before you have all. If they light upon the body of a tree (they will be trouble● some to hive) you cannot take half of them in at once, but sweep with a wing or brush of weeds, as many as you can, and set them underneath the place, and fetch the remainder, as before. Sometimes it will not be amiss to saw down gently the bough (when you cannot otherwise well come at them) where they hang, fastening first a little line to it, and so softly let it down, or else bring it down in your hand. I have brought down many, and hived them with ease below. At other times when they have been very high in the middle or outside of a tree, I have carried up a fan, and fastened it by the ears underneath the swarm, and so hived them as easily as if they had been near the ground, setting them in the fan, laying sticks ●●st in it, as I prescribed before. And in the evening without any trouble, fetched them down, and set them in their place. The manner of hiving is very various and manifold, by reason of the many and different circumstances of the lighting, or pitching, that it can hardly be taught by rules, but is rather to be learned by use, and experience, guided with reason and discretion. If they settle on a dead hedge, or on the ground, set the Hive over them, underpropping it if there be cause, and with a handful of wet weeds stir them softly underneath, and they will go up, and to allure them the sooner, anoint the edges of the Hive with a little honey, and sprinkle a little within it. It will not be amiss to shred, and order here and there some boughs of the trees in, or near your Bee-garden, that they may hang out, as it were from the rest more opportunely to entertain the Bees when they swarm. Yet in places where are neither trees, nor dead hedges, they will settle upon pales, nettles, mallows, they will refuse nothing they readily meet with; sometimes on the very grass: Thus in the Island of Foulness. To cause stocks that lie out more speedily to swarm, divers Mr. Butler ●em. ●om. c▪ 5. rules are prescribed. To keep them cool by watering and shadowing of them, and enlarging▪ of the door, to give them air (always provided that there be no backdoor in the Hive) I have with a contrary course occasioned their swarming, first rubbing the bottom of the stool against the door well with wormwood, or the juice of Elder, and all the sides about the door, and ●aying wormwood, or May-weed also, close to the mouth, and also before, above the door; which being done, I have in the heat of the day taken off their cover, so that not being well able to continue in the Hive, nor yet to rest under it, nor on the sides of the Hive, they have presently swarmed. A second way prescribed by Mr. Butler is, when they have lain out (although they have had fit weather two or three days) than the next calm and warm day a little before noon (when the Sun shineth, and you see no clouds coming to hide it) put in as many as you can with your brush (it is better to smoak them in) and sweep down the rest, not suffering any to cluster again: These rising in the calm heat of the Sun, will make such a noise, as if they were swarming, which their fellows hearing, will perhaps come out unto them, and begin to swarm. It is but a perhaps, for I have seldom seen this course successful. When all hope of their swarming is past, in some evening while it is yet light (saith Mr. Butler) holding a Hive under those that lie out, cut them off with a tied thread held straight between two hands, and carry them to an over-swarmer that you would mend, knock them down on a table close before his Hive, into which, because they come without a Prince, they are quietly admitted, and quickly united under one Commander: Stay there, I have often tried this course, but without success always; for though they be without any great contest admitted and continue there that night, yet the day following, they will return to their old Hive. See here the difference between a voluntary emission, and a compulsive; when they go forth with a Leader, you may put them any where, for they have by a voluntary departure, excluded themselves from their former society, and to return thither again, except it be in a short space, is capital: They are reputed as enemies, forsaking their own Commander, and going away with another Leader; but if their Princess in a short space return with them, there is no question about their admission; but if by a wile they are taken from their own company without a Leader, they will return back again do what you can, except you carry them so far that they know not the way. Mr. Butler for such Hives as have not swarmed before Midsummer, directs this course, to double the stall, by turning the skirt of the Hive upward, putting the crown into the rim of an old Pale (or the like) well staked about, that it may stand fast, and setting an empty prepared Hive fast upon it, then dawb them (in the middle where they are joined) round, only leaving a passage even with that of the old stock, and they will ascend into this, and breed, and work as well as in the old. And in the end of August, you may drive them all into the new, and take the old for your labour. This course seems plausible upon the first proposal, but upon frequent trial, I have found it to little purpose: For the Bees having many young ones in the old Hive, and much meat, will not ascend, but as they are necessitated for room, and then work their combs to the old, upwards, and not downwards from the top of the Hive, newly set over them; so that by parting of the combs which will not be without trouble, you may take some little profit of the combs new wrought, but must continue the old Hive to stand still, except you mean to take all, I never found any to have wrought above half way upwards, so that having no foundation, but the old combs, it is impossible to set down the new Hive. Bees will swarm any time of the day, between eight in the morning, and four in the afternoon, but the chief time of swarming, is between eleven and one. Many stocks when they are disposed to swarm, will rise in a cloudy season often before the Sun shine upon them, I have had some by eight of the clock; but chiefly in a hot gleam, after that a shower, or a dark cloud hath sent them home, but in hot and dry weather it is not so. The swarming months' are April, May, June, and July; rarely, though sometimes in August. To judge by the time of their swarming, which will thrive, is very uncertain, because of the variable weather that often follows after, for being checked a little, and discouraged at the first, for a week together, they will scarce work kindly all the year after, so that many (though less, and coming a month after) not hindered at all by ill weather, will be better than those at the end of the year. And another cause why forward swarms thrive not after soul weather, is, because they are very venturous abroad, and by the stormy winds, and unseasonable weather many are diminished, and thereby their increase exceedingly retarded. Signs of after swarms are more manifest and certain, for about ten days after the first swarm is cast, sometimes a little sooner, sometimes a day or two later, the next Princess will begin to tune in her treble voice a mournful and begging note, as if she did pray her Queen mother to give her leave to be gone, unto which voice if the Queen vouchsafe to reply, ●uning her base to the young Princess treble, as commonly she doth (though sometimes not entreated in a day or two) than she consents, and the third day after expect a swarm. The first day after the grant, how fair soever the weather be, they will not go, and not ordinarily on the next day, except it be very fair; but on the third day, though it be somewhat close, and cloudy weather, yet sometimes the weather proving very cold and windy, I have known them stay five or six days after liberty granted. The evening before they swarm, the young Princess goes calling from one part of the Hive to another, sometimes she is before, sometimes behind, sometimes above, but still calls, and resting a while between, she still renews her calling. In the morning before, she often descends to the bottom of the Hive, with shriller and thicker, longer, and more continued notes than at first, that none may plead ignorance, but all know, and acknowledge, there is a new Princess, and be ready to attend her when she takes possession of her Royalty, dealing herein (but that she is her own officer, and it is no disparagement, for the Queen mother is her continual assistant) as Princes on earth that come newly to succeed in their Dominions, they make it known by sound of Trumpets, and Proclamations, in the most eminent parts of the Kingdom. But take notice by the way, that sometimes the Commonalty (knowing best their numbers within, and the state of the weather abroad) not thinking it good to make a division, will after leave obtained, kill the young Princess, and all the infants of the blood Royal, but this is not ordinary. If the Queen mother after a long entreaty be silent, then there is no way but one, she must die, and all her Allies. As the Mr. Butler. Queen's voice is a grant, so her silence is a s●●t denial: The Proverb here hath no place, Quitacet, consentire vide●ur, for without this consent, there is no consent▪ Sometimes a third, nay a fourth will arise after a second, if the prime swarm be broken; but all (ordinarily) within a fortnight. I have known the last (but rarely, and in bad weather) seventeen days after the fi●st. When the swarm i● up and busy in their dance, it hath been an old and common practise, for want of other music, to play them a fit of Mirth, on a Basin, Warming-pan, or Kettle, to make them more speedily light, and keep them from flying away, but this (though ordinary) yet is needless in this respect, for they will settle of themselves, except they have chosen a place beforehand, which is very near. And then when their company is all out, they will fly directly thither, and your ringing and tinging, will prevail nothing to persuade their stay. This benefit there is of ringing, that if you have neighbours near, you that keep Bees, you may give notice thereby to prevent wrangling, if some of theirs should rise at the same time. Mr. Levi●s opinion is, That ting is so far from preventing their flying away, that it is often a cause to return them back into their Hive, if not to drive them qu●te away, for they are amazed as it were, and confounded with the unwonted and clamorous noise. Mr. Remnant dislikes ringing before the swarm be quite out of their Hive; but if they be on the wing ready to fly away, then prescribes to make the greatest sound you can to prevent it, as also by throwing up dust, Hogs-dung, or Cows-dung to disturb, and trouble them. Aristotle doubting whether Bees hear, therefore questions whether they take pleasure in the sound because they hear, or for fear, because of the reverberation, and tremor of the ai●e? That the ringing of Bees anciently practised, was for the Cl●udian de ●●x●. Consul. Honor●i. former reason, the Poet implies, saying, The Bee-master ringing on his Basin by the shrill sound, labours to recall the Bees when they are flying away; and Virgil before him, and before him Aristotle, Convocarieas in alveum aiunt, they did cause them to return. They fly faster or slower, according to the ringing, if he Mr. Muffet Theatres Insector. strikes apace, they hasten away, but if he beat leisurely, than they fly slowly. But if they will not be stayed, but hastening on still, go beyond your bounds, the ancient law of Christendom permitteth you to pursue them whithersoever, but our common Law is more uncivil, and yields no such privilege, for if your Bees be out of your ground, your property is lost, if your neighbour be not more courteous. Many directions have been given, to arm them that hive the swarms to escape danger, but except they be about the body of a tree, or settled very high, you may without any cover, or defence securely hive them, otherwise get on a pair of Mittens or woollen Gloves on your hands, and a thin Cypress over your head and face, and then without any fear, you may safely venture among them. Second swarms after they are all forth of the Hive, will usually fly about (before they light) longer than prime swarms, the reason is, the Bees knowing that multi●udes best thrive together, and they by the smallness of their murmuring sound, being privy to their paucity, do by a continued flying about, allure as many as they can to come forth to augment their numbers. Sometimes swarms will settle in two or more clusters, a little distance one from the other (seldom prime swarms.) Now usually the cause is, because there be divers Commanders, and each gets a company. Hive the greatest cluster first, and set it down towards the other, then into an unspleated Hive, shake down the other, and when they be all in, knock them down close by the first, and they will go together. Second swarms except they be early, and out of large stocks, seldom thrive alone: Therefore unite two or three together, and so they will be as good as a first swarm; you may do it thus, Having hived that swarm that you intent to put to another, as soon as it begins to be dark, take a fan, and laying a couple of sticks on it, set your first hived swarm on them towards one end of the fan, and then fetch the other, and between your hands clap the Hive hard on the one side, holding it close to the other, most of the Bees will fall down at the first clap, but reiterate your knocking, and they will all fall down, and if they enter not presently, stir and guide them to the Hive, with a brush of weeds, and such as go any other way, sweep them to their fellows, and they will all quickly, and quietly ascend. Within an hour or two, you may (for the most part) set up the Hive again in his place. I have not lost forty Bees in uniting twenty swarms, besides the Commanders, which of necessity must perish. Swarms after they be well settled, seldom return home again (if you let them not hang too long in the heat) and the chief cause of their returning▪ at any time, is the miscarriage of the Queen Be, who cannot well use her wings, being (perhaps) neverforth of the Hive before, and assaying to fly, falls besides the stool, sometimes flies further, but being quickly wea●y falls short of her company. You may easily know if it be thus, for as soon as you have hived the cluster, the first inquiry they make is for their Leader (whose coming while they hang, they did anxiously expect) but now being hived, and missing her, they presently discover it with a mournful murmuring, sometimes bewailing their condition, jointly crying out together, and then are all suddenly whist and silent, and by and by again renewing their sad lamentations, tumultuously likewise running before the Hive, and about the sides thereof, as if they were not only discontented, but distracted: Others are flying (but pitifully complaining, as they fly) about the Garden with a busy Quest searching for her; and if they do not in a short space meet with her, will all comfortless return to the stock again, whence they came forth. But if they find her, or she be brought unto them, they presently congratulate her return with continued shaking of their wings, and oral rejoicings, witnessing their present contentedness, complacency, and satisfaction, making even their joyful content in her, something more joyful than before, as if the felt pleasure at her first return, were more delicious, and ravishing, by reason of the sudden change from that discontent, and distraction in their late loss to an excellency, if not ecstasy of delight and joy. But if (not finding her) they return home, the next time they come forth, though in numbers a first swarm, yet not in the manner of their swarming; for the next Princess comes not forth at the will of the Commons (losing their Commander, they lose in this respect their liberty) but by petition must obtain leave of the Queen mother, as in second swarms. Now when you perceive the Bees discontented carriage, presently seek about (beginning at the stock, whence they rose, and going that way, the swarm took) and you shall undoubtedly find her, for she is not alone, but encompassed with a guard which will never stir from her, though they starve in the place: Take her up therefore, removing the Bees that environed her (you may do it securely with a little stick) and carry her to the swarm. And you cannot but with wonder behold the sudden alteration, with what a rejoicing plaudite (their mourning being ceased) do they welcome, and entertain her; and those that were seeking for her abroad (although some rods distant) are instantly sensible of their felicity (by their fellows rejoicing) and hastily return to express their content, and bear a part in the general gladness. If a swarm light near the place where another was hived a day or two before, when you have hived it, set it ten foot distant from the place where the other stood, for some Bees of the first hived swarm, will for two or three days together hanker about the place, and if they find a hive standing there, will boldly enter, supposing it their own company, and so miscarry by the others, who take and deal with them as enemies coming to endamage them. Swarms will the day after they are hived busily follow their labour, but the removing of them from the place where they were hived, doth not a little discourage them; if therefore the weather be not fair, they will not stir the first day, and except it be more than indifferent, they will not stir the second day, and so as the foul weather lasteth, droop, and grow faint, and sometimes totally miscarry. To prevent this, the day after they are set up, when the Sun shines upon them, or howsoever about noon (except it rain) put a little honey under the hive near the mouth of it, and some at the mouth, and before the entrance (less than a spoonful will serve) which they will quickly smell, and come down to feed on, and fly forth, and thereby be acquainted with their new standing, and fall to work upon the first fair weather. If the weather continue cold and cloudy a week together, without a little supply they will die, therefore every day refesh them with a little honey. After they are acquainted with their standing, you may put it into the Hive upon a piece of an old comb in the evening. They can endure four or five days without meat, but if the foul weather continue longer, they will hanging by one another's legs, fall down to the bottom of the Hive, and perish; but try them not too far, but quicken them daily with a little honey, and you shall keep them strong and lusty (such close and windy weather falls out often in May) you shall gain by this loss, for the weather altering, they will not only subsist of themselves, but by their painful labours, recompense your cost and care. If your stocks cast a second swarm after Midsummer, the best way is to return it home again. Hive it as you do other swarms, and about six of the clock knock them out on a table before their stock, and they will go in▪ and if they come forth again (as perhaps they will) do so the second time, and if there be occasion, the third also, but look heedfully when you first knock them out for the Queen Be, and take her away, and then shall you be sure to prevent further and future trouble. And thus shall you keep your stocks full and lusty, which otherwise were in danger of miscarrying, and the swarms (most years) would be worth nothing. Set the poorest swarms upon a plank, and when they have done working, dawb them round, allowing air, only through two or three quills, and set them in a dry cold place of your house, or barn, and so being little sensible of the alteration of the air, they will sleep much, and eat little. CHAP. XV. What Flowers the Bees gather of. IT hath been almost generally received, that Bees gather from all sorts of flowers, good, and bad, sweet, and bitter; some P San●lorus Thes●u●. Arist l. 11. a little, and but a little straiten this vulgar position of all kinds of flowers, both of Herbs, and Trees (saith one) except Docks and Cheesrunnet. Aristotle curtails this a little more, and tells us that they Arist de hist. Animal▪ l 5▪ c. 19 gather of all flowers that have cells or sockets. Mr. Mouffet straitens this also, saying, They refuse no flowers, that are fragrant, contained in cells, or sockets; but this also must be narrowed into shorter bounds, as yet being too large, for of many sorts of such flowers, they meddle not with at all. First, Bees gather not of flowers which have deep sockets, as Batchelors-buttons, Cuckow-flowers, Coxcomb, Jasmin, Cumphilly, Dead-nettle, Wood-bettony, Wild-blew-teare, Teazil Red-hony suckle, rarely, and divers others, and yet these are more abundant with honey, than many that the Bees gather of. And of these the Humble bees gather plentifully, nature furnishing them with larger fangs, and longer tongues than the Bees. 2 Ordinarily they gather not of many little or small flowers, as Rubia, Pimpernel, Scorpioides, Hares-foot, Oliver, Veronica, etc. 3 Not ordinarily of many physical Herbr, as Erisamon, Agrimony, Century, St. Johns-wort, Mugwort, Motherwort, etc. 4 Not of bitter Herbs, as Wormwood, Lavender-cotton, Southernwood, etc. yet sometimes of Ru●, the flower whereof is scarcely bitter. 5 Not of very dry flowers, as Docks, Sorrel, Mercury, Atriplex, Wheat, Rye, Oats, etc. 6 Not of those that have a strong stinking smell, as smallage, Hemlock, Galopsia, Crown-empereal, Cheesrunnet, etc. 7 Not of those that are soporiferous, and Narcotick as Mandrakes, Red-poppy, Nightshade, Black-briony, etc. 8 Not of those that are very cold and unctuous, as Orpine, Housl●ek, Prick-madam etc. for all oily and unctuous things are hurtful to them. 9 Not of those that have a strong sweet smell, as Feve●few, Maudlin, English Laurel, Myrrh, etc. 10 Of very few flowers that grow in Ponds, or Rivers. 11 Not of those flowers, that (though they have great hollow bodies) shut hard and close at the top or lips, as it were, as Toads-flax, Snapdragon, Fox-gloves, which the Humble-bees will open (being stronger) and gather of. 12 Not of very double flowers, as double Primrose, Wall-flowers, etc. except where the leaves are very fine, as the Dentdelion; nor of such as have deep sockets, and have no strings from the bottom to the top of the flower. Nor of such whose strings, or horns extend far out of the flower, as Avens, except there be an excrescency, or cod in the middle of the flower, as Gillowflowers have. Bees sometimes gather of such flowers, as are pernicious and Columel. hurtful. The Teil-tree, and the Box are very pestilential, so is also the Yew tree. If they taste of the flowers of a Corn●ile-tree, they die of a scouring the blowings of Elms are discommended, and wild Plin. l. 21. c. 12. Cucumbers, as also Woad, which affords a foggy food that over-lades the Bees, and makes them miscarry in the fields; strew Salt under your Hives, and they will be the stronger and lustier. Tulipas kill Bees for closing a little afternoon, the Bees that are in them are imprisoned, the sides being out-bowing, and smooth, they cannot get out, and will be dead, before the next day when they open. The Lentick tree from whence the Mastic is gathered, affords the best honey in the world, of which in the Island Sio Sands relat. lib. 1. (anciently Chios) is great plenty. Bees gather of these flowers following, yet of some more plentifully than of others. In March. Hasel, Willow, Sallow, Enemony, Bunnikin, Daffadil, Violet, Gooseberry, Cornelian, Misselto, Crocus, Elm, Primrose, Pilewort, Dendelion, Spoonwort, Bearsfoot, Black-thorn single Wall-flowers, etc. In April. Ale-hoof, Ribs, white, red, black Oak, Peach, March-marigold, Cole, Turnip, Sycomore, or great Maple, Ribwort, Stockgillowflower, Cow-weed, Furse, Strawberry, Broom, Beans, wild white Enemony, Bears-ear, Ozier, Plumtree, Cherry, Pear, Apple, Crab, Barbary, Beech, Tear, Maple, Bi●ch, Apricock. In May. Water-cresses, Hull, Angelica, a tall rank grass Parsnep, Onion, Leek, Garlick-seeds, Dogs-tongue, white Valerian, Tamarisk, Thrift, Sage, S●orksbill, Mousear, Raspis, Charlock Marigold, small yellow Honysuckle, Poppy, Woodbine, Medlar, blue Valerian, Burnet, wild tansy, Archangel, both with the white and yellow flowers, called by the Tygurines, Been-sauge, or Bee-suck, Hawthorn, Elder, white Honysuckle, King-cup, Pease, double Gies. In june. Tre-trifoly with yellow knops, and another kind of Trifoly with long red blossoms, and a Trifoly with pale, yellow blossoms like a Lotus, but ranker, Dewbery, Blewbottle, Mothmulleine, Luteola▪ or Dyer's weed, white Briony, Savory, Origanum, Hyssop, Pondweed with a flower like Patience, Lang d●z beuf, common Thistle, Bugloss, sometimes, but seldom, Borage, Parsly, Lotus, Lis●●achia, Roses, red, Damask, Velvet, Henbane, Mustardseed Sharewort, Canker-rose, Daneswort, Bindweed, Mallows, Melilot, Calamint, Cowcumber, Thyme, which only yieldeth Nectar. So Mr. Butler, who therefore finds fault with Virgil, for saying, Mr. But. fem. mon. c. 6. Crura thymo plena, but let any observe, and he shall find they gather as often Bee-bread as honey; and again he saith, The Bees gather not of the Rose, the Primrose, the Clove-July-flower, the Pease, of all which they gather plentifully, but not of the Pease until the blossom begins to wither, and the cod to put forth, and then they gather Sandaracha of it plentifully, especially in the morning. In july. Tobacco, Love, Carduus-benedictus, Jacea, Lampsana, pennyroyal, Small Dentdelion, Sca●let Beans, Mayweed, Gourds, Clotbur, Livelong, Horse-mints, Skirrets, Yarrow, Germander, Nip, Sowthistle, single, and double July-flowers, Succory, Dill, Clematis Alteza, Fenil, Filius Ante patrem, Holyhock, French-marigold, Coriander, Lavender, Melon, Blackbery, Buck, Jacobea, Stechados. In August. Red Eye-bright, Knap-weed, Heath, Virga Aurea, Ivy. In September. You are to take notice that many of these flowers blow twice a year, as Rosemary, Archangel, Tamarisk, Bu●rage, Charlock also, although not the same roots. And some continue longer than the month whereto they are ascribed, and some begin to blow a little before, but whensover they blow, the Bees gather of them, but less in Autumn than in the Spring. Many flowers afford matter of gathering in the morning before the dew is quite exhaled, which in the heat of the day yield little, as the Pease, and a tall rank grass, having a stalk a foot, and a half long, with a large bushy ear. Bees have this property, that whatsoever Flower they first begin with, when they go to work, they meddle with no other Arist. de hist. Anim. l. 9 c. ●0 that journey, but lad themselves with such meat alone as that kind yieldeth; this is a common, but no catholic custom, for I have often observed the contrary. It is true, if there be flowers enough near at hand, to make up their burden of that sort they begin withal, they will meddle with no other, but if they have begun to gather of a flower that likes them, and cannot find enough to furnish them, than they will make up their load of some other. CHAP. XVI. Of the ordering of Bees. IN February lift up your Hives on the one side nimbly, and with a wing wipe away all the sharings of combs, dross, dung, or whatsoever else lies upon the stool, which although the Bees in time would perform, yet hereby shall you save them a great deal of labour. If your old Stocks have any crumbling, or crispy combs, take them out in the Spring, for they cannot work to them; lay the Hives on one side, having ready a fire of dried Cowdung in a Chafingdish without a flame, the smoke will drive the Bees inward, and you may securely perform it. Some tell us of putrefaction in the combs, in regard of dead brood chilled, which combs they would have taken out; but I never met with more than the Bees could rid themselves of, except when the Bees are almost, if not altogether starved. That they so love quiet, that they scarce endure the company Weck●rus de secret, Lib 8. of men (is false) and therefore must have walls built about them with holes, to see what offends them, is ridiculous, yet commended by Florentinus. Bees are much offended with long hair on head, or face, let such therefore as must be often among them wear short hair, or be well covered, on peril of stinging. If a Bee have stung you in hot weather, your wisest and safest way is to depart for a while, for there issues with the sting a strong poysonful savour, which you yourself may smell, but howsoever, the Bees will readily, and knowing thereby that some of their company are wronged, will with eagerness seek to vindicate the injury on whomsoever they find present in the place, and come about you thick and threefold; there is no way to appease them but one, get away as fast as you can, and when the uproar is over, you may securely come again. The best time to do any thing about your Bees, is, in the morning before they stir, or when they are new gone abroad, or in the evening▪ when they are returned from their work. Make the mouth narrow, lest the Summer's heat dissolve the Virgil. Dissolve the honey, or cold Winter freeze, For both extremes alike annoy the Bees. Be very careful about the door, or entrance into your Hives, for negligence herein occasions the loss of more Bees than any other neglect, from the Dormouse, and Titmouse in Winter, and the Wasp, and robbing Bees in Autumn. Let the doors be somewhat long, but very low, not much above the height of a Bee, and let them be more or less open, according to the seasons; but rather offend in leaving too narrow an entrance than too large; a thin board in Winter cut in notches like a grate, well fastened to the Hive, with Cowdung and Ashes tempered together; two notches open in Winter, is enough for a good Hive, one for a poorer; for thereby they are kept more warm in Winter, and more secure from enemies. When they have wrought a week in the Spring, the better Hives may have three or four notches open, and by degrees more, until they be full, and then you may take away the grates altogether until Autumn; but be sure to set them early to the old Stocks that have overswarmed, as also to the poor swarms, and in a dry year, sooner than in a moist, for the Wasps will be more numerous and early, and the robbing Bees finding little abroad to busy themselves about, will be seeking to plunder poor and weak Stocks betimes. When you see the Wasps begin to be busy, and forsake eating of dead Bees, before the stools, venture into the Hives, set up your doors to the poorer Stocks, and narrow the passage of the better with a little Cowdung (tempered as before) that it may not be above an inch long. If you will be at cost, it will be very beneficial to have a hurdle made of Oziers' set before your Hives, even with your stools, or else board's shelving outwards at the bottom, for the Bees to rest on when they come home weary and laden. Mr. Levit mislikes the keeping of Hives four or five years at the most, but his reasons are weak, because (saith he) the combs will be black and unsavoury, and the old Bees are not so good for increase and breed, as the young, nor so strong and lusty for labour; but these reasons are without reason, for blackness of the combs is no fault, as we showed before, and of the age of Bees, we shall treat by and by, only in a word, note that they are an annual creature, and live not beyond a year with the vantage; on the same ground, therefore all the old stocks must be taken every year. Many things are necessary for the preservation of Bees, first, A competency of food which they will labour for, and compass with their own industry, except the unseasonableness of the weather, the smallness of their numbers, the treachery of enemies, the power of robbers, or the covetousness, or simplicity of their owners by driving them too late, or after that by reiterated swarming, they have diminished their numbers, for the recruiting whereof, they were well enough furnished with brood (although then unfledge Nymphs, yet the hopes of continuance) of which being untimely bereft by driving, as desperate, they either forsake their Hives; or if they continue and work, yet can they not sufficiently breed, and provide themselves before Winter, and therefore must starve. It hath been inquired by some, what quantity of honey will serve a Hive of Bees all Winter: To which question no certain answer can be returned, because of the numbers which in some Hives are more, and therefore must have more meat; and also because the Spring in some years, is more forward than in another, so that quantity that will serve in one year, will not serve in another. But I would not willingly let any stock continue, that had not five pints at the least of honey. Sometimes it will be convenient to hoist up such swarms that you fear will cast, especially if Midsummer be past, for although they may live, yet ordinarily they will be weak and poor, and the stock whence they came so impoverished, that if it continues, it will scarce swarm the year following. Raise them up by putting four Brickbats at an equal distance under the skirts of the Hive, let them go no further inwards than the verges, then dawb them up well, leaving a fitting passage for them to go out of the Hive. I like Mr. Southerns' judgement to set them down again afterwards, the best time is in january. This Mr. Levit laughs at as an impossibility, supposing that they having wrought down to the board, the combs would be crushed together, and many Bees killed; but laying the Hive on the side, and making a smoke (as before) in a cold morning, to drive the Bees up, with a long sharp knife cut the combs a little within the Hive (as I have often done) and there will be neither danger, nor damage▪ Mr. Butler adviseth to set them down in the end of August, Mr Butler Fem. Mon. c. 3. when by the death of the old Bees, and also of the Drones, there is more room made, lest their swarming be hindered the next year, unless they be swarms that have wrought down to the stool, which indeed most have, and then this advice is to little purpose. The course in our Country which most take to get some profit by their Bees, is driving, out of a foolish ●i●y they will not burn them, but care not much to starve them, and that without any great profit to themselves, for they usually do it after they have cast a second swarm about Midsummer, or a week after. The Bees then (besides those in the brood, which would have been a sufficient supply to them) being then very few, and many of them old Bees, which in a month, or a little more, will all die, and then they will be by much fewer; as soon as they are driven therefore, despairing by their own industry to subsist, they will leave the Hive and fly into another, so skipping for the most part, out of the Frying-pan into the fire. If they work, as some will endeavour their own preservation, yet not one of three in ordinary years outlive the Winter, and they being weak, are often made a prey to robbers in the Spring, or having spent their little store, then fly away; but if they out-wrastle all these difficulties, yet they will scarce swarm that year. Moreover little honey at that time of the year is ordinarily to be had; a quart, perhaps a pottle, and this is a liberal portion. Whereas if they will drive them, let them do it early before their honey is consumed by successive broods, and let them observe the condition of the Spring, for thereby they may have some likelihoods whether they will do well. I have driven ten Hives in the beginning of May (not swarming the year before) all which after swarmed the same Summer, and the prime swarms did very well: Or if you will drive, take this course, when your stock hath cast a second swarm, the night following drive the old stock into the swarm, and they may do well, except it be late in the year. Old stocks before they have swarmed, and early swarms driven, seldom miscarry; I have known them driven twice in three weeks, and full of honey the second time. Nay a foolish neighbour of mine drove a swarm the third time, and had above a gallon of honey at either of the two first drivings, and above three quarts the third time, but it was so late that the Bees died that Winter. If you have a stock that lay out the year before, and swarmed not, and doth so the year following, and Midsummer be past, drive it, and ten to one (if the year be indifferent it will do well.) Now to preserve your stocks, and yet to make some advantage of your Bees, take this course (except you know a better, but thus I do) About Bartholomew-tide, I survey my swarms, and all those that I find not by the weight competently supplied, namely with five pints of honey at the least, I take, and I examine my old stocks, especially such as have swarmed twice, or oftener, and where I find few Bees, which you shall know, if giving the Hive a little knock with your finger on the outside of the Hive, if the murmur be sudden and short, than it is a sign there be but few Bees, but if it be smart and long, descending from the top downwards, than it is a sign of plenty. They that have but few Bees, though they be never so well stored with honey, yet will not continue over the next Spring, but will be a prey to robbers; therefore it is better to take them then to lose them, and their honey also; but yet if you desire to save any that are well supplied, then drive a swarm that you intent to take into them, and so shall you have a good stock; and thus with God's blessing shall you increase your Bees, and have a sufficiency of honey and wax. If you have not, you may take as many of the best as you shall think convenient. Some prescribe to take those that are too full of honey, as (thereby) disabled to breed, and prosper the year following, but this is but a groundless supposition for aught ever I could find, having had as good as any other, the combs being generally filled with honey to the board, which I have let stand on purpose to try whether they would breed, and never found, but such were as full of Bees the year following, as any other; for after working time there is a long time of eating, and if they be numerous with Bees, they will make room enough by breeding time. The manner in a word to take Hives in the latter part of the year is by burning, which briefly you may thus do; take an old linen cloth and cut it into long narrow pieces, about two handfuls long, and half an inch broad, and then having melted beaten Brimstone, dip them therein, and having digged a hole near the Hive that you intent to take, let it be somewhat more than a foot over, and half as deep; set in the bottom of it two or three crotched sticks, into which put three or four of your rags smeared with Brimstone, and having kindled them set the Hive over, stopping the verges somewhat close, and your Bees with the smoke will in a short space fall down st●sled and dead. For the manner of driving, it is needless that I should speak much, being well known almost to every one. Have a prepared Hive as near as you can, of the breadth, in the skirt, of that Hive you will drive setting it on the ground, put sheet over it, and well fasten it with a strong pack-threadround about the Hive within an inch of the skirts, then having a Trivet●, Payl, or Firkin ready, set the empty Hive therein with the mouth upwards, and then lift the Hive you will drive, nimbly from the stall, and set it upon them empty, and gather up quickly the sheet that hangs down to the crown, and fasten it well likewise with a little line, about an inch from the skirt, and turn them thus tied together, that the empty Hive may stand upwards, and knock gently with the palms of your hands on the sides, and on the crown, sometimes in one place, and then in another, and often pause, and make a little stop, that the Bees may ascend, and reiterate your clapping again; in half an hour they will be all, or the most of them gone up, and then carry it to the place where the other stood; if you do it in the evening, let it stand unmeddled with all night; if in the morning, let it be before Sun; and if there be any Bees behind, when you take out the combs, sweep them off with a wing, and they will find their fellows. Many in the Bees necessity commend and applaud feeding, when by driving unseasonably, or not seasonably uniting (as the Proveth is) They have broken their heads, they would give them a plaster, but for the most part too narrow and scanty for the sore. For feeding of weak Bees, many things by many are prescribed, I shall be brief in the particulars, because I altogether dislike feeding, except in the beginning of the year, through the backwardness of the Spring, some Hives (otherwise sufficiently furnished) stand in need, or some early swarms, the weather proving tempestuous, cold, or close, sometimes for above a week together: it will be very convenient then to relieve them, until the weather alter, and they begin to work, when they will need no longer your supply, and without a little supply would be so poor and feeble, that they would untimely miscarry, and die. The ancients commend feeding of them with Raisins, bruised Figgs; Pliny bids set Hen's flesh before them, although he acknowledgeth that they eat no kind of flesh, and therefore in that respect prefers them before the Hornet, and the Wasp. The Gentleman that wrote the first large Letter in Master Hartlibs Legacy, a wellwisher to Bees, although little skilled, Mr. Hartlibs Legacy. (as it appears by his Projects) in the nature or ordering of them, taxeth a general deficiency in this Kingdom in this respect, as if we were more negligent, or ignorant than some of other Countries; for the glory of our Nation let me plead (which he ignorantly traduceth) The knowledge of Bees was never truly communicated to the World by any but by English men; Mr. Southern broke the ice, than followed Master Levit, who wrote more than fifty years since: though he was published long after Mr, Butler: Mr. Levit, I say, not the Father of the publisher, but the Grandfather (perhaps his Grandchild knew not so much) and I question not but Mr Butler was acquainted with his Book, for it was in divers men's hands though not printed. After him Mr. Butler wrote singularly well (although in some things defective, and no question but after Ages may add more, but I will not be too bitter, not doubting of the Gentleman's good meaning, but advise him, and all others in this, or any other subject, not to urge Eutopian conceits, but such things as out of experience they have some probable grounds for, Ne suitor ultra crepidam, all Countries produce not an equal store of every commodity; that other Countries abound more with Honey, is not because they abound in skill, Scandia is more plentiful, because after the great snows that lie all Winter on the ground, and keep it warm, which once dissolved, the earth is presently embroidered with a garment of Flowers in greater plenty, variety, and continuance than most Countries afford; and the long days are another advantage, especially the weather not being so variable as with us, and a principal cause of their increase is the extreme cold in Winter, which holds them in a perpetual sleep, so that they eat little after they leave working, and the earth with the Winter's Snow and Raine is thoroughly moistened, that drought seldom proves injurious to them, as it is often with us. But for his conceits of feeding Bees with sweet compositions of divers things besides Honey, because cheaper; we are to know, that although they will eat of all kinds of sweet things, yet are they not so proper and natural as Honey, neither will they when they stand in need of feeding extract Honey out of them, as he supposeth, and replenish their Combs, no nor car●y at such time's Honey which they feed on into their Combs; and when they can do this, namely, when they are lusty, and the weather warm, they rather gather it abroad (and save your cost and charges) but suppose those compositions were beneficial, yet not to the old Stocks that are likely to miscarry, for they for the most part have already more meat than mouths, but yet it might preserve the swarms. I have showed a cheaper and safer way, by uniting, and for casual wants, in regard of the continuance of cold and bad weather, Honey is more natural. And whereas Mr. Southern objects against old Honey, that it will make them scou●e, this is but a fancy, I yearly upon occasions experiment it, but never found that inconvenience. He objects further, If they be fed, they will fall to robbing of others, but herein also he was mistaken; Bees that stand in need of feeding are seldom so lusty, never so venturous to plunder others, but rather in continual danger to be robbed by others of that little they have, which feeding, not duly performed, readily exposeth them unto. The Gentleman in Mr. Hartlibs Legacy, desireth to save the poor swarms by feeding, and with the least charges that might be, whereas not one of six (never so carefully fed) that are desperately poor, can be preserved, and if they do live and escape the robbers, and not forsake their Hives, which most of them will do, finding their numbers small, yet will they not swarm if they live out the Summer, so that the charges besides the trouble will double the profit. When you have occasion to feed, if you have not reserved Combs on purpose when you took your Bees, spread Honey upon a dry comb, and put it under the Hive in the evening, but remember to take it away in the morning, if any be left, or shut them up until they have eaten all, lest the robbing Bees find it, and not contented therewith, carry away also that little they have in the combs, I would have feeding begun (where it is necessary) before an absolute want, lest they be so poor and weak that they cannot come down; if any happen so to be, then turn up the mouth of the Hive in the heat of the Sun, or near a Fire, and drop a little liquid honey among them. I have recovered swarms shut in by long cold weather, where not a Bee hath been able to stir, and continuing it after with a little honey put under the Hive until the charge of the weather, they have done very well that year. Bees will sometimes suck the sweetness of rotten Pears, sometimes full ripe Grapes, but yet a very few among a great many with us. In Sicilia there be Grapes of which they make Muskatell▪ Fache●lus de reb. Siculis, l. 1. prior decade. which are therefore called the Bee-grape, because the Bees greedily feed upon them, as also Flies. Mr. Butler counsels, that you cut asunder such Stocks as you intent to preserve (almost even with the Bees) if they have not wrought within a handful of the stool, and then to set them down, making them a new door, that thus they may be warmer in the winter. This is a course both wasteful and useless, for I never had any stock, if it were supplied with meat, that miscarried, although the Bees had not wrought half way down. And to prevent it, in ordinary years sit your Hives according to the greatness or smallness of your swarms; This way, if otherwise profitable, cannot be performed without destruction of your Hives, and the loss and trouble of your Bees, and the Stock will be so small, that except you add another, and raise it, the swarm will be worth nothing. To prevent the cold, daub up the skirts round, and let the entrance be very small. A watering place near your Bee-garden is very necessary, they cannot subsist without it. — But near pure Crystal Springs, Virgil. Green mossy Fountains still your Bee-hives place, And streams that glide along the verdant grass. Without it some say, they can neither make their Combs, Columel de re rust. 9 l. c. 5. nor yet their Honey; but the use is not so general, but when they feed on Bee-bread (which is hot and dry) they cannot be without it, and they love not to go far for it. Into your running or standing water many prescribe to cast in stones, somewhat elevated above the water: Into the Pool, whether it stand or flow, Virgil. Great stones a cross, and Willow branches throw, As Bridges for the Bees to stand upon, And spread their wings against the Summers Sun. But pieces of Wood, or Board's, entered into the water, and set shelving, or leaning towards the North are much better, the stones being too cold in the spring; but if you can bare the banks of the North-side of your Pond of all bushes, and grass shelving towards the water, where they may drink under the Wind, and in the heat of the Sun, and suck it out of the earth above the water, which they rather desire, than to suck the pure water itself. But if you have neither Pond, nor River within twenty rodds of your Bee-garden, set water in wooden troughs in your Garden, and have light thin movable boards, or corks within your troughs, that may rise and fall with the water, let them have small clefts, or many little holes bored through them, that the Bees may stand on the boards and drink; keep Hens and Chickens, especially Ducklings from these troughs, for they will destroy your Bees. Mr. Butler enumerating the several actions of Bees in warm days in Winter, among others saith, they drink, but he was deceived, for although sometimes in january they gather a little Bee-bread, yet until they plentifully feed of it, they drink not, for while they feed on Nectar which is hot and moister than Bee-bread, they need it not, but the other being more hot and dry, makes them exceeding thirsty. Bees will be very much about sinks, and where greasy water is thrown, nay they rather delight to drink out of Sawpits and holes where the water is thick and troubled, than out of Ponds, though nearer them; and when they water out of Ponds, they delight (as I said) to extract the water from the moistened earth near the Ponds, or Rivers brinks, than to suck or drink of the purer water itself, which yet some will. Mr. Remnant supposeth, that they suck out of sinks, or old di●ches, and places that incline to Saltpetre, for want of salt water, wherewith saith he they season their Honey, which I believe not, but rather that they may be more vigorous and lusty, and therefore salt is prescribed to be laid under weak Stocks; he saith, it is in the defect of Salt water, but where they are near the Salt they use it. And he further saith, they season their Honey with salt water, and in the want of it, with brackish water thus extracted, therefore he commends the setting of salt water or brine near them; but they neither use salt water about their Honey, nor yet fresh, (as Columella) but for the reason before mentioned, In Summer they will drink securely upon the Duck-sheard, and other thick weeds in the middle of Ponds; the best time to remove Bees, if you are to carry them far is in the end of january, although if you be necessitated, you may do it well enough presently after Mi●●aelmas. A little before you take them from their standing, lift up a little the skirts of the Hive, and put three or four Tile-sheards under the Verges, that (the Hives standing somewhat above the board) all the Bees may ascend, otherwise some will be left on the bottom of the stool, which will be lost; then spread a sheet upon the ground before it, and nimbly take it off, and set it upon the middle of the sheet, and gathering it up round, tie it close above the crown with a noose, tie it also about the middle with a Packthread, than put a Cool staff through the noose (be sure it be well tied) it must hang perpendicular, not swaying one way, or other. Let it be carried between two to the place whither you intent it, when you come there, set it down, but open it not presently, for the Bees will be somewhat disturbed with the motion, and ready to fly forth; it is best to set it up in the heat of the day, that if any suddenly fly forth, they may not be chilled with the cold, but after a little flying about, they may return to it again; but if the weather be close and still, then set it up in the evening, and stop it up close (leaving breathing holes) until a fair day, and then open the door. CHAP. XVII. Of Bees breathing. AFter a long condescension to the capacities of the Vulgar, to whom almost peculiarly this large practical Discourse appertains: I will now endeavour to set an edge upon, if not, to satisfy the appetites of the more Judicious, though not with a banquet of Rarities, yet with a dish or two of Sweetmeats (according to promise) as soon as I can provide them. There is a necessity of refrigeration from without, by air Arist. de partibus Animal. l. 3. c. 6. Arist. de Spirat. or water. Now the grand inquity is, How Infects (in particular Bees) are refrigerated. The Philosophers before Aristotle, held that all creatures breathed, as Democritus, Diogenes, An●xag●ras. Pliny professeth that he accords not with Aristotle in Plin Nat. hist. l. 9 c. 7. this particular, that Fishes breathed not, because they did hear and smell. I will speak one word to this (although out of my sphere) and but a word, lest I conjure up learned Scalagers ghost to oppose me, That Fish's breath is evident to sense, I have seen them often come up to the top of the water, and a little elevating their heads above, draw it in with the water, and with many bubbles return it again, some at the Gills, but the greater part at the mouth. And that they cannot live without air, thus, In great Frosts they cannot long continue though they have water, except the Ice be broken, and then they will presently come to the hole for air, so that sometimes you may take them out with your hands. And if it be some days delayed, they will turn up their bellies in the holes as quite spent, yet by the benefit of the air, many of them recover, but if it be altogether neglected, in a great Frost most Pond-fish will die. Rondele●ius holds, That not only Fishes, but Infects also Rondel. de pisc bus l. 4. breath (although without lungs) in particular Bees, because of the sound, and murmur that they make, and because they smell. Cardan affirms, That all living creatures breath either openly Cardan. de subtle. l. 12. or secretly, manifestly such as have lungs, more hiddenly which have gills; and that is must obscure by palpitation, and therefore whereas Aristotle denies such creatures that have no lungs to breathe, he understands thereby a perfect breathing, and therefore saith, The sound of Bees is caused by the air, which they receive and draw in; why not the same instrument that draws it in return it? But this opinion, although Aristotle's Scaliger labours to undermine, but to little purpose. He supposeth it to be caused by the shaking of their wings. This both Aristotle, and H●lychius before him propounded, but did not conclude of; Mr. Muffet saith, It is a secret not to be determined of. The L. Verulam supposeth the humming sound of Bees (which is an un qual buzzing) to be from the motion of I. Verul▪ silvasi. var. cent. 1. 175. their wings, because it is not heard, but when they stir, I deny not but the sound ●s more shrill and audible thereby, but not only caused therewith. First, because in a Hive full of Pees, where they lie crowded up thick together in the Winter between the combs, without room to dilate their wings, not at all to shake them, you shall have a sudden smart sound in an instant from the place touched, descending to the bottom from all the Bees, as it were complaining. Secondly, by the encouragement of the Queen Be, when two swarms are united, and so mingled together, that either of them being encompassed with their whole troop, and having no room to stir, and shake their wings (being each of them in the centre of their regiment) but as they are in the conflict moved with the whole body; yet may they be heard audibly sometimes a rod from the Hive a great while together, without intermission, each encouraging her army to stand to her, and for her. Thirdly, If their sound were caused by the agitation of their wings only, it could not be various and changed, but only smaller, or greater, but both Aristotle and Scaliger acknowledge, that they change their voice; and if they did not, yet Arist de hist. l. 9 c. 40. is it so evident to sense, that but coming among them, by their different voices, it may be known whether they mourn or rejoice, work or sight. Fourthly, If their sound were caused by the agitation of their wings, then according to the largeness of their wings should be the greatness of their sound, but this is not so; the Queen Bees wings are no bigger than a common Bees, but her sound is more than ten times louder and greater. I might add that Crickets sing, and their voices are heard very far, and yet have no wings to shake; nay they move not their bodies when they sing, as I have often observed, and as soon as they stir, they give over singing. In a word, as to a Musician that plays on a Flute, or such like Wind-instrument, there is required skilfulness in the outward touch of his instrument, and also wind to be inspired, without which he cannot possibly strike the ear, or please the sense with any melodious noise, so do I conceive in some respects the humming noise of the Bees, is caused both by the outward motion of their wings, and also by an inward motion, that I say, not inspiration. Aristotle was very wavering what to determine concerning their sound, sometimes he saith, they make a noise; sometimes, he grants they have a voice, and he hath no sooner granted it, but would fain bite it in again if he could, as overthrowing this Arist. de hist. l. 9, c. 40. position, that they breathe not; Hear what he saith, they change their voice, when they swarm they have a proper and peculiar voice, but whether they have a voice or not, is not yet throughly understood in regard of the difficulty. Thus is this grand Philosopher unresolved, it is a difficulty, he cannot tell what to determine; but he hath taken up another opinion, and although he be somewhat convinced of the vanity of it, yet he is loath to retract, he will rather set his wit upon the Ten●ers, and seign some new distinction, sometimes they make a sound, sometimes they have a voice. Small and blood-less creatures are externally cooled by the Arist de Spirit. ambientaire, or water, neither is it necessary that the air should penetrate them, because of the weakness of their natural heat; but the coldest creatures need refrigeration, for they have a heart, as the Snail, which is visible to all men upon dissection, and much more hot creatures, as Bees are, which have also a heart, although it be not easily discerned by prejudicated eyes. Winged creatures when they move themselves by the attrition Arist. de Somno & Vigil. Arist. de hist. l. 4 c. 7. of the air sliding into their belly, make a noise. And again, Infects have no voice, but make a sound only by the admission of the air, not emission, and Bees, and all other Infects lift themselves up with their wings, and presently contract themselves when there is made a sound by the attrition of the air taken in, but not constant to himself, he saith in another place, There is an innate implanted air in the transverse enclosure, Arist. de Spirat. which being lifted up, and contracted, causeth thereby a smiting on the little membrane, and hence saith he is their sound. Scaliger saith, It is from a membrane including the air, and Scalig. come. in Arist. de hist. l. 4 c. 7. Magirus Physiol. L. Ve●ul. Silva Sil. cent. 2. 133 the motion of the external members. Magirus saith, Their noise is not made by a return of the air, but by an agitation of an inward not outward air. Another supposeth sounds, and therefore voices may be made without air. It is certain, saith he, howsoever it cross the received opinion, that sounds be created without air, though air be the most favourable deferent of sounds. Take a vessel of water, and knap a pair of tongs some depth within the water, and you shall hear the sound of the tongs well enough, and not much diminist●ed, and yet there is no air at all present. What if I should say there is air in the water, because there is in it a sound made? Hot creatures as Bees, desire a greater refrigeration: Bees Arist. de Spirat. like to those creatures that breathe, do make a sound (spiritu) with the air or spirit, for when the native, which is (as before) implanted in the transverse enclosure, is lifted up and contracted, then is caused an attrition of the membrane; For they do not otherwise move this part, than other Animals draw air with their lungs from without, and Fishes by the agitation of their Gills. Scaliger is for transpiration; and so Basil, he saith, That Basil Hexain. Hon●ll. 8. Infects breathe not, being without lungs, bu● were nourished by air in the external parts, and his reason is, if they be dipped or smeared with oil, they presently die, the passages or pores being stopped, but yet saith he, If they be presently washed Alexand. Aphrodis. l. 1. Problem. 6 2. with water (others say Vinegar) the passages being opened, they will live; and with him accord divers others. To this I answer, That it is granted that oil kills Bees, and almost all other Infects being naturally mortal to them, and wash them after with what you will they will, neither revive, not recover, but almost as suddenly die (though but a part of their body be smeared with oil) as if they were cast on hot embers. And that it is not, because of the stopping of the passages of the air, appears thus: Let Bees be drowned in honey, which is more viscous and clammy than oil, yet if they be timely taken out, they will dry themselves, or be sucked dry by their fellows, and recover. Now at last you cannot but take notice how various they are in their opinions, that deny breathing to Bees, ●r so to make a noise, they cannot but acknowledge a necessity of refrigeration. Aristotle sometimes by the admission, not emission of airs sometimes by a native implanted air. Scaliger from a membrane including the air, and the motion of the external members. Magirus by an agitation of an inward air only, but whether native, or adventitious, he expresseth not. L. Verulam sometimes, that a sound may be made without air, sometimes by the motion of their wings. Basil that they are cooled by transpiration, and therefore by an air so admitted, must make their noise. Thus wilfully deviating from, and denying a truth, they are quickly bewildered in a thicket of errors. Now let us hear their arguments why they suppose them not to breath, Aldrovandus saith, Infects, neither breathe, nor Aldrovand. proleg●m▪ in lib. de in●ectis. need breathing, because a breathing faculty is bestowed on creatures which have lungs, but Infects being blood-less are cold, and therefore want not refrigeration, but are sufficiently cooled by a native air, or externally by transpiration; I answer many of them (if any) are not blood-less, for they have a heart which the Philosopher accounts the original of blood. And if they have a heart (Aldrovand▪ acknowledgeth) they have lungs also, and stand in need of great refrigeration. And that Bees are hot creatures, Aristotle affirms. Arist. de Spir. Secondly, If they breathed, as they drew in breath, they must also return it, which could not be done but by some inward instrument; but all Infects are without bowels (according to Aristotle) but this is manifestly untrue; dissect a large Grasshopper, the bowels are visible to him that hath but half an eye; and so also in Humble-bees, and in many other Infects. In some that are very small, they are not distinctly visible; but it follows not therefore that they are without them, no more than because they want the visible organs of hearing and smelling, that therefore they neither hear, nor smell; both which senses almost all nature's secretaries acknowledge to be in them. And yet who is able to point out the instruments. Aldrovand. hath some other reason, but all built on the former foundation, which miscarrying, they must needs go to the ground. Scaliger his main argument that they breathe not, is, because Seal. de subtle. exercitat. 173. they need not a refrigeration of their heat having no heart; but this being manifest to sense, as learned Dr. Harvey avers, the argument falls to the ground. Others deny that Infects breathe, and their reason is, because there is no breathing knot, or turning in the inward intrall, that is to say a membrane like to the lungs, whereby the air is drawn in, and therefore some hold that they live as plants; but there is a great difference whether any thing breathes or lives. Others convinced of the vanity of this conceit, hold that they have something analogous, namely by transpiration. Aristotle saith Bees breathe not, because they continue long Arist. de Spir. in the water. But not long under the water; so long as by beating with their wings, they keep their heads out, they preserve themselves; but their wings being once through wet, they quickly drown. And that they receive water into their bodies, appears, because when they die suffocated in the water, they are greater than when they are alive, whereas if they die otherwise, they shrink up, and are less. Aristotle, and also Scaliger, add another reason, they will, Idem de Spirat. covered with ashes revive, perhaps if they have not been long drowned, with heat they will recover, as they will if they be chilled near twenty hours, but ashes are so far from reviving of them, that if they be alive and lusty, they would rather kill them; for dust (much more ashes) will, if they go a little upon it, so fur their dew-clawed feet, that it will indispose them to fly. Breathing, saith Scaliger is seen by motion, or perceived by Scalig. de subtle. exercitat. 173. touch, by the pulse, or understood by the voice, and all there ways more or less, may it appear that Bees breathe. But it may be objected, that they have no nostrils to receive breath by. I answer, They breathe by their mouth, Aristotle saith, the Arist. de partibus Animal. l. 3. c. 1. Arist de Spir. mouth i● for many uses, for divers creatures do breathe with it. For breathing is not a proper work of the nostrils, but creatures breathe, partly by the nostrils, partly by the mouth. But it is further objected, we see no lungs: I answer, in fowls the lungs are small, and but like a membrane; surely then in such small flying creatures as Bees, they are not visible. But to conclude they have no lungs, because we see none, Arist de partibu● Animal. l. 4. c 6. were but a weak arguing. In some creatures denied to breathe, we see them, and perhaps with a good multiplying glass, might see in these; by the same reason we might deny they hear or smell, because we see no organs (as before) whereby they perform it, and yet nothing is more certain. That Bees breathe, Mr. Butler affirms, but it was a question Butler Fem. Mo●. c. 7. he disputed not, but relating how after they have been dead a whole day (being chilled wi●h cold) although, saith he, they be quite dead, without sense, motion, and breath, you may, if you be disposed, revive them with the warmth of your hand (but look to yourselves, for many when they begin to revive, will ingratefully sting.) And this their reviving cannot▪ but almost seem a miracle unto you, for presently their spirits returning, you shall see them begin to pant and breathe, and anon they will fly away as lusty as the best. But to come to arguments, That Bees breathe is evident by their panting and palpitation; I mean not when they are in the condition of prisoners, and violently held or detained, for with Scaliger I acknowledge, that Bees or flyts captivated, palpitation is not breathing, but a striving to escape. Bees when they return from their work are often so weary (as men out of breath) that they are necessitated to rest themselves near the Hive, until they have recollected their spirits, and gotten, by a little rest, new strength, at first panting more quick and short, but by and by fetching as it were a longer breath, until at last they pant little, if at all. Secondly, It appears by their swearing at the Hive-door, a moist vapour is visible at the door of a good Hive in the morning, sometimes in drops of water. As Bears in Russia, while they sleep in Winter, yet are found by the Hunters, by the dissolved snow turned into isycles on the boughs of the trees under which they lie, caused by their continued breathing. Thirdly, because if a full Hive be close shut up that no air enters, they will quickly be suffocated and die; whereas indeed is● there be but few Bees, they will continue the longer enclosed, a circum-ambient air in the mean time refrigerating, and cooling them. Fourthly, if you stop their throats, Aristotle acknowledgeth Arist de Spirat. they will be strangled. Fifthly, when they are chilled with cold, lay them in the warm Sun, or near a fire, or if you dare venture, hold them in your hand, and you shall see them begin first a little to stir, then to pant, and the longer more strongly, until they remit it by degrees as they recover life. But I trifle out the time to prove by arguments to the ear, a thing to visible to the eye. Hold your hand near to the mouth of a full Hive, and that in the night when they are supposed to sleep, and not to stir, and you shall feel a cool air come from them. Nay hold a feather, and you shall see it fly to and fro, as if it would be blown away. Some affirm, that infects have no blood, because they have to heart nor liver, Pliny was of opinion, that though they had no blood, ye● somewhat analogous or equivalent, for whatsoever is the vital humour is its blood. Learned Doctor Har●y in his Dr H●r. exercitat. anatom. anatomical lectures, openly affirmed, that Bees have a heart, (I heard him) which also he hath since published, although Dr. Primrose will scarce acknowledge it, pretending his weak eyesight, but this being asserted and confirmed by such undeniable experience, I readily subscribe they have a heart, and Arist. de gene. idem de patt●bani l. 3. c. 4. therefore a liver, and therefore blood, for the heart is the fountain of blood, and hath first blood, and Creatures which have blood have a l●ver. Aldrovandus citing Aristotle saith, all creatures have both a Aldrov. 〈◊〉 proleg●m. in lib. de insecti●. heart and also a liver, one for the Original of heat, and the other for the concocting of their meat, And again citing Aristotle de partibus animalium lib. 3. he hath these words, cord cavens nu●●um animal unquam or●um est. No Creature was ever produced without a heart: and there is good reason for this assertion, seeing the heart in Aristotle's judgement is the Original of life, heat, blood, sense, and motion, and nature doth suppeditate breathing or refrigeration for the benefit or cooling of the heat in the heart. All Creatures which have blood have a heart, and why not, all Creatures which have a heart have blood? but in little creatures Arist. de hist. animal. lib. 3 c. 10. the blood is so obscure, that it cannot be seen as in greater, but only in the heart (not always there) because of the thinness of the blood and the veins, are so little and small, that they can scarce if at all be perceived, but the heart is the beginning of the veins, and the Original, and fountain of Arist. de somne et Vigil. blood, and (as he saith) the beginning of sense, for living creatures have the beginning of sense, where they have the beginning of motion. But yet notwithstanding all this, the liver and the heart is so De Har. de generate. animal, 〈◊〉. far from being the author and fountain of blood (which yet Aristitle, and all Physicians affirm) th●r the contrary plainly appears in the fabric of the Chicken in the egg, namely, that the blood is the mother of the heart and the liver, which Paystrians seem to confess unawares, when they determine the Parenchyma of the Liver to be a certain flowing of blood, as ●f nothing else were there but coagulated blood, and that the heart (saith Idem in eod. lib. exerc●tat. 19 he) is not the author of blood, appears, because his substance or parenchyma is produced, sometimes after the blood, and is super added to the beating vesicles. Now seeing it is so apparent that Bees have a heart; than it must follow necessarily, that they must have lungs also (which Aldrovandus grants) that these receiving and returning air may refrigerate the heart, now the lungs receive the Original of their motion from the heart, and with his fullness and emptiness as it is contracted and enlarged, makes way for the egress or ingress of air, when it is lifted up, the air comes in, and when it is contracted it goeth forth. That some infects have lungs, Aristotle doth implicitly Arist. de Spirat. grant, for he saith, pulmones habent quae in lucem fae●um jam conceptum profe●unt; such creatures have lungs which bring forth a living creature conceived in them. Now that some insect● do so, is undeniable. Scaliger affirms it of a certain sort of fly, of which we spoke before, and it shall be further confirmed by a Scalig. de subtle. exerc●tat. 191 discourse of the claw-tailed humble Bee, when we speak of Humble Bees. CHAP. XVIII. Of Bee's temperature, Sleep, Age. ARistotle affirms most infects to be of a cold temper, his reason is, because they breathe not, and to this N. Leonicus Nicol●us Leonicus in quaestion. natural. 43 subscribes, and saith all infects need little food; because they have small bodies, and therefore are satisfied with little, or rather saith he, because they are cold and bloodless, now creatures which are hot, desire much refreshing, and quickly digest Aldrovan. prol ●●m in lib. de insectit. what they ea●. So Aldrovand. Infects are sufflced with little meat, not so much for their smallness as their coldness. That this may be true of some I will not deny, but not of Bees, Aristo. de Spirat. they are hot creatures, and desire much refreshing, and quickly digest what they eat. Indeed they are very liberal feeders; whosoever shall observe the abundance of Bee-bread that is daily brought into a good hive, which they spend almost as fast as they get (besides honey) and also considers, how much they eat abroad when they gather, cannot but acknowledge that they are great eaters. And Aldrovandus upon experience affirms, that many infects are hot, and Bees in particular, and his reason is, because they grieve and violently pain those that they sting. Infects L. Verul. Silv●. Si● cont. 7. 697. have been noted by the Ancients to feed little, but this hath not been diligently observed, for Grasshoppers eat up the green of whole Countries; and silkworms devour leaves swifely, and Bees eat in great quantity according to their bodies; which is evident to any that shall observe, what store they carry daily into their Hives, and what little increase there is sometimes, after three months laborious constant working. It is true, that creatures that sleep and rest much, eat little in those times, as Bats, Dormice, and Bees, But saith Cardan Card. de Subtle. lib. 9 it is necessary, that Creatures that sleep much, feed much, and by the virtue of the meat formerly eaten in abundance, subsist when they sleep. All creatures almost, more or less sleep, yea infects sleep somns tamen breviutuntur, but they sleep but a little saith Aristotle, Arist de Somno et Vigil. surely if at all a great deal, the brain is chiefly the cause of sleep, and such creatures as have not a brain, sleep not. Bee's sleep saith Aristitle, and he proves it because they are quiet, as he saith, all night and make no noise, and they cease not Arist. de somno. Idem in eodem. Plin. not, hist. l. 11 c 3●. Arist de Hist●. l. 4. c▪ 10 from motion, because they are weak sighted and not able to move, bring a light they stir not, saith he, but this is false, for they will fly after and into a Candle, or light, like a moth, and burn themselves, but suppose they did not stir with a light, yet were the argument of no force, they stir not at a light, and therefore sleep, for we know that many fowls are taken in the night with a light, at which they stir not, although they be awake, because they see nothing beyond or beside the light. That they sleep from the beginning of winter to the rising of of Arcturus sixty days together, and eat nothing at all as Pl●ny affirms, is not true with us, perhaps in Northern Countries, where the cold is more intense, they feed little, and sleep for a longer space, which is a principal reason of their so great plenty of Hony. The more temperate winters with us, occasion if there be not the larger provision, a great decay of Bees. For every warm and sunshine day, they will fly abroad, and play, and empty themselves, and thereby getting good stomaches return home and feed: whereas gloomy cold and close weather, shuts them in and saves stover, and therefore a smaller proportion will sufficiently supply them until the gathering season. That they sleep when they are abroad out of their Hives (on their backs) is a ridiculous fable, lest the dew should wet or prejudice their wings, and hinder their flight when they awake, as Aldrovandus, and other deliver from the Ancients. Aldrov. de insect. lib. 1 And suppose that they should observe this course, yet could they not accomplish their purpose, for from the vepour arising from the earth their wings would be as much if not more wet, then if they should rest on their feet: howsoever their wings being slimy and (as it were) unctuous, the wet would not much stay upon them. Concerning the age of Bees, divers have been the opinions, some giving them a longer, some a shorter life, Aristotle saith, Arist. de hist. anim. l. 5. c. 12 Plin l. 9 c. 3. Cardan. de variet. rerum. c. 18. Moufet. thea●. insect. l. ●. c. 3 they live six or seven years at the most. Pliny, that they never exceed ten, no not by succession. Columell● also saith the same, Carda●e saith; strong Bees may continue twelve years. Mr. Remnant saith, if they continue in health three year, they may stand twenty, Mouffes supposeth, that if they be well ●a●ed for, and cured of their distempers, they may live thirty years, and tells us that at Hanworth, he knew a stock continued in the ceiling of the house of the Duchess of Sommerse●: more than three decades of years, and swarmed four times almost every year and therefore doubts with Alberius whether they ever die of age. The truth is, notwithstanding these men's opinions, that Bees live but a year and a quarter at the most, for those Bees that seem in May lusty, full, brown, smooth, well winged, will by the end of july following begin to wither, become less, look grey, and have their wings ●ottered and torn, and be all dead before the end of August. And although their life seem short, yet is it more than double to the Drones, but by succession they may continue many years. Now what is to be said concerning the life of the Queen Be, it is a que●e never propounded by any (for aught I know) for most men concluding that the Bees live many years, have supposed the Queen Be to continue as long, and her life to be of an equal extent and date with theirs. Mr. Butler that first published the Bees to be birds of a years continuance, and somewhat more, yet started not this scruple. It is well known, that some Hives continue tea, nay twenty years, and more, what shall we suppose of the Queen Be, doth she survive ten, nay twenty generations; or how comes there a succession of Rulers? I have propounded a question, wherein I shall scarce satisfy myself, it is not strange therefore, if I leave others unreso'ved. It is manifest that the Honey Bees are but yearly creatures, and the reason of their short life is their unwearied labours, by daily flying abroad, incessant working, and ponderous burdens, they waste themselves, and wear their wings, which could they renew as the Eagle her bill, they might for aught I know live many years. Now the Queen Be not working at all, seldom flying abroad, and then not far, not so much in a year, as a Honey Bee in an hour, never tears her wing●, wastes her strength, nor makes herself old with labour, so that it is more than probable, that she may live many years. Otherwise you must suppose her miscarriage ordinarily to be, when her Infants are in their prime, and not departed from her, the elder being able, and ready to succeed her, for if she should miscarry a● other times before their birth, or after their ●●●●●hery, the whole stock must needs miscarry. CHAP. XIX. Of Bees fight and rebbing. Bee's when they are abroad at their work, or remote from Arist de hist. lib. 9 c. 40. their Hives and common treasure, are very gentle and peaceable, so that in their private wrongs, how ever you use them, they will not resist, if by any means they can get away, sometimes at their waterings they will contest one with another, but are quickly quieted, and parted, whereas at their Hives they are fierce and surious, they will neither give, nor take quarter. Upon the union of two swarms, sometimes (but it is rare) there is at first, especially if the companies be somewhat equal, a violent charging each of other, and the Leaders (for other extraordinary Trumpeters have they none) with a shrill and loud noise animate and encourage their several companies boldly to stand to it, and not without cause, for it is their safety, or destruction that all the conflict is for, and as soon as they conclude who shall govern, which for the most part is determined in few hours, than they will all cheerfully as one body, live and love together. Aristotle writes of certain Serpents in Mes●potamia which do great mischief to strangers, but do no hurt at all to the inhabitants: And Mr. Herber● tells us, Cashan in Par●hia, is much infested with Scorpions, but a finger long, but of great terror in the Mr. Herbert. sting, inflaming, such they prick with their envenomed arrow so highly, that some die, none avoid madness a whole day, but which is remarkable, they never hurt a stranger; but Bees irritated near their Hives, are at equal enmity with strangers, and domestics; such as are daily conversant with them, if they be but a little provoked, shall find no favour, so that no creature is Avicen. so violent and revengeful; but although their spite and malice in their rage is as much to men and beasts, as to their own kind, yet seldom do they work an equal hurt and mischief; and indeed the opposition is bitterest between those that are nearest, for there is a special implacable hatred. When two swarms settle together, and eagerly bid defiance each to other (this falls out seldom, yet sometimes) always expect a martial and deadly skirmish. When a company with their Leader forsake their own Hive, and enter into another, their difference is irreconcilable, their hostility unappeasable, but by the death of one of the Commanders; for things that are in their nature contrary, can never be reconciled, as two Commanders in a Hive. And grappling so in clusters headlong fall H●ll from the Winter's sky falls not so fast, Vir●il. Nor shaken Oaks so thick d●shed their mast. I had once two large swarms, that rose almost immediately one after the other, and before the first were fully settled, the last came and see led with them; and began presently to kill each other most desperately. As soon as I had notice of it, I caused them to be hived that were yet alive, half being slain in little more than a quarter of an hour; but the remainder being hived, yet ceased not their quarrel (although I threw strong drink upon them, and did what I could to appease them) yet they still continued the battle, that before night there was not above a pin●e left. But although two companies upon their congress and coming together with equal forces be thus desperately cruel; yet when they rob, and plunder, they show less rage and serity, but are not less mischievous and hurtful. Bees are the most dangerous enemies to Bees, they have many other, but none so hurtful. Some are too favourable in their censures, and clear them Aris●. de hist. Animal. l 9 c 64. Scalig. come. in loc. from robbery. Bees, saith Aristotle, hunt after nothing, but labouring painfully, gather all they possess. And Scaliger gives a reason for it, because they feed not on flesh, nor hunt abroad to plunder other, and therefore expect a reciprocal carriage from others; but by his leave, no greater robbers of Bees, than Bees, so that though he return an Ignoramus to this bill of robbery put up against them, yet upon better evidence I must find it. The greatest danger that befalls the Bees, comes where it should least come, from the Bees themselves. Bees are loving and sociable creatures, and therefore we might think should converse one with another in love and peace; but instead of support and protection, they do find ruin and destruction from their own kind. Pliny saith, when their provision fails, they invade their neighbours and rob them; they fight not then for their right, but to get a booty, and under colour of warring, make a trade of ●ilii Greg. Gyrald. ●. 1. robbing. And another saith, When they want meat, they forcibly rob their neighbours: but the matter, is quite otherwise, for usually the lustiest, and the best stored, that need nothing, will be first prying into their poor neighbour's weakness. They set not upon an empty Hive, seldom upon an ill furnished Hive, but upon some well provided stock, where the fatness of the booty is a fitness to their desires. Remiss opposition provokes fiercer attempts, they are impudent when they meet not with bold resistance, only resolution can make them give back, give over, they will make many tedious and f●intlesse onsets, as if the strongest foit were not able long to hold out. They first come with a few and make an assault, and by the opposition conclude the issue, but still renew their numbers, and although they lo●se many in the conflict, yet will they persist, and not prevailing that day, will the next morning before the true Bees be stirring, venture in, and if the opposition be not the more resolutely maintained, they will come so numerously, as waters at a breach, that resistance is to no purpose, and then they do fall to plundering, going and returning until it be dark, if they have not carried away all before; and so continue till they leave not a drop of honey; to whom often the true Bees (seeing their condition otherwise desperate) will join themselves, and accompany them to their Hives, and help to carry away their own goods. As long as the opposition lasts, they are very fierce, and until they have overcome, merciless, but having once made a forcible entry, they quickly give over killing, and fall to plundering. Sometimes many stocks will be up in arms together, and then it is no easy matter to compose and quiet them. Wouldst thou this sight and furious heat allay; Virgil. A little dust thrown up will part the fray Yet this often avails little, it is better by prevention to avoid it, by narrowing their doors when once mid- july is passed, that but a Bee or two may enter at once (understand it of the poorer stocks) but if this hath been neglected, and they be together by the ears, then make a smoke of much and wet straw, and throw water about the Hive door where the greater conflict is, straightening the passages of those that are robbed sometimes (if the skirmish be violent) stopping them up close, and throw water upon those that eagerly seek to enter, and in less than an hour finding no entrance, and trouble without, they will return home. After sunset open them, and all the robbers that are alive will go to their own Hives. Examine their state after the robbers departure, and i● you find but a few Bees, it will not be worth your labour to trouble yourself for their preservation, for at one time or other they will be robbed, if not, they will never thrive. But if there be a considerable quantity of honey still left, and also of Bees, then stop them up again close, allowing them air through a quill; but be sure you stop them up very well, for in the day time they will be gnawing and mineing to make a hole out, and the robbing Bees will be ever and anon visiting the door, to see if it be open, which if they ●inde (if you do not presently stop them in again) the last danger will be worse than the first. After sunset allow them a passage to go forth, to take the air and empty themselves; take this course seven or eight days, and when you give them a free passage in the day, let it not be until nine of the clock, and the first and seco●d day that you open them, stop up their enemies, that they may not trouble them who are not lusty, as at the first by shutting in, and in eight days their enemies will forget them, Some prescribe to cast ●lour on the Bees that you let out, that so you may know the plundering Hives, which you may easily otherwise, but if you do not, take this course, and observe whither they go, when you once know the robbing stock, with a long penknife, through the Hive, cut the combs towards the top, that so they may find work at home to stop up what you have broken. Although they will not admit of strange Bees in their Hives, yet divers stocks will conspire together, and agree well to undo their neighbours: and usually like the fox they pray furthest from home, seldom robbing their next neighbours. The chief times of robbing are Autumn and the Spring: usually about the end of August, but in dry years, about a fortnight before, when the honey gathering is almost over, then do the lustiest (being most numerous in Bees) practise it on the old stocks, such chiefly that have overswarmed, and have but a few Bees left: on such also as have lost their Leaders, who are careless to resi●t, and will quickly go along with them, and help to carry their own goods. There is no way to save such, but as I prescribed formerly. Another time of robbing is in the spring, and then those poor old stocks that escaped in Autumn must be carefully watched, poor swarms also shall now be tried, until the year grows up, and the flowers be plentiful. Let all such have (as I ordered before) very narrow doors; swarms are more difficultly prevailed against then old stocks; for though perhaps they have not wrought down to the board, and so the entrance be more easy, yet being usually more multitudinous, they will hold out longer: whereas old stocks although they have more provision, yet have fewer soldiers, and therefore are quickly overcome and plundered, and more easily in the spring then before. Once, if you perceive, that wasps in multitudes, or robbing Bees have made a breach into an old stock, delay no longer, but take them, for although by your circumspect care in stopping them up, and narrowing their entrance, you may prevent their present destruction, yet will they not escape in the spring: but if it be a swarm, there is some hope, that by your care, you may prevent their present and future destruction. CHAP. XX. Of Bees, Enemies and Sicknesses. ALl Commonwealths are infested with enemies, and the Commonwealth of Bees as much as any other. We have already spoken of the worst, namely Bee●. In the next place let us treat of Mice, which are also very hurtful and destructive. Sometimes they get in at the door, when it is left too l●rge and open, sometimes they make their way through the Hive, most commonly near the crown of it, and they are no sooner in, but they presently share down the Combs, and eat the honey; and if they be let alone, will often make their nests among the Combs. To prevent them, be careful of the door; of●en, especially in the winter, view your Hives. If you see any crumbles of wax at the door, be sure there is something amis●, look therefore wa●●ly, and keep traps baited about your stalls. Wasps in Harvest do great mischief, sometimes destroy whole stalls. At first when they are new come, they content themselves with dead Bees; but after a while they grow bolder, and venture into the Hives, and most of all in the cool mornings when the Bees stir not. And after they have found the way they will never give over, but invite their fellows, nay, they are often the robbing Bees harbingers, who make an end usually where they begin. And although there be an antipathy between them and Bees, yet will they readily join together to plunder the poor Hives. They are naturally hardy and stronger than Bees, one wasp will often violently break away from two or three Bees, yet many of them come short home, being slain in the Hives by them. In the spring at your watering troughs, or other places where your Bees drink, and on the southside of your pales, you may see the mother Wasps, drinking or gathering kill them if you can, and know that you destroy as many nests as wasps, for every mother Wasp makes a nest. After when they have bred let their nests be sought ou●, and destroyed, burn them or scald them; or (which is sooner done) in the evening with an iron spade (having before observed which way they go) seek for their nest by putting it into the ground, and you shall know when you meet with it by the hollowness, then loosen the earth round and stamp it in. Set glasses with strong wort, sweetened water, or sweet fruit: or rather pots covered with a paper, with a hole in the middle, and that is the best way, for in the other the Bees will be o●ten drowned. The Hornet is as hardly censured as the wasp, but she is nothing so dangerous; she now and then ea●s a Bee, but the wasps destroy whole Hives, her manner is to fly about the Hive, and when she seeth a Bee ●esting herself upon the stool, she presently seizeth upon her, and carries her away in her feet, as the Hawk doth a bird. Destroy their nests if you can without danger, if it be no large hole, in the evening having made a wooden plug, suddenly knock it in, and you are sure of them, or set lime twiggs before their holes, and thereby you will much diminish their numbers. The Titmouse is more hurtful than the Hornet, I mean the great Titmouse called a Colmouse, with a black head, for she will eat ten or twelve Bees at a time, and by and by be ready for more; she seeds her young ones also with them. She eats not the whole Bee, but diuldes it in the middle, and pulls out the bag of honey with the entral, letting drop the skinny outside. When she comes to the hive and finds none, she knocks with her bill at the door, and as soon as the Bees come out to inquire the cause, she catcheth first one, and then another, until her belly be full; in the Spring she watcheth for them in the Willow and Sallow Trees, and takes them when they are at their work. Destroy their Nests in breeding time, and shoot them in Winter. The Spider is a great devourer of Bees, if the Hives be empty, or have but a few Bees, she will make her webs within: but for the most part if it be a penthouse, she lies between the boards where they ●old one over another in the day. And in the night she weaves her nets right before the Hive, wherein the Bees are quickly ensnared. — Close About the door her net-like cobwebs lose Virgil. The Pallas ha●ed Spider Spins. Kill the Spiders if you can come at them, and in the mornings beat down their nets. Many also spread them in the flowers, and among the brambles in the hedges, and they lie in ambush in the cod or centre of them out of sight, and no sooner doth a Bee or fly strike them, but they are upon them and kill them. They will grow quickly greater than large Pease by eating of Bees. The Woodpecker is by many indicted, I think not much guilty, yet I will not discharge her. The Swallow hath un ill-name, but I could never observe any great hurt done by them. The Swallow murderess of the Bees small, Chaucerass●mbly of Fowls. That maked ●ony of flowers fresh of ●ue. The Moth with her mealiness somewhat offends the Bees, but except the Hive hath very few Bees, or be altogether empty, she doth no great hurt; yet than she will lay her blots in the Combs, which will spoil and consume them all. Ordinarily she breeds her young by the heat of the Bees under the skirts of the Hive, and the daw●ing ●ails will sometimes creep into the Hives, and much trouble the Bees with their coldness and sliminess. The Toad is thought to be dangerous, though she doth but lie under the stool, and sometimes to destroy them, as the Frog when they drink, but I never observed it. The P●s-mires are often very hurtful, troubling the Bees, and devouring their honey, scald them in their nests, and Albert. de mi●ab. mund●▪ tarr the places where they use to ascend. Albert. saith, mountain Origanum dried and beaten to powder, if it be strewed on their rests, makes them to forsake them. If the Aunt's holes be stop● with Heliotropium; they will Mizald a●c●norum l. 1. certainly die. Bears in some Countries do greatly endamage the Bees, and Bats, those that breed in trees, seldom are injurious to those in Hives. Sparrows feed on Drones, but meddle not with the Bees, At first I was suspicious that they destroyed the Bees; taking notice therefore of their often flying to the Hives, and from thence to their nests; I caused the young to be taken, and found their crops full only of Dro●ns. Arist. de hist. lib. 9 c. 9 Scal. come. in lo●. Ferret's delight in honey, and therefore spoil Bees, but this Scaliger denies, for he saith, that he hath offered them ●oney, but they refused to taste it. In Guinea are many Bees, but all wild, breeding in trees, Pur. Pilg. 2 part l. 8 c. 2. and receive much hurt from a kind of great black Ant, which make holes in the earth like ●●eld Mice, and much damnify the Bee● by eating both honey and wax. In the Country of Sof●la, there is a bird called by the J●vo●d ● Santo, live●o pin. d● Ethiop. oriental c 24. Cufers Sazu. It is of the bigness of a Linnet, and almost of the same colour, with a long Bill. The chief food of these Birds is wax. They seek about the woods for stocks of Bees▪ And when they have found one that hath honey, they come into the ways to seek for Passengers to show it them; which they do by crying before them, and beating their wings from bough to bough until they come to the Bees. The naturals who are acquainted with their manners, presently follow them, to get the honey. And the advantage that these birds get is to eat the wax they leave, and the dead Bees. They will come into Churches at the windows, and if they find wax candles, eat them. The Hirara is like the Civet-cat (though some say it is Purchas Pilg. fourth part, l. 7. c. 1 not) they are of many colours, viz. grey, black, and white, They eat nothing but honey. And in this they are so terrible, that let the hole of the Beehive be never so little, they make it so big that they may get in, and when they find the honey, they never eat it, until they have called their young ones. And then the old one going in doth nothing but bring out the honey, and give it to the young ones. A thing of great admiration, and an example of great charity. In the Island of Barbadoes, and the adjacent Islands, are certain birds bigger than Sparrows, with a very great head, called by the English Logerheads and Counsellors, they live naturally on all sorts of Flies, and are great destroyers of Bees, for they have made a total destruction of all that have been carried thither. Crabs burned are hurtful to Bees, and also the smell of Palladius de re●ust. l ● Columel. I●dorus Hispalen lib. 12 Etymol. c. ● dung, and places subject to Echoes, for Echoes and great noise much exasperate them. There is no such creature called Clerus (as some) bred by Bees, Moth● are bred in the combs where are few or no Bees, in lusty hives they are bred under the verges or ski●●● of the hive, but generated of Moths, not of Bees, as Columella, and from him Aldrovandus. The Martins in Russia live for the most part on the tops of 1. Miletius religio Bo●uss●●. Huldrichus Schimdel. Trees, and greedily devour the Bees. The Crocodile is much delighted with, and desirous of honey, Saffron is their antidore or preservative (which it seems he cannot endure) to safeguard the Bees. The dung of Poultry is supposed to be very offensive to Bees, but I have not taken notice of any such effect, although I have observed in several places, that for shelter the Hens would repair to the Hives (such as stand under Penthouses) and dung among them, howsoever (if you can) keep them away, and be sure to let no Hens sit under the Bee-boards, for the Bees will sometimes come to them, which the Hens will catch in their bills and kill; which other Bees smelling will seek to revenge, but with their own destruction; I have known above a quart of Bees killed thus by a Hen in a little space. Lightning, especially Thunder affrights, and much disturbs Mouffet the●●tum insector, lib. 1▪ them, saith Mr. Mouffet, and to confirm this tells us, that in the month of August, one thousand five hundred sixty six, being with the Duchess of Somerset, desperately diseased, suddenly, (on occasion of a stroke of Thunder) under the next Bedstead, he and others heard a murmuring and shrill noise, but at first knew not that Bees were housed in the ceiling of the room, underneath where they had inhabited thirty years. And the day following (for want of sleep, as he supposed) flew up and down trembling, and making more than ordinary noise, and in a distracted manner struck themselves against the windows, were extremely provoked against the Family more than at other times, so that they are impatient of fear, do he concludes; as also of disturbance by night, when he saith they all sleep, and not at all by day; when indeed they sleep not all, for some watch, and make a constant buzzing (in full Hives) all hours of the night, until Autumn's cold forceth them up within the Hive, and makes them to lie close compact together among the uppermost combs; yet then (if they be asleep) they are presently awakened, not only with the least touch on the Hive, but of the ground near it. Nay, if you breath before the Hive, though at a yard distance, they will presently come forth with a great noise to examine the cause. Snow is very hurtful when it dissolves with the heat of the Sun, for the Bees with the heat will be tolled out of the Hives and they are no sooner forth, but they are dazzled, and blinded, and cannot find the way in again, but flying a while up and down being wea●y, think to rest themselves on the Snow, which they no sooner touch but they are killed; be sure therefore at such times to shut them in. Sharp frosts, nipping blests, chilling air●●, drizzling s●eet, boisterous and cold winds, in the Spring, are very prejudicial for the Bees, coming home weary and laden, are beaten down after ●● mukitudes, and (unless the Sun shine out presently, or the wl●ds calm) never recover the Hives. Let your Bee-garden be well defended (take head of a● eddy wind from some house or building) and let them stand low▪ I have observed, that out of six Hives, standing two foot high, and in the eddy of the wind. I have lost more Bees (being beaten down, and miscarrying on the cold ground, then out of sixty Hives, standing not much above a foot from the ground. Bees are sick in dry year, and in such times when the flowers A●ist. de ●ist, Animal. l. 8. c. 32. are blasted Concerning Bees sicknesses, hear ●●●● Vigil saith. But if their body's be● diseased (as Bees By life are subject to our maladies) Which may by signs infallible be● known▪ The ●●●k straight lose their▪ colour, and are grown Deformed with l●●rness▪ they in ●●●ful wise Be●● f●●th their dead with solomn obsequys, Or ●l●ist●r'd else within their houses they Sa●● contain themselves, or lingering stay About the ●●●r● in ●l●sters taking ●●l●, ●●mis●'d, and se●… and feeble by the cold. The murrain among Bees is very r●●e: other diseases they Col●mel. l. 9 are subject too, especially to a scouring, by gathering, or feeding on Tithymal, and the blowings of the El●●▪ and therefore in those parts of Italy where there are many Elms, there are but a few Bees. I deny not but the gathering of the Elms may be dangerous in Italy; but I am sure in our parts, which are plentifully stored with Elms, they are no way prejudicial: Indeed they seldom gather of them. Much ad● is made by many Authors concerning Bees sicknesses, and the remedies. They tell us that they are subject especially to a C●coc●ymi●, Bl●●●●gania, M●●●smus and Di●rr●●. Whereas in all my long observation, I have found no proper sickness; accidentally indeed, when they are necessitated for provision, or not well defended from winds and wet, they have an ill digestion, because they have little to eat, and they lose their brood, because they have not wherewith all to feed them; and their natural heat is wasted for want of meat to maintain nature; and they have sometimes a scouring not having meat proper and good for them, they then will sometimes gather of purging flowers, which doth not strengthen them, but make them more faint and weak. And yet to all these various effects proceeding from one and the same cause, have the Ancients given sundry and divers names, Varro dear ●ust: l. 9 as if the causes had been as divers. Varro therefore giving directions what a man should observe that buys Bees; minds him to take notice, if they be numerous, if they be shining, and full; whereas if the combs be not set in an even posture, if the Bees be hairy and thin bodied, they are to be refused, all which are but effects of hunger. In a word, if you desire to have your Bees thrive, and prosper, keep them well from winds and we, heat and cold, destroy their enemies, and let them enjoy a sufficiency of food gotten by their own industry; and if there be a want in some, timely supply them, and doubt not of, by God's blessing on your endeavours, the increase and prosperity of your Bees. CHAP. XXI. Of the Honeydew. THe Hebrew word for Honeydew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 je●aken, which comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 j●rak, and signifies spuere, euspuere, humorem ●vacuare, as if it were saliva sider●● (as Pliny) an excrementitious moisture, which the stars spit down on the fruits of the earth. By this word also is signified the Kings-evil. Bux●orf. lex. In Latin R●big● is a Honeydew, as well as rust, a name from the effect, showing how that by a hurtful touch, it stops the J. Rowlandson God's blessing in blasting. growth of some fruits that are obnoxious to it, making them to rust, eating out their state and substance, at a ca●●er or rust fre●teth iron; so that what is a disease of metal is figuratively R●ber● come. in Amos c. 4. transferred to corn, and such like things▪ because it destroys and consumes them, for with too much moisture the stalks wax pale, and the corn is turned to dust; but he was much mistaken, not distinguishing between smutty and mildewed corn, for corn affected with the mildew is not turned into dust, but shrunk up, and prevented of its radical moisture, so that though it come to maturation (for it will ripen, and is best for seed) yet not to a full bigness and dimension. Of the cause of smutty corn, I will speak briefly afterwards. Some conceive shrinking of corn by the Honeydew to be thus occasioned. In fields less previous to clear and strong winds (as in lower grounds, and narrow places between woods and hills) there falls often sultry and foggy mists, and those covering too close the fruits of the ground under them, as under thick mantles do cast that corn or kind of grain which is subject to this malady, as it were into an unkindly sweat, at such times as the ears thereof are not yet sufficiently filled from the root, by which faint sweat is vented that sweetness that should feed the ear. Now this sweetness once exhausted or drawn out at the stalk, or straw, sticks close unto it being burnt, or made adust by the extraordinary heat of the Sun, as it happeneth especially in the Canicular days, which (as it may seem) made the Romans sacrifice a Whelp or Puppy to Mildew. Ovid de fast. l. 4. Hier. Romano de la Repub. gen. l. 2. c. 7. And this they did to prevent it, or to drive it away, if it had seized on their corn, That this prejudice is chiefly caused in narrow and close grounds we grant, and seldom comes on hills, or large champion grounds. But yet it brings not damage to the corn this way, but rather thus, The corn in close places when the Honeydew descends, not being ventilated and shaken with winds, the Honeydew as it dries, becomes viscuous and clammy, and sticks close to the straw, and by the heat is hardened and congealed, and thereby stops the radical moistures from ascending, and so the ears being no longer said, shrink and wither. As hard binding or tying of a man's arm, causeth (if continued too long) by stopping the circular motion of the blood, a mortification or gangreen. It comes not from any malignancy as some, nor because that the oily viscuous quality, that is in it stops the pores of the husk wherein the corn lies, and deprives First large letter in Mr. Hartlibs Legacy. it from the air, and consequently from nourishment, this is not the cause, but what was delivered before. But he concludes it is, and therefore commends bearded Wheat, because the beard shoots off the dew, that it doth not so easily insinuate itself into the ear, and likewise causeth the ear to shake, by the least breath. Credat judeus Apella. Howsoever had he been acquainted with the inconvenience of bearded Wheat, he would rather have stood to the hazard of a Honeydew. For cure Mr. Remnant prescribes, when you perceive by your Bees that a Honeydew is fallen, to draw a cord over your Wheat as fast as may be, before it be dried on by the wind or Sun. One in one furrow, and another in another, two or three furrows distant as they can well reach. One at one end, and the other at the other end of the cord, for the least mot on will shake it off, it is so exceeding thin when it newfalls. I dare not say (as some) that this can be done with good profit, for materiam superat opus, the charge will exceed the benefit. Such as sow sixty or eighty Acres of Wheat must of necessity employ many men, and perhaps many days together, for Hony-dews in a dry season fall frequently, and sometimes twice a day, and therefore it must be oft reiterated. And the loss by it, is seldom great, it is rare to have one Acre in an hundred prejudiced by it, and yet we consist of enclosures, and much wood-land. Pliny affirmed the Honeydew to be either the sweat of the Plin. Nat. hist. l. 11. c. 12. heaven▪ or the slaver or spittle of the stars, or the moisture of the air purging itself. Gualther saith, It is caused by the inconstant change of the Gualther in Amorett▪ Hom. 11. air, when immoderate heat cause raines, and cold reins expel heat. Dr. Lake saith, That too much moisture is the cause Dr Lake in 1 King 8. 37. of it. Mr. Butler judgeth the Honeydew to be the quintessence of all the sweetness of the earth, meaning as he explains himself, the quintessence of flowers, because when the year is backward in his fruits, the Hony-dews are always backward, coming only at such times, as the flowers have the most solid and best juice. Secondly, because in more hot and southerly climates, where the fruits are more forward, the Hony-dews are more timely▪ in Italy not until May be entered, but he saith not usually with us until a month after, whereas if the season be warm and dry, often by the beginning of May, and sometimes a little before, always in May, there are with us many swarms. Thirdly, because the Countries that have store of the best and sweetest flowers, have ever the best Hony. It is true, that Honey is ●iner or courser, recording to the flowers that the Bees gather of, but this rather concludes (against him) that the Bees gathering is not chiefly, no not very much from the Hony-dews; for it cannot (almost) but be supposed that the exhalation must remain sometimes in the a●●e, before it be concocted and fall, in which space either ascending, or descending by the motion of a gentle breath, it will be cattled some miles from the place where it was first exhaled, so that grant it extracted from the flowers, yet that which was exhaled from good and fragrant flowers, may fall in woody and heathy places, and that which was exhaled from heathy ground according to the motion of the air●, may fall on good land, h●● rule the● cannot be constant. And some years, when there are few or no flowers, yet are there many Hony-dews, as 165●. so that the matter of them could not be extracted chiefly from flowers, and in extraordinary wet years, as himself instanceth in the year, 1613. the Hony-dews fell not until the end of August, when most flowers had done blowing, and those that were, had a very weak and faint juice, and therefore it is not probable, that there should be a competent matter for their production chiefly out of flowers. It is agreed by all, as far as I can search, that the Honeydew consists of vapours raised up into the third region of the air, exhaled from all lower bodies (not only flowers) both earth and water, which vapours▪ being purged from the ●●●thier and drossier matter, and throughly digested by the heat of the Sun, and after a sort made fatter by the cold of the following night, are thickened, and so condensated, fall down on the earth, trees, and flowers. Arist. de bist. l. 5. c. 22. Bees make Honey of the Honeydew, saith Aristotle. Butler saith, The greatest part of the purest Honey comes from above. Seneca saith, It is not yet evident whether the moisture that S●●●4. Epist. Bees gather out of flowers be presently honey, or whether by a mixture or propriety of their own, they change it into honey. Aristotle before the rising of the Vergilia, denies that Bees gather any honey, but this is an apparent error, They gather much honey, when there are Hony-dews, but yet more before any fall, if you respect the shortness of time they gather it in. Bees gather honey more or less all Summer, but least in Autumn, because the great dews and frequent showers, corrupt the native honey which is bred in the flowers; and yet Aristotle acknowledgeth where there is plenty of Ivy which flowreth in the end of Autumn, the Bees gather much honey, but we find it not. That great plenty of Honey comes from above, is acknowledged, and that the Oak among trees is principally instrumental to retain and keep the same on his smooth and solid leaves: yet I affirm, that there is a greater proportion collected from flowers, than from the Oak, and all other sorts of trees, I understand from the leaves. This indeed is altogether gainsaid by Aristotle: He delivers, that Arist. de hist. l. 5. c. 19 Bees gather not honey of flowers, but chiefly of the Honeydew; and his argument is, because in a day or two, when the Hony-dews fall, some combs will be full, and in the end of Autumn there be flowers, but no honey, if any Hive be taken, driven, or gelded, he saith they would gather honey, if any were to be found. We are to know, That as great store of honey falls from above, so there is a native sweetness, or honey, in flowers, the Spring and Summer chiefly, which is not to be found so plentifully towards the end of Autumn, because the flowers at that time of the year are weak and spent, and afford little, and that little, is usually exhaled with immoderate heat, or spoilt with frequent reins, or great dews; so that there is little, or no advantage at all from them, in respect of honey. Some Sandaracha indeed the Bees gather then, but that will not last long, therefore of necessity when Bees are late taken, for want of food, they cannot live long. If Bees gathered honey chiefly of the Oak, which almost alone is retentive of the honeydew (from flowers he denied they gathered any honey) how comes it to pass that hony-dews falling late in the year, as in the years one thousand six hundred and thirteen, and one thousand six hundred forty eight, almost two months after the usual time, namely, in the latter end of August, when there fell divers hony-dews, but the Bees were little the better for them, except only in the Heath Country, when the Heathflower was in his prime, and there those late hony-dews made their fat stalls, but in other places the Bees generally miscarried. If they did principally gather of the Oak, the leaves thereof were then as retentive of it, as at Midsummer, but rather hereby it appears, that the honeydew is received into the hollow sockets of Flowers, and there long contained, until by the Bees it be extracted. Hony-dews therefore falling late when most Flowers have done blowing, not having any proper place to contain them, are, either quickly washed away with the rain, or exhaled with the Sun. Further, that Bees gather honey of flowers is manifest, in many Islands where grow no Oaks, nor yet other Trees, nor yet are near them by some miles (as the Island of Foulness) yet Bees thrive very well, and yield ordinarily a greater increase of honey than in other places. Pliny saith, the Bees gather the honeydew from the Elm, Teile-tree, and Sallow; but our Elms are not retentive of the honeydew, no● yet our Sallows often, sometimes a little; more plentifully is the Hop, and would be very beneficial to the Bees, were it not for the bitterness of the leaf corrupting the honey; Chery-trees (especially the wild Cherrytree) are retentive of the honey dew, and thereupon curl up the leaves, and so contain it longer, but to their own prejudice, for the radical sap or moisture is thereby checked, and ascends no more, and oft-times their tops wither and die, but the Oak of all others most plentifully affords it; the great Maple also (vulgarly called the Sycamore tree) the leaves of other Trees are more spongy and L. Verul. Silva sil▪ cent. 5 496. porous, and drink it in as fast as it falls. The L. Verulam makes a doubt whether any cause be from the Oaken leaf itself, to concoct; or whether it be only that the leaf is close and smooth (and therefore drinketh not in the dew, but preserveth it) That which in Scripture is called Manna, by the wisest of the Caelius Rhod. Lect Antiq. l. ●1. c. 3 Idem. lib. 25. c. 25 Greeks was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a honeydew; and Celsus in his Physic saith, by the Syrian dew is understood that which by a strange or foreign name is called Manna. The present Manna, and that wherewith the Children of Israel were fed forty years in the Wilderness, differ not much from the honeydew. First, That Manna of the Israelites, and the manna used by Physicians differ not much, Fr. Valesius, and also Io. Fr. Picus Fr. Vales▪ de sacra, Philosoph c. 57 Levin. Leminus Herb. bib. explicat. Earl of Mirandula attests the same in certain learned Verses, and Lemnius agree; hereto, saying, the Manna now in use by Physicians is not much unlike the Manna that the Israelites fed of. The Honeydew and Manna do not substantially differ, the Dew is not Honey except it be gathered by the Bees, concocted in their bodies, and condensated (by their heat) in the combs; for when it is thickened of itself, it is called dry manna; but if it be not coagulated it is called liquid manna, as a congealed dew, viscuous, and very pleasant to the taste, of which sort is that Hippocrat. lib. de vulneribus, Pet Bellonius, lib. 2. observat. c 25 which is called Cedria, mentioned by Hypocrates, and it is the same which the Hebrews call Manna; it is plentifully gathered of the greater Cedars on Mount Libanus, and Mount Sinai. The Characters of the present Manna agree to the Jews Exod. 16. 14 Manna; First, it fell on the ground like a whore Frost, in the night. Secondly, the taste thereof was like Wafers made with honey, which agrees with the manna now in use. Thirdly, it was gathered in the morning, before the Sun waxed hot, for the heat thereof did dissolve it, and make it to evaporate and vanish away. Fourthly, if it were kept, it bred Worms; I was informed from a learned Gentleman, that the Honeydew hath bred Worms before night, of which he was an eye-witness in our Country. Some gather the excrements of Bees (of a yellow colour, and honey taste) which they find near the Hives, and some ignorantly Levin. Lemnius. Herb. bib exp●lcat. suppose to be thickened by an aerial concretion; but this cannot be, for the excrements of Bees are always liquid, and fluid, and if there be any reality in this report, It must be the Bee-bread, whereof much is yellow, and all of a honey taste; it is gathered in little round parcels as big as small pins heads, but they are brittle, and broken, will not easily coagulate, for they are not clammy; and the Bees let many fall at the Hive doors, if the entrance be small: but they must be very fools that will take this for Manna, much more they that will be cozened with the excrements. It hath been questioned, whether Manna was known to the ancient Grecians, some deny it, because the name is not found; others affirm it, as Guido P●nnyrollus, that Manna was known to them, but not under the name of Manna (which word the Arabs borrowed from the jews. Galen speaking of the same, acknowledgeth that in his time in Galen lib. 3. de aliment. facult. Amiretus de As●ae ponderibus J. Langius ●. 1. Epist. Medic 64 Asi●, this kind of honey was found so plentifully on the leaves of Trees, that the inhabitants said, jupiter reigned honey; and long before Galens time, Amirelus hath exactly described it under the name of airy honey, as Longius●ffirms ●ffirms; and the reason of this name is evident, because honey like a dew fall● from Heaven, or the Air before daylight; for when the exhalations are elevated from the earth, and the waters by the heat of the Sun, and then being perfectly attenuated and concocted, are thickened, and congealed by the cold of the night into honey, grains, or sand, they stick upon herbs and leaves of Trees (sometimes on stones, and the ground) The inhabitants therefore spread Hides on the ground, and beat the Trees, and that which falls (like honey) they gather, and put into earthen vessels, where in a short time it hardens, and becomes as it were like sand. It is like a kind of Gum, as Fuchsius delivers, and Matthiolus Matthiol. come. in lib. 1. Dioscorid. c. ●3 Mesue lib. 1. de simple. c. 8 confirms the same, and Mesus also saith, the Arabian honey is a dew falling on Plants (and Stones) whose matter is an elevated vapour, which hath its digestion and maturation in the air, when it is equal and propitious, with fortunate aspects, but it is diversified according to the diversity of things on which is falls, Galen. lib. 3. de al●m. f●c. falling on plants it participates of the nature of Plants, so that the best honey is usually where the most temperate Plants grow. Now if Galens description of his Airy honey be compared with this, it accords in every thing; and Galen in the same place saith, that this Honeydew, or Manna, is so like to that honey that the Bees gather of, that they have one and the same matter, namely dew, Valerius Cordus endeavours by many (but not invincible) Valerius Cordus A●notat. in Dio cor. lib. ●. c 104. Guido Pannyrollus Nova repe●t●, l. 2. tit. 6. Arguments, to prove that they differ; with whom Hen. Salmouth, and Guido Panyrollus concur, and accord. First, the Bees honey, saith Cordus is found at all times of the Spring, and Summer, but the Honeydew (and also Manna) but sometimes and seldom. I answer, that there is a native sweetness in some flowers at most times of the year, and plentifully in a mild and forward Spring, but yet notwithstanding the Bees gather much honey, when the hony-dews fall. Secondly, the Bees honey is found both night and day in the Flowers, but the honeydew only in the morning. I answer, It is true, that the Bees gather honey out of the flowers a great part of the day, but there is (besides the native honey) an addition of honey from the honeydew in the cells of the flowers, where it is preserved longer than on the Oaken leaves, being there obvious to every drying blast, and exhaling rain. And so saith the L. Verulam, Flowers that have deep sockets, L. Verve. Silva silv. cent. 7. 669. do gather in the bottom a kind of honey, as Honeysuckles (both the Woodbinds and the Trefoil) Lilies, and the like, and in them certainly the flower beareth part with the dew, and Sands relat. lib. 4 therefore places abounding in Manna, do also yield plenty of honey; Thus Cep●alenea. Moreover, the honey dew doth not only fall in the morning early, but in hot gloomy seasons, often in the after noon. Thirdly, the Bees honey most abounds in flowers about noon, but the honeydew as soon as the Sun waxeth hot, perisheth; I answer, it perisheth where it is open, and exposed to the Sun and Wind, but where it is well defended from either (as in the small sockets of flowers) it endures much longer. And I affirm further, that Bees gather most honey in the forenoon, except the honeydew falls in the afternoon, and neither rain washeth it a way, nor the Sun's hot rays exhale it. Fourthly, the Bees honey while it is contained in the flowers, is liquid, but the honeydew, namely Manna is compacted together, and congealed; Answer, Although the honey be liquid in the combs when it is newly gathered, yet thereupon it follows not that it was so liquid in the flower, being by a transcendent Chemical skill extracted forth of a more grossie substance, and after rarefied, and defecated in the limbeck of their bladder, moreover, as we showed before, in many parts of Asia, the manna falls more liquid, but hardens after it is gathered. And again, it is true in some parts of the World there falls, or rather is gathered this concrete, or coagulated honey (the Sands relat. l. 4 right manna) Manna in Calabria is gathered from the leaves of the Mulberry-trees that grow higher in the mountains, it falls like a dew in the night time, like a dew, and therefore liquid; it is gathered from the leaf of the Mulberry-trees, but not of such as grow in the Valleys, and it falleth upon the leaves by night. It should seem that before these dews come upon Trees in L. Verul. Silva sil. cent. 8. 7●1 the Valleys they dissipate, and cannot hold out; it should seem also the Mulberry leaf itself hath some coagulating virtue, which conspiss●teth the dew, for it is not found upon other trees. And it is more than probable that that Manna that is gathered coagulated, hath its condensation from the virtue of the tree, or plant from whence it is taken. In Persia they call Manna X●rquest, Xir in Persian is Milk, and Pedro, Teixeira de los. Rays de Pers●● l ●. c 7 Quest is the name of the Tree which produceth it, or rather whereof it is gathered; the best comes from Hiez, from whence it is c●rried in great quantity to Ormuz, and from thence throughout all the East; it is white, soft, sweet, and in Grains like Incense o● M●stick. They have another sort called Toraniabin, gathered on certain Idem lib. 1. c. 22 plants like wild thistles; there is a D●ng or kind of Manna brought from ●●ad, not far from the River Sinned in the East Indies; the Naturals call it Geukar, of Karsal●, and Geu fat, for of the dew which falls and congeals in the lowen fields (mark, it falls liquid) it is gathered and called by us Salgen, and more corruptly Salgenia. I must a little digress to reform a Geographical error, the River Sinned which was mentioned before, is the principal of five, of which the River is compounded, first Behat, which ariseth near Kobul towards the coast of Persia. The second is called C●anab, which comes from the Province Quexmir fifteen day's journey distant from Labour. A third is called Ru●y springing near Labour. A fourth, Via; And a fifth Sinned, which Mr. Herbert's Travels into Africa and Asia, l. 1. giveth name to the Land and Kingdom, commonly called by the Portugals Sinde. And therefore Mr. Herbert was deceived, who supposed the River Indus to be called Sinned. To return again. A●t. de Herrera decad. 7. l. 1. c. 7 In the valleys of Chile in their season fall great dews (which collect and harden) like bread tempered with Sugar or Marchpane (Mark, they fall liquid dews) which i● as wholesome as that which they call Manna: By all which instances, it appears that Manna is first a liquid dew, and after inspissated by a virtue of the tree, or plant on which it falls, and falling on other plants or trees, it never condensates. From the City of Bal●ora situate in the end of the Red-sea p. Teixeira relation de lo● Rey●● de Persia, l. 1. c. 7. on the banks of the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates, is brought a kind of Manna in bottles like thick honey, so that some Manna, is never coagulated. Fifthly, Honeydew is contained in flowers, but the Honeydew falls on leaves of trees. Answers only on leaves of trees? Nothing less, on flowers also, and a great part, as I showed before of the honey in flowers, is not natural but adventitious. Sixthly, The Bees honey doth not only last longer, but conserveses other things, and that many years; but the Honeydew, or Manna will not keep uncorrupted one year, nor yet preserve other things from putrefaction; and in the Northern Regions there is plenty of honey, but rarely any Hony-dews. So Magirus Hony-dews are very rare in our Countries, in Jo. Magirus Phisiolog l. 4. c. 6. regard of our cloudy air, but frequent in the Eastern Countries, Answer, That the lasting of honey longer than Manna may be from a further concoction which it hath in the Bees bodies, as also from the continued great heat of the Bees after it is repos●ed in the combs, whereby it comes to further maturation and perfection * Vide Cap ●● of the B●asil●an Be called Zelloh. . And whereas he saith, Hony-dews are rare in the Northern Regions, we often by woeful experience find the contrary, receiving by the frequency of them, great prejudice in our hops and corn. Seventhly, If the Honeydew be the matter of honey, how comes it to pass that it falls only on flowers, and not on the plants and leaves of trees? Answer, It falls not only on flowers, but on leaves of trees and plants also, though some plants and leaves, are not so tenacious, and retentive of it, as the great Maple, and the Oaken leaf, but being more porous and spongy, suck it up, and consume it. Lastly, When the Honeydew falls, the Bees gather it, and flock to it, but only for their present repast and food. Answer, There is no rustic conversant among Bees, but knows the contrary, and by experience can say, that they then gather more honey in two or three days, than in two or three weeks after they cease. Ribera, as you may remember, attributes smuttiness of Wheat to the Honeydew; and Helmont seems to be of the same opinion, Helmont▪ tumulus pest ●. calling it Triticum roratum sive mol●itum, and so do some others also. Now in a word to undeceive them. The cause of smutty Wheat, is not at all from the Honeydew, nor yet from any of those causes, that the author of the first letter in Mr. Har●libs Legacy delivers. No● yet is it a deficiency only in the vegetative faculty, for it grows and produceth a blade, and an ear, but than it wants power to quicken and give life, as it were, by blowing to that corn that is put out in the ear; so that not being enlivened, it proves abortive, and turns into a stinking black powder (Corruptio optimi pessima) smelling like a red Her●ing, or Carrion. Now this falls out for want of a nitrous, and thereby a nutritive quality in the grain, for it is most certain, that salt is the seat of life, and vegetation, and so the subject of nutrition. This by the way, take notice of, that they are most under ears that are subject to that malady, not therefore subject to it, because they are lower than others, but therefore lower, because of a deficiency and weakness in the vegetative faculty. And usually if one stalk hath the ear smutty, all that arise from the same ●oot are infected, yet it falls out (though ra●ely) that sometimes one side of the ear is good corn, and the other bags, for one side blows, and the other doth not, and whatsoever blows not, will be smutty. Many years together I suffered much damage by it, but knew not how to remedy myself, but after the projection of divers experiments, at last successfully, I fell upon this course, I caused a Hogshead of salt water to be fetched, and put into the water near a bushel of Bay-salt not at once, no● yet into the Hogshead, but pouring half of it at a time into a Tub, I after put in half the salt, wherein when it was melted, I imbibed my Seed-wheat thus: Filling a close well-wrought Ozierbasket (that would admit the water, and hold near a bushel) with Wheat, and then put it into the Tub, holding it by the ears, and when it was all well moistened, took it out, letting the water drain as it stood on the Tubs side, into the Tub again. And when it began to leave dropping, poured it on a floor, and strewed upon it as it was turned over, near a shovel full of slaked lime, not that lime adds any thing to the vegetation (perhaps it accelerates the growth) nor yet secures it from vermin (as some conceive) but only dries it (being done overnight) that it is more nimble and better to sow the next day. Lime without steeping your corn, doth not prevent smuttiness, but corn thus imbibed, and then sown without lime, will not smut. Thus adventitious Salt supplies the defect of that nitrous quality which some grain are defective of, and are hereby quickened, refreshed, and as it were empowered to perfect vegetation to maturation. Such as are remote from the sea, must make a brine which will be every way equivalent, only more chargeable, I have many years made trial of this course, and without any great curiosity, for my seed have had constantly bright wheat, and so also my neighbours, to whom I readily divulged what I found good for the public; but in my public Discourse, I forget too much my private Design. CHAP. XXII. Of Hony. CArdan affirms, That neither Honey nor Wax is made by Cardan lib. 9● de subtle. any creature but a Bee, which is a truth, if we take it conjunctively, otherwise not. There is no other creature that makes both honey and wax. And that which Scaliger saith, Pliny observes out of Aristotle Scaliger de subtle. exercit. 191. (which I remember not) that Wasps make wax, is false whosoever affirms it. Combs they make, as some other Infects, but they are not wax, but drossy collections of old pales, and other old wood, tempered with a gummy liquor flowing from the Oak, or (felled) Elms whereby they become tough and capable to contain their young. Try to melt them, and you shall quickly resolve yourself. And whereas Scaliger saith, There is in the Mol●●●a Islands honey made by Flies less than Ants (the truth is questionable, for it is only reported by Pigafetta) I suppose he called them Flies, only for their smallness. The earth-Bee, with us a kind of wild Bee, is smaller, and yet gathers Bee-bread abundantly, and honey also for aught I know. And most of the American Bees are not bigger than Flies, but yet are Bees, not Flies. And for his instances of the solidity of some honey (admitting of the Histories) they do not at all enervate this position that Bees only make honey. Among the Troglodytes in a Country called Balgada, there is honey found whiter than snow, and as hard as a stone; And in the Country about Calicut the honey is so hard that they carry it in baskets, what then, was it not made by Bees? I have seen as white, and as hard made by my own Bees. Indeed besides the domestic Bee, the humble Bee makes honey, but little in quantity, and nothing so pleasant in taste for quality. In China there is not only plenty of Bee's wax, but there is another sort which is not only whiter, but also better, for it is M●th. Ric●i de Christiana expedi● apud Sinas l●b. ●. less glutinous, and being lighted, burns brighter: It is made of certain worms which they breed up in trees for this purpose. They make a third sort of a fruit of a certain tree which is not less white than the former, but burns nothing so brightly. Thus have we found honey and wax too, made by other creatures besides the Hony-Bees, but both by no one creature. Libanius saith, Honey and Wax may be gathered without the Bees labour, there is in the flowers, saith he, and leaves of Andrea's Libanius, lib. 2. Alchym. tract. 1. c. 45 plants, both honey and wax, which by sublimation may be easily segregated, but as a fruitless and needless speculation, I will not insist upon it. Gorrbeus saith, honey is a sweet juice, hot and dry, it seems Mat. Ma●tinil l●x Philolog. to have its original from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is delight, and thence the German Honig, which we contracting call honey. By honey Metaphorically is understood every pleasant, dainty, Diction●r Etymolog▪ trilingue, ●. Fungeris, Cael. Rhod. lect. antiq. l. 6. c. 2 Barradas itinerarium filiorum Israel ex Aegypto lib. 6. c. 5 and savoury meat. Hony is the Symbol of Death, as Gall●s of Life, wherefore the Ancients offered honey in Sacrifice to the infernal Deities, for because of pleasure, death creeps on us. Hony signifieth Marriage, saith one, and is taken Figuratively for carnal pleasure, and signifies a worldly life, not abhorring delight, for marriage is honourable; nor is a Christian to be blamed that lawfully useth it. But as in the old Law, although honey might be received for gifts, and first fruits, yet it was forbidden in Sacrifice: so in the Church (only the Roman Church) the honey of Marriage is honourable in Laymen, yet are married persons prohibited the Altar, for it is not lawful for a Priest to be married. There are many sorts or kinds of honey; Aerial, Manna, Reedhony, Sugar, and that which is gathered by Bees; the best honey is that which is so pure that it glisters yellow (Aristotle commends the white) having a good smell, not too hard, nor too thin, sweet to the taste, and hanging together, once being boiled yields little scum. Another saith, that is the best honey which is in a mean between Scolia Guil. Plantii in Fernel, method▪ medendi, lib. 7 thick and thin, sweet in taste, and yet sharp, pricking the tongue; for colour either pale, or pellucid, and shining like Gold, odoriferous and new, and which taken up, hangs so together that it will not be easily separated; in a word, the best is at the bottom. A measure that contains fifteen ounces of honey, will hold but Fe●nel▪ method medendi, l. 4. c. 6 We●ker▪ de secret. lib. 8 ten ounces of wine, and nine of oil. Diopha●es prescribes to know adulterate honey thus; if it will not burn purely, but rather thus; melt a little in a porringer, and if it be adulterated with flower, or any thing else, you shall perceive it by the ●cum; if it be pure, it will be as clear as rock water. New honey is better than old, the Sicilian was with the Ancients Porcacc●i descrit del isole di Sicilia. in highest estimation, so that by a Proverb, the Hyblean was notorious, Bau●inus commends the Attic before all other. Some imagine that the chief labour, or rather skill of the Bee ●. Verul. sil. ●●l. cent. 7. Arist. de b●st. lib. 5. c. ●● is about the Wax, and that the Bee (according to Aristotle) gathereth honey only from the honey dew; but this we made clear before, that she maketh, that is, extracteth more from the flowers, than she gathereth from the trees. Cardane fond supposeth, that they neither make, nor gather properly, but convert what they gather into honey, by virtue of a little bag or bladder sweet as honey; and like saith he, is made of like. Various are the opinions of the Ancients concerning those that first found out honey, with the nature of Bees; some say by Eu●eme●us in the Island Cea; others, by H●●●ro●ius, in the days of Ericht●nius on Mount Hym●tte, a Country of A●●ic●, Nicander saith in Cre●t, in the time of Sa●unne. Aristodemus the Philosopher studied many years to find out August Ser. 15 ad s●at. in ●remo. the nature of Bees, and could not; Aristomachus saith Cicer● did nothing else for sixty two years; and Pliny saith of him, that he first taught and found out the increasing of Bees, and was so earnestly affected to them, that he studied day and night how he might best order, and entreat them according to their kind. Others ascribe this invention to one Thaffias, who deserved great commendation for his skill among Bees, Diodorus saith, Diod. Siculus lib. 6 Macrob. Sa●●●●●l. l. 1. justin lib. 13 the Cureless, a people of Cre●a first found out honey, Macrobius ascribes, Diodorus, and Pliny, and Columella, to Aristem in Thessaly, to whom justine agrees, although in his forty fourth Book he ascribes it to Gargoris, but only ● conceive for Spain; fabulous Berosus citys him by the name of M●licola, P●lid●re to the Polyd●r, Virgl●de invent. rerum lib. 3. c. 3 jews; I hold it ancienter, for jacob sent a present of honey to the Governor of Egypt. In no part of the world is more honey than in Aethiopia, the Godignus de Abissino●●●● rebus, lib. 1. c. 10 cause whereof is the plenty of Flowers which grow there (lot such take notice of it that deny Bees gather honey of Flowers, and the many Rivers, Lakes, and Waters. Ilensagaghen a Town of Hea in Africa abounds greatly with I. Leo. lib 2 honey, which serveth the inhabitants both for food (consisting of two hundred Families, having neither Gardens nor Fruit-trees, but only Barley and Oil, the inhabitants being slothful) and for Merchandise to sell in the neighbour Countries, they cast away their wax. The Mountains in Africa are most plentiful of honey, whose I. Leo. lib. ● & lib. 3. tops are always covered with Snow, as Nififa, Sensana, Tag●dost; Thagia, Beni-fenescare, but white honey is there a rarity; yet in the Kingdom of Morocho they have very much Cael●● August. Curiosoes, Marochensis regni descript▪ Mory●●●●tin. part 3 lib 2. c. 4. Col. Rhod. honey, some for whiteness like to Milk, other clear and yellow like gold. Poland abounds with honey, which they find in hollow trees, and Caves of the earth, besides the husbandmen's Hives. In Mycono there are no Bees, and if they be brought thither they die. Mycono is one of the Cyclad Islands. Ortelli Thes●●● I de la H●ye thresor de● ch●rte●. In Ireland are many Bees, as well in Hives at home, as in hollow Trees abroad, and Caves of the earth, contrary to S●li●●●● and Isidore, and it is as good as in other Countries, and more store would be there, but that there grow some Trees that are venomous, but what those Trees be he names not. Aldrovand saith, there be no Bees in New Spain, and Isidore relates the same of Scotland, and saith, that stones and dust brought thence and laid in the Hives, makes the slees forsake Polyd. Virg. lib. 13. hist. angl. Sand. relat. lib. 4 Po●ca●●hi descrit del Isoldi Ma●t●. Martil●u● Ficinus▪ lib. 2. de diet. c. 18 them, but false, as Polidore acknowledgeth. Malta is hotter by much, than any other Country which is seated in the same parallel without Rivers, but hath sundry fountains, and honey in abundance. And the plenty and goodness of the flowers in Malta is the cause that it affords excellent honey, therefore saith a learned Physician, that Honey is Flos storum, the flower or quintessence of flowers, nourishing not a little with his sweetness, and preserving things from putrefaction. Sicilia likewise though hot, yet is stored with Rivers and Fountains; the Winter most temperate, no day so tempestuous, as affordeth not some Sunshine, and about Enn● the flowers are so numerous, and fragrant that the Dogs cannot hunt. In Pod●lia, and indeed all Sarmatia (understand Sarmatia in Europ●, for there is Sarmatia in Asia) now it contains Polonia, Hier. Gi●ava de Cosmograph. Russia, P●●ssia, Lituania, Livonia, Podoli●, and Moschovia: whereto is added Alba, Russia, and Vandalia. In a word the people were anciently known by the name of Dictionar. Etym●●. tri lingue ●ungeri. Clao Mag. hist. delle cose S●pten. l. 2●. Scythians. Here is more honey then in all the world besides, for they fill sometimes great dry pits with combs, that the Bears coming to eat the honey, accidentally falling into them, have been suffocated with the abundance. Nature denies them the vine, but the God of nature hath more than sufficiently recompensed that defect with an incredible Gio. Boterole relationi univers. s●li 2 part l 1. Me●dosa, Trea●●●e of the Kingdom of China G. Fletcher Russee Commonwealth. quantity of honey, which they use (besides to several other purposes) to make mead with. There is great abundance in China, for they wonderfully delight in keeping of Bees, there is also very much wax, you may lad Ships, nay Fleets therewith. Hony is more plentiful in Russia than in any part of the world, thereof they spend great quantity in their ordinary drink (which is Meade of all sorts) and many other uses, and yet good quantity is carried out of the Country, which may better appear if we take notice that there hath been shipped fifty Lettere d'Ab. Compense inte n●le cose di ●os. & P. Jovio delle cose d●l. Mos. apud Rhamus●▪ 2. Volume. thousand Pood yearly of wax, every Pood containing forty pound, which amounts to a thousand Tun, and yet the great men use but little Tallow, but much wax for their lights. Muffet perstringeth jovius for applauding the Russian honey, for saith he, There is not a Bee in the whole Country, and he justifies himself from the relation of Sebastian Baro, how truly from the premises you may easily determine. About the River Occa, distant about thirty Leagues from Moscow, is the greatest store in all the land of Russia. Purchas pilg. 3. part. l. 2. c. 1. Encouragement of settling a Planta●. at ●●●d●gas. J. Leo l. 8. There is a report that a greater quantity than that mentioned before is brought yearly to India, from the Coast of Malindia near adjoining to Madagascar, namely fifteen hundred Tuns. There is little honey throughout all Egypt, and that little is not very good, for it is always moist and thin like water, the reason whereof is said to be, because the flowers are over moist by the overflowing of Nilus, but in America, where the Alex. Aphedis. Prob. 74. lands are not overflown, but exceeding dry, yet the honey is always liquid, so that it comes from some other cause. Corsica yields many venomous trees, from which if the Estates of the world translat. by Ed. Grims●. Bees suck any thing, they make the honey very bitter; It seems these trees were but in some places, for Atheneus reports, that the Corsi●ans were long lived with the daily use of honey, which is very plentiful with them; some parts were infamous for their Servius come. in 4. l. Georg. bad honey, occasioned through their plenty of Yew trees, which Servius confirms, saying, The Corsican honey is bitter, and Martial mentions it. Some vainly conceit, all honey at first to be sharp and bitter, Martial 9 ●●pi. Nicetas come. in Greg. Naz. t. 2. ●●at. 43. but in process of time being concocted, it returns to its proper sweetness. In the City of Trapezun● in Pontu●, the honey gathered of the Yew trees smells filt●●ly, and makes them that are well in their Arist. de Mi●abil. Auscult▪ wits, mad, and but cures those that are distracted. In some parts of Spain the honey is poison: Also at Heraclea in Pontus some years, they have an herb called Aegolethron, hurtful to Goats, the flowers whereof, especially in a wet Spring have a poisonous quality. Signs of it, it never thickens, the colour is more red than other honey, a strong kind of smell, presently it causeth sneezing, they which eat of it throw themselves on the ground seeking to cool themselves, for they are all on a sweat. And if dogs eat their excrements that are affected with it, they have the disease. Likewise in Pontus among the Sanni, there is a honey which Plin. Nat. his●. l. 2●. c. 13 causeth madness, which is supposed to be gathered from the Rhododendron, whereof the Woods are full. In some parts also of Persia, and in Getulia, a Province of Mauritania. Galen saith, his father had honey so bitter with age, as if it Galen, l. 1. de Antidote. c. 2 had been gathered in Pontus. And therefore Servius on those words of Virgil, Dul●ia mella premes, saith, It is not a superstuous Epithet, because there is bitter honey. So is there sharp Idem l. 3. de compos. medic, secund. Gen. S●●abo l. 11. Dioscorid. l. 6 c 8. honey also which comes by age. The honey is bitter near Phasis, and about Hereclea a City of Pontus, from the plenty of Monks-hood, or Wolfesbane, saith discords. Pet. Bellonius saith, These Countries of Pontus abound with an herb called Black▪ chameleon, the root whereof hath an excrescency called I●●i●, which is a deadly poison, and kills presently those that drink it. Now, saith he, if the Pees gather the substance of the honey from the Chameleon-flower, there is no doubt but the honey is very dangerous, but saith he, we are not ignorant, that the Bees gather not the matter of their honey from the flowers, but only of the leaves when they are covered with the Honeydew. But this great observer, for want of observation failed, trusting too much to Aristotle, and others, that the Bees did not make, but only gather honey. The Sanni of whom we spoke before, paid a tribute of Wax to the Romans, but the honey, as dangerous, was not vend●ble. Strabo writes, that the people called Hep●acomete● beyond Strabo l. 12. C●lch●s, slew three cohor●s of Pompie● soldiers when they passed through the mountain Country, for they mingled a kind of poisonous honey with their drink, and easily massacred them when they were besides themselves. Diodorus reports, That the Grecians returning from Babylon Diod. Siculus, l. 14. in the Country of Col●●os, found abundance of Bees, and did liberally feed of the honey, but as soon as they had eaten it, they became mad, and presently threw themselves on the ground, and lay like dead men; but the day after, the same hour they were taken, they recovered their wits again. In Sardinia is no venomous creature, yet the honey is poison. Dioscor. l. ●. c. 75. Dioscorides saith, It is very bitter, and that they gather it of wormwood, and that it is excellent to cure blemishes and G●●●n▪ lib. ● de simp. ●●●●l. Med. spots of the face. Galen mentions it, saying, If any honey be bitter as the S●rdi●i●●, it is of a mixed faculty, as if some of our honey were tempered with wormwood. Virgil saith, It is gathered of the Yew tree, Sic tua Cyrne●s ●ugi●●t, examina Diod. Sicul. l. ●. taxus. Diodorus from the Box tree. In Candia there is a mountain called Carnia, nine miles Plin. Nat. hist. l. ●1. c. 14. in compass, in which space, no Flies are ever seen, and they never touch honey that is made there, and brought from thence. In T●r●o●a the honey is not only solid, but sandy, such as is gathered in the Heath-country of Hampshire, very course, and red, full of little clo●s or knots, like sand, but much greater: Pliny dislikes it on good grounds, as the worst honey. All honey hardened, keeps the same solidity, divers from water and other liquids, for all other liquid things once compacted, dry, and are attenuated, but honey doth not. That honey works as wine in the comb until the twentieth day (asserted by some) is a fable, and that the cover that stops it up is the f●ces from the working, which they that maintain the former deliver, is as ridiculous; make trial, and you shall find it wax as the combs. Some combs in plentiful years, are shut up the first day. Honey in the comb is all pure, but after it is expressed, some feculent and dreggy matter, partly from the combs, partly from the Bee-bread and spat, somewhat corrupts the purity, all which it purgeth up to the top, contrary to all other liquids where the sediment is at the bottom. The use of honey was prohibited in the old Law, because it is a symbol of pleasure and delights, in regard of the sweetness Fr. Valesius de sacro Philoso. c▪ 16. Arist▪ Ethic. l. 2. c. 3 thereof. Now pleasures are displeasing to God, no lovers of them can offer a grateful sacrifice unto him. Therefore the Philosopher said, Because of pleasure, we do wicked things. Another saith, By prohibiting honey in the Law, we are to Caelius Rhod▪ lect. Antiq. l▪ 28. c. 27. understand Philosophical ostentation, and pleasant allurements of humane eloquence, very sweet in sound, but not in substance. Another, Hony was not offered in sacrifice, nor yet wax, wherein honey is deposited, but oil for the Lamps in God's Hieron. Epist▪ ●. ●d Gaudent. t. ●. & Epist. 19 ad Eustochium▪ ●. 1. Tho. Aquin. 12. q. 102. 3. 14▪ m. Temple, which was expressed from the bitterness of the Olive, for vices are sweet, and therefore the Harlot's lips drop as an Hony-comb. Aquinas saith, Hony was not offered in sacrifice, because it was ordinarily offered in sacrifice to Idols, and also to prohibit, and avoid all carnal sweetness and pleasure from those, who intended to offer sacrifices to God. The heathens used honey in their sacrifices, especially the Stuckius S●●r. sacrific▪ descrip. Plut. quest 5. S●●p. Higher▪ Romano▪ l. 2. ● 3. Athenians, and that to several of their Deities, and yet Plutarch propounds a question why they did not use it. But it is certain they offered no wine to their gods, but water sweetened with honey. The Romano had divers names sot their Religious places▪ Good win Antony's q. l. 1. c▪ 2▪ & Alex▪ ab Alex. genial dier. l. 5. c. 26 one was called S●r●●i●●lu●▪ which was a furrow, or pit, containing an Altar in it, into which they poured the blood of the slain beast, together with honey, and other things when they sacrificed to an infernal Deity. The Romans sacrificed to Pluto three times in the year, the Hier. Romano l. 2. c. 8 beasts for sacrifice were black, old, and barren, and they made ready in this sacrifice a drink of wine and milk, mixed with honey and blood. Guil-Moses unvailed One gives this as a natural reason, because being burnt, it had no good smell▪ In the Feast of Bacchus, all the Priests being crowned with Idem. l. 2. c 9 garlands of Ivy▪ offered sacrifices made of fine flower, and honey fried with oil, and sometimes with honey, because Bacchus, as they supposed first found them out. Horace saith, They sacrificed honey taken out of the Combs to him. Horat. 2. c●●m. Bacchus by some was called Bryseus, from an old word, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to flow, because he first taught the use of honey: And Ovid. l. 3. Fast. Ovid saith, That he was not only the inventor of honey▪ but that honey was offered in sacrifice to him. The Egyptians when they celebrated the feast of Mercury, Plutarch de I●●●●. & O●●r. did eat honey and figs. Among many other things which the Romans offered in sacrifice Hier: Romano l. 2. cap 11 to Ceres, they used to present honey and wine. And because Ceres sought her daughter Proserpina ravished by Pluto with torches, or candles, which she lighted in the Vul●ane●n mount F●●●, therefore a day of burning lamps and candles, was dedicated to her by the heathen, and from hence came the Good win An▪ l. 2. c. 13. Alex. ab Alex. genial dier. ● 6. c. 8. feast of Candlemass among the Christians. In the sacrifices to Bona dea, or the earth, they used wine, but called it not by the name of Wine, but Milk or Honey, and the vessel wherein it was put, the Hony-vessel. The ancient Greeks quieted or appeased their dead with Eurip. honey, Iphigenia in Euripedes vowing sacrifices to her brother, promiseth to sprinkle the blood of a Mountain-calf, the liquor of Ba●ohus, and the labours of yellow Bees. Chaucer relating the burning of Assite, tells what they used Chaucer in the Knight tale. to cast into the Funeral flames. With vessels in her hand of gold full fine, All full of Honey, Milk, Blood, and Wine. They gave the deceased a Wa●er tempered with honey to appease Adr. Turneb. l. 28. c. 45. Hier. Romano lib. 2. cap. 1. Cerberut withal. In Peloponesus they began their sacrifices to the goddess Melissa which was adored among them, because she taught them the use of honey. This Goropius denies, for he saith, Noah first after the deluge Gorop. Becan. Hierogliph. l. 13. sacrificed to God, and God smelled a sweet favour. This was the first banquet after the stood, wherewith Noah feasted jupiter, for which, because it was sweet, he was called Melissus, namely for offering honey to jupiter, and because this Hony-service or sacrifice came from him willingly, he was said to have a daughter at home called Melissa, namely the honey goodness of his mind, whereby he made a feast to God. And then because with this sweetness, or Melissa, he presently obtained that favour from God, by which he was abundantly supplied with all necessaries; for this, he was said to have another daughter, which was called Amalthea. So that having Melissa good will, and Amalthea a large plenty of all things; and by these his two daughters daily to feast jupiter, posterity feigned that jupiter being an Infant was nourished by the daughters of Melissus. In ancient times, Junkets prepared with honey, were proper Pineda derebus Solom. l. 5. c. 12 to marriage solemnities, of which cates, or honeyed cakes, the Bridegroom first tasted, and then the Bride, and after the Guests. Curtius speaks of it in Alexander's marriage with Roxane. Q. Curtiu, l. 8. Cant. ●. 1. And Pineda saith the same of Solomon's marriage with Pharaohs daughter to be obscurely implied, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk; Eat O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Which is an invitation of the Spouse to the tasting of it: Where the Septuagint Reads, I have eaten my bread with my honey. Moreover it signifies any extraordinary sweetness, as also milk, or any more pleasant dainty. And truly honey and wine seem to be proper to Nuptial seasts, which is more clear, E●●k. 16▪ 13▪ For whereas all the rest that went before concerned marriage; this was a wedding Ceremony to eat bread made of fine Flower, Honey, and Oil, by the communion whereof the Bride was taken into the Partnership of the King's bed and Kingdom. In Fez after the Espousals and Marriage ceremonies performed, Jo. Leo l. 3. divers Guests are invited to a Banquet, where for great dainties is first brought a kind of bread fried and tempered with honey. Among many other Nuptial ceremonies which the Borussians J. Miletius Religio. Borussorum. use, after they have washed the Bride's feet, and with that water sprinkled the Marriagebed, and all the utensils of the house, and the Guests also, than they anoint her mouth with honey, and covering her eyes with a vail, lead her to all the doors of the house, which they bid her strike with the right foot. The Russians use many strange Marriage-solem●●●ies. The Religio Russorum ad Dom. Chy●r●um. Priest having a book open before him, sings with a loud voice one of David's Psalms. And then taking hold with his hand on one of the Bridegroom's curled locks, speaks to him after this sort. Tell me, O Bridegroom, brother, friend, Wilt thou be this young woman's husband, Wilt thou sometimes beat and cudgel her, etc. Here the Bridegroom solemnly protests to do the office of a good man. And then turning his speech to the Bride, he asketh her, if she be sufficient for a husband (for their Maids of ten, and eleven years old marry) Will she have a care of the household affairs etc. which she affirms. Then the Priest puts on either of their heads a Garland made of Boughs, in the circumference whereof is written in Russee letters, Increase and multiply. While he doth this, many wax candles are lighted, and a bowl full of Mead is then given to the Priest which ●ee drinks all off to the new coupled at one draught, and they cheerfully pledge him and then return him the cup again. After many preceding ceremonies, the Bridegroom taking G Fletcher Russee Commonwealth ●. 22. the Bride by the hand t●ey go on together with their friends after them towards the Church-porch, where he is met by s●me with pots and cups in their hands full of Mead (the Ruff proper wine) whereof the Bridegroom taketh first a Cha●k or little cup full in his hand and drinketh to the B●●de, who opening her hood or veil below, putteth the cup to her mouth underneath it (for being seen of the Bridegroom) pledgeth him again. The Romans in the Nuptial supper, gave the new married Ovid. l. 4. Fastorum. Ad. Tu●ne●. advers. l. 28. c 45 Fulvius Ur●nu●. couple the juice of Poppy tempered with milk and honey. The Ancients did use honey in all their Sweetmeats, as we do Sugar, indeed they knew not what Sugar was. The Romans used honey in their first service at their feasts, as also in their second. And indeed formerly no kinds of meat, but were with the use of honey made more acceptable. Pythagoras usually fed on honey, and Honeycombs, because Lilii Greg. Sy●ald. Symb, ● 2. Calvin in Esaiam c. 9 Aristot. de Mirabilibus auscultat. they were prepared without man's labour, and were a kind of heavenly food. To this day the jews give Infants a taste of butter and honey before they suck. Among the Illirians was first of all the use of Mead, which in Aristotle's time the Greeks were scarce acquainted with. CHAP. XXIII. Of Tree-bony. THere was anciently, and is still Tree-hony, as well as Beehony. And this Tree-hony is of two sorts, either a plentiful honeydew, which might be gathered; or else sweet saps or juices drawn out, or concocted from several sorts of trees and fruits, to the consistence, taste, and likeness of honey. Of the first sort it is reported that near the Cospian sea, there Mr. Anton. Co●ci● Sabel▪ lici E●n. 4. l. 5. are plenty of trees with leaves like Oaks, yielding much honey, but it must be gathered before the rising of the Sun, for the rays thereof quickly consume, and waste it. In Arabia Naba●bea, they gather honey plentifully of the Diodo. Sic. Bib▪ lioth. l. 19▪ Trees, which they call Wild honey, of which, mixed with water, they use to drink. There is a Tree called Occhus in the valleys of Hireania that L. Ve●ul. cent. 7. c. 612. distilleth honey in the mornings. In Lydia there is plenty of honey gathered of the Trees of Arist. de Mirabil▪ ●uscul. which the inhabitants make loaves, or lumps of such hardness, that without many blows, they cannot be broken. The inhabitants of Mount Libanus spread hides under the Mouffet Theatrum Insect. ●. 1. c. 5. trees, and then shake and beat them, and after gather up the honey, which they reserve in earthen pots. The Maguey is a Tree of wonders, it yields Hony, Water, J. Acosta natural and moral hist. of the Indies l. 4. c. 23. Wine, Oil, Vinegar, Syrup, Thread, Needles, and a thousand other things. It is a tree which the Indians esteem much in new Spain, and have commonly in their dwellings some one of them for the maintenance of life: It grows in the fields, and hath great and large leaves, at the ends whereof is a strong and sharp point which serves to fasten little pins, or to sow as a needle. And they draw out of this leaf as it were a kind of thread which they use. This liquor being sodden, turns like Wine, which grows to Vinegar, suffering it to sour, and boiling it more, it becomes as honey, and boiling it half, it serves as Syrup. Below by the root of the Magueis Tree, the Indians make a Hackluits Voyages first part job. Hort. hole, whereat they take out twice a day a certain kind of liquor which they seethe in a great kettle, until the third part be consumed, and then it waxeth thick, it is as sweet as any Hen. Hawk ibid. honey. It is not so sweet as the honey (saith another) of Bee●, but it is better to be eaten with bread. In and about the City of Themisti●an, besides the honey of Fernand. Cort. t●sela. 2. relation apud Rh●m●s. 3. volume. He●●eradecad. 8. l. 5. c. 1. Bees, is honey of the Canes of Maiz, which Canes yield very much honey, and as sweet as the juice of the Sugar-cane. In Sancta Cruse, and the Country about it, which is in the Province of Tucuman grow sweet Canes, of which they make very good honey. The fruit of the Palm-trees growing about jericho, being trodden Geor Cedreus hist. compend. Bedade sanct. loc●● c. 14. and pressed out, yield great quantity of honey. There grow trees in Palestina with broad and round leaves of a milky-colour, and a honey taste, very brittle by nature, which they eat, rubbing them in their hands. This a certain Bishop, Baron. A●nal. Eccles. ●. 10. called Archulphus, who had visited the Holy-land, supposeth to be the wild-honey that john Baptist lived of in the wilderness. But others say, It was a mountain-hony made by wild Bees, Is●dor▪ Pelusiot 132. l. 5. Theophil●in Evang. Ma●a ● 3. bitter, and unpleasant to the palate. Theophilact wild honey was made by wild Bees in trees and rocks. They get the Palm-wine after this sort in Cong●, they bore a hole near the top of the tree, whence flows a liquor which they Ia●tic. Thes●●●▪ indicu●. receive into pots fastened underneath, at first it is in taste and colour like milk, it quickly ●oureth. In Crangan●● they make honey of it after this manner, within Novus orbis. Iosophu● Indicus. three days (for after of its own nature, it proves vinegar) they boil it in Caldrons, or Kettles until two parts be wasted, and then it is very sweet honey. Of this honey mixed with water, and purged twenty days together, they make an excellent sweet wine. I might speak of the Indian Palm, or Coco-tree, which likewise yields honey, but I will add no more. CHAP. XXIV. Of Wax. WAx is either natural or artificial, the natural Wax is the gross part of the combs, containing the honey and Bee-bread, sometimes the Seminaries for generation. And this is either Virgin-wax, or of a courser fo●t: the Virgin-wax is that Helle●iu● l. 6. Institut Chyrurg. c. 1. which is made by a swarm, or a stock new driven, not that only which is made by the younger Bees, as Hellerius, for they work altogether. This is called by some Propolis, as Aldrovand. observes out Actuar▪ de compos med● of Actuaries. And Scrib●nius Largus, It might be expected, that I should speak somewhat of Propolis, Commosis, Mity, and Pissocera, used anciently in Physic, and supposed to be made by the Bees. But I can find no agreement among Philosophers, nor yet Physicians what they are, and am certain that they are not what Aristotle, Pliny, and others determine them to be, and therefore I will leave the discussion to others. Only in a word, Mity saith Aristotle, is the black dross of wax of a sharp Arist. de hist. anim. l. 9 c 64▪ Scalig. come. in loc. smell, I suppose he means the feces of the wax when it is melted and strained; Propolis seems, saith Scaliger a translative surname of Mity. Caza translates it Commosis, but Pliny, make a difference Plin, lib. 11. ● 7 between Commosis, and Propolis, wherefore Scaliger was of opinion, that Commosis and Mity were different things. Scribonius takes Virgin-wax (as before) for Propolis▪ Silvaticus▪ ●●kes it for the dregs of the combs, but amiss, saith Mouffet, and yet he would have it to be Hive dros●, but whether of a Swarm or a Stock he declares not; between which is a great difference; Andrea's Bellunensis, the filth or dross of the sides of the Hive; I subscribe to Sylva●icus; Propolis is as much as suburb dross, with which the Bees fasten the skirts of the Hive to the board; it is not saith Mouffet now to be found. Wax is thus made by the Bees; they creeping upon the Flowers with their sangs and tongue, as Aristotle and others say, extract a gummy and viscuous matter, which they receive with their fore-feets, and rubbing them on the thighs of their hind●ee●, there fasten it, very little at a time, and scarcely visible. Mouffet saith, the burden is of the bigness of a lentil on either thigh, and that it is of divers colours, according to the nature of the Flowers, yellow, pale, red, Saffron colour, white, black, etc. but he and many others were mistaken, taking Bee-bread for Wax. The best Wax is somewhat yellow, fat, pure, odoriferous, Dioscor. l. ●. ●. ●. Plin. lib. ●●. c. 14 and expressing in some sort a scent of honey; Dioscorides commends the Pontic or Cretan, Pliny commends the Punic, and it is called Punic, saith jacobus Dalechampius, because it is the whitest. Artificial Wax is that whereto the perfection of it the skill and industry of man is required, and this is variously performed; Johannes Anglicus in ro●a anglica, lib. 5. c. 1 two ways are set down by Anglicus, First, that the Wax should be often melted, every time taking new water until it be white. Another way is thus, that when it is dissolved in the water by the fire, to dip into it a Glass vial, or vessel clean rinsed, and that which sticks to it let it be dried in the Sun, and Moon; and this so long continued until you have gathered up all the Wax, and then set it abroad in the open air, for it grows white by the force of the Sun (that I say nothing of water) because so the honey is taken out of it, and those parts expire by whose thinness the colour is made. Wax as it is newer, so it is better, for it is more odoriferous, putrer, and apt to take impressions, Wax is worst at the bottom, best at the top, so that it be not frothy. The Bees gather Wax all the year, from the blowing of the Mr. Remnant. Willow to the I●i●. In old Wax saith Aristotle, there is bred small white Creatures, the least of creatures, called Acari, in regard of the smallness, not divisible, I suppose he means Mites, which are bred also in many other things. The Kingdom of Cha●dec●●, watered with the river Ganges, Fran●is. Fernandus is plentifully stored with Wax, which in abundance the people find in the Woods, and therewith supply Bengala, and a great part of India. The Li●●nia●● knew not the use of Wax, and therefore Aloysius Cadomustus. pressing out the honey threw it away; Cadomustus reports the like ignorance of the Africans in M●uritania. From the Coast of M●li●dio, near adjoining to Madagascar, there is brought one thousand five hundred T●● of Wax yearly to Indi●. Io. Leo, lib. ● Tecule●● a Town of Hea sendeth Wax into Portugal; and to Temfethne resort ships from Portugal for Wax. In F●●▪ on Mahome●s Birthday the Scholars of every School, Idem, lib. 3. which are two hundred, celebrate a Feast, when the Fathers are bound to send each man a Torch unto the School, whereupon every Boy carrieth a Torch in his hand, some of which weigh thirty pound; these Torches are most curiously made, being adorned round about with divers fruits, of Wax, which being lighted betimes in the morning do burn till Sun rising, when the solemnity ceaseth. This day useth to be very gainful unto the Schoolmasters, for they sell the remnant of the Wax upon the Torches for above a hundred Ducats. The Persians in old time, and also the Africans had a custom Funeral ●●tich●d● Tho▪ 〈◊〉. ●●●▪ Goodwin, Rom. antiquit. lib. ●. c. 7. stome to wrap up in Wax their dead, that so they might preserve them for a long time. The Romans in the B●rial of a Senator or chief Officer, had certain waxen Images of all his Predecessors carried before him on long Spears. Wax was much used anciently, to make the Images of eminent persons deceased, as also in our days, which by many circumstances (as appears) were borrowed of the Romans; who when the deceased Emperor was to be consecrated, the whole City gave over all exercises, as if it had been a Festival day; First, they burned the dead Body with sumptuous exequys, and then they made an Image of Wax as like as was possible to the deceased, and set it in the porch of the Palace upon a great bed of Ivory, placed aloft, and covered all over with cloth of gold; this Image lay pale on the Bed as if it had been a Sick Person, about the bed sat a great part of the day all the Senators clothed in black, and on the left side the Ladies, that in regard of their Husbands, or Fathers, were most illustrious, and none of them did wear any gold, or any other ornament about their necks, but were all clothed in pure white garments, and by their countenance seemed very sorrowful, and they continued thus in this guise seven days; but every day the Physicians came to the body, and made show of feeling the sick Parties pulse, and always reported that he grew worse and worse, until in the end they said he was dead. As soon as they had declared him dead, the most noble and proper young men of the Order of the Senators and Cavaliers li●ted the bed on their shoulders, and carried it by the Sacred way into the ancient Market, where the Roman Magistrates were accustomed to lay by, and renounce their command and authority. In this place was erected a Tribunal of Wood, which seemed to be of stone, on which was framed a certain edifice, sustained on every side with Pillars, and variously garnished with Ivory and Gold, on which was laid another Bed with ornaments of Purple and Gold woven together, and about it, were the heads of divers Sea and Land creatures; now in this Bed they placed this Image of Wax triumphantly adorned, which they had brought from the Palace, and there stood a very fair youth with a fan of Peacock's Feathers to scare away the Flies, as if the Emperor slept. In the mean time while the Image lay there, the living Emperor, the Senate, and their Wives drew near to the Bed, until they were all met together, there the Ladies ●ate under the Porch, but the Senators open; on both sides of the Market were set up Scaffolds to ascend on, which on one side were a Quite of noble youths, all pa●ricians, and on the side a Quite of illustrious Women, which sung Hymns and other Songs in honour of the dead, with sad and mournful voices. But I must play the Procrustes with this Discourse, and refer them that desire to know further, to Dion, or Herodian Greek Historians. CHAP. XXV. Observations and Discourses Historical, and Fabulous. BEfore the battle of Phasilon Bees lighted on the Altar, and also Rosir●s Roman. Antiq. l. 3. c. 9 Dion Rome▪ histol. 41. Appian l. ●. julius Capitolinus. on the ships, presaging Pomp●es overthrow; and therefore when in the Army of Bru●us, there settled a swarm of Bees, the Soothsayers bade him to shift his Camp, le●t he should receive loss and damage in that place. All the Statues of Antoninus Pius in Hetruria were filled with swarms of Bees, which were ominous presages of his Empire. It was ever esteemed as an ill omen for swarms of Bees to Cornel. Tacitus l. ●●. light in places where they were not accustomed, and therefore reported as a presage of the death of Cloudius, that a swarm of Bees settled on the Capitol. One speaking of the prodigies that did precede the battle of Silius Italicus. Canna, saith, that swarms of Bees lighted on their Ensigns. Nec densae trepidis apumse involvere ●●b●s Cessarum Aquilis. Among the many Prodigies ominating Brutu●'s destruction, Appian de be●lo civili l. 4. Plin. swarms of Bees lighted in his Camp. Swarms of Bees settled in the Camp of Diusus when he fought prosperously at Arbala. Ambrose sleeping in his swaddling clothes having his mouth Baronius Annal. Eccles. ●. 10. Cicero divina. ●. Val Max. l. ●. c 6. ● Sa●isher. de nugis cu ●●l l. ●. c 13. justin l. ●3. ● 〈◊〉▪ s●● de n●gis curi●l. l. ●. c▪ 13. open, a swarm of Bees came and settled on his mouth, which the father and mother walking by, forbade the Maid that tended him to brush off, where a while continuing, at last they flew up into the air, until they could be seen no more. Pla●● sleeping in his swaddling clothes, the Bees brought honey to his lips, foretelling the singular sweetness of his eloquence. Hiero sometimes chief Magistrate of Sicilia the son of Hier●cli●u●, a Nobleman, who drew his original from Celus, an ancient Tyrant of Sicily, but his mother's stock was mean and contemptible, for he was born of a Maidservant, and therefore as a disparagement to his father's race, was cast forth, whom the Bees (wanting all humane help) said with honey, which being known, the father by the Augurs counsel received again, and brought up as the Heir of the Kingdom. Aelian citing Anten●r, reports that the inhabitants of a certain Aelian l. 2. c. 53 City in Cr●ta were forced to forsake their dwellings by certain Bees called Chosichoides, which did miserably molest, and sting them. The Citizens of Marra, two day's journey from Antlich, Willer▪ Tyr▪ archiep●●▪ ●i●t▪ lib. ●9. & R●imun●▪ de Agiles Hist Franc●●um Appi●n de bello Mith●ydat. Bonfin. l. 4. decad. 3. being besieged by Go●frey Duke of Bullen, among other things which they threw over the walls to drive away their enemies, cast over Hives full of Bees. Lucul●us Army besieging Themis●yra situate on the banks of the River Thermod●o●, and by Mines seeking to overthrow the w●lls, the inhabitants opened them above, and threw in Hives of Bees among them to their great trouble and vexation. When Amu●ah the Great Turk besieged Alba Greca, the Inhabitants, besides other things, cast Hives of Bees among the Turks, whereby they were greatly annoyed. A Captain of the Emperor's being besieged by Giselbert Vitichindus l. 1 gest. Sax. the King of Lorraine, restrained the enemies when they entered the place, by casting hives of Bees; for the horses being enraged with their st●n●s, overthrew their Riders, or were altother unserviceable. Lupus Barriga warring with the M●ors in Mauritania, and O orius de ●e● bus Em●n. l. 8. besieging a Town called Torn●t, the Inhabitants being at the last cast, threw over the walls abundance of hives of Bees, set on fire, wherewith the P●r●●ng●ls were so burnt, and stung, that they were forced to give over, with the wounding of their General, and many others. Cozenours and Cheaters were thus anciently punished, they Suida●. divested the guilty person of his clothes, and then anointed him with honey all over his body, and set him in the Sun with his hands and feet fast bound, that by many reiterated stingings, and the Sun's heat, they might receive a death, worthy of their life. Georgius Brawn l. 4. u●bium pre●i●●ar. In Sivil a City of Spain; if a woman bears her husband▪ she is carried on an Ass through the City naked from the g●dle-sted upwards, and being first anointed with honey, besides other despites, and injuries, suffers not a little misery from the Bees, Wasps, and Flies that molest and sting her. Marcus an old man in the reign of Constantine, overthrew Theo●dore. l. 3. c. 7. an Idol Temple at Arethusa, and was taken under julian the Apostate, and first scourged on his naked body, and after other punishments, in the last place put in a basket, being all over anointed with honey, and so set abroad, whom the Bees (thinking he had robbed them) stung therefore to death. Hermonay the son of Amymer, and Lysodic● being a child, and coming to the Hives to rob the Bees, was killed with their stings. Onesilus the brother of Gorgus King of Salami● in the Isle Herodot. Hallear. Terpsichore. l. 5. of Cyprus, fight against Artybius a Persian General, was slain, and his head cut off, and hanged over the gates of Amathusium, a City in the same Island, which he had sometimes before besieged; into which when it was empty, a swarm of Bees entered, and filled it with combs, this is reported at a Prodigy (and doth not prejudice the cleanliness of Bees) for consulting the Oracle, they advised to take down the head and bury it. Livonia is replenished with stately Woods, and those furnished Purchas Pilgrims 3. part. l. 3. c 20. with industrious Bees, which sometimes being numerous, are put to hard shifts for habitations. Mr. Barkley an English Merchant, did in one of these Woods eat honey out of a man's skull, wherein a swarm of Bees were, and bred as it hanged. It is reprorted that in the Sepulchre of Hypocrates, the Prince of Physicians, for a long time a swarm of Bees lived, and wrought honey in it, and that this happened extraordinarily, is concluded, because that Nurse's anointing children's mouths near the grave, with the honey easily cured them. D●onisius the son of Hermocrates swimming over a River Aelian. var. hist. l. 12. c. 40. upon his horse, his horse was mired, and could not be pulled out by any means, he leapt off his back, and go● safely to the ba●k, and so forsook the horse as no longer his: But the horse followed after, and neighed, whereupon he returned, and when h●…old on his Ma●●o mount up, a swarm of Bees encompassed his hand, which hung on his Man● a presage of his future command and Empire. The Tr●ph●nion Oracle was thus found out: When as a P●usanias in Beoticis. year or two together, there was no rain, some were sent from every City to Delphos to implore help. To whom desiring a remedy for the drought, Apoll● commanded them to go to Labadea, and seek a remedy for their evil of Trophonius. Going therefore to Labadea, but not able to find the Oracle. S●on one of the Ambassadors an old man, when he had espied a swarm of Bees, resolved to follow them whithersoever they went. When therefore he saw them flying to a Cave, he entered in, and understood that place was the Oracle which they sought for. Comates feeding the flock of his rich Master in Sicily; was Theocritus l 1. ●●rat. Eidyl. 7. sometimes accustomed to offer somewhat of his flock to the Muses; which when his Master knew, he reproved him very sharply, whom Comates entreats not to be angry, for by the Muses help there should be a large remuneration. Go to, saith his Master, let us make trial whether the Muses will feed thee, and enclosed him in a hollow tree, and there left him to perish with famine. And at the years end returning, found his servant alive, and well, and many Hony-combs about him, for the Bees by a hole had entered into the tree, and maintained him. The Bee master being absent, one came and stole the combs Aesop. Fab. 85. out of the Hive, who afterwards returning found his Bees plundered, and while he stood still a while to examine and corsider concerning the author of i●: The Bees came home from work and finding their house robbed, and him standing by, did fall upon him, and cruelly sting him. To whom he thus spoke, Oh you wicked creatures, you let go unhurt him that rob you, and punish me ●t a●am careful of your safety. Melissa one of the Oread Nymphs finding Honeycombs in Natal. Com. Mythyolog. l. 5. c. 11. Pelopenesus, invited her follows to taste thereof, with the sweetness whereof they were so ravished that the Grecians called the Bees by the name of that Nymph. jacobus Sanno●arius that excellent Poet, hath his figure cut Sands relat. l. 4. to the life in Mergelli●a (near Naples where he lived) from whose mouth the Bees do seem as it were to suck honey. Livy doth relate that there was found two Coffins of lead in Tet●inius. a tomb, whereof one contained the body of King N●ma; being some four hundred years after his death; and the other his books of sacred Rites and Ceremonies. And that in the Coffin that had the body, there was nothing at all to be seen, but a little light cinders about the sides, but in the Coffin that had the books, they were found as fresh as if they had been but newly written, covered over with watch candles of wax, three or fourfold. Agesipolis a King of the Lacedæmonians dying of a Fever Xenophon de rebus gestis Grecorum, l. 5. near the City of Clynthia was preserved in honey, and so carried to Sparta, where he had a royal Funeral. Claudius' Caesar had a Hippocentaure, a Monster, part horse, Cael. Rhod. lect. of't. l. 6. c. ● par bull, brought out of Egyp in honey, which Pli●y saith he saw. A●s●ith the widow of King Edgar, sometimes Monarch of this Island, traitorously slew King Edward his son, that her son Rob. Glecestrensis. Ethelred his brother in law might (as he did) succeed him. Some ten years of age was he when his brother Edward was slain, and he out of childish affection wept for him bitterly; which his mother extremely disliking, being author of the murder, only for his sake, most cruelly, beat him herself, with a handful of Wax-candles. So that he would never endure Vit. S. Ed apud Ranulph. Cestren. l. 6. Wax-candles. But another Writer saith that Ethelred would never endure any Wax-candles, because he had seen his mother unmercifully with them, whip his brother in Law, King Edward, either report may be true. Now the Sword and Sceptre is taken from the jews, instead Purchas Pilgrimage l. 2. c. 19 ex Buxtorf. of other penalties they inflict sharp penances according to the nature of the crime. Thus the Adulterer satisfieth for his hot lust in cold water, wherein he is enjoined to sit some Winter days; and if the water be frozen, the Ice is cut out, and he set therein up to his chin, as long as an egg is roasting. In Summer time he is set naked in an anthill his nose, and ears stopped, and after washeth himself in cold water. If the penance seem lighter, they enjoin him further to run through a swarm of Bees, and when the swelling of his body through their stinging is abated, he must do it again, and again, according to the measure of his offence. If he hath often that way offended, he is bound to endure that penance many years. Hunding the 23. King of Sweadland, upon a false report of Krantzius. his brother in Law Hadings death, King of Denmark, invited all his Nobility to a sumptuous feast, to conclude which, he had provided a very large vessel of Mead, of which he drew out himself to them until they were all drunk, and then in token of love to his supposed dead friend, plunged himself into the vessel, and so was willingly drowned (but ridiculously and I. Magnus hist. Suconum. foolishly) some applaud and prefer him therefore, before many heroical Greeks and Romans. Hostilia is a Town in Italy, watered by the River P●, the Plin. Nat. hist. l. 21. c. 12. inhabitants whereof (when meat for Bees grows scarce about them) carry their Hives into Boats, and by night convey them up five miles against the stream. In the morning the Bees go forth to their work, and so do they shift places, ascending up the River, till by the sinking of the Boat, they know their Hives to be full of honey, and then return they home, and take it. What is the reason why among the Sarmatians there is Ambros. Leo Problem. 180. plenty of honey, and in Africa small store of Bees? And he renders this as a reason, the plenty of trees, and variety of flowers, which in a few days after the snow is dissolved, embroider all the fields, and the many Fountains and Rivers wherewith they are much delighted. Whereas in Africa, the fruits and the flowers by the violent heat are quickly withered, and the waters are scarce, so that of necessity those things being wanting wherein Bees delight, there must needs be few, or in some places none at all. His reason is not worth an answer, had he been read in history, he might have learned the contrary. Io. Leo, Ioa●n does santos would have (besides many other credible Authors) convinced him of the plenty of Bees in Africa. But no wonder if he were a stranger abroad that was ignorant of Countries near home. He affirms that in Germany, France, Britain, Italy, there are none, or few Bees, because (if you will believe him) there are few trees, fruits, waters. In Angola they have great store of honey, which they thus Andrew B●tel in Purchas Pilgrims second part 17. c. 3. procure, they hang in the top of the Eliconde tree a hollow piece of wood, or chest, which the wild Bees being there numerous, quickly find, and laboriously fill once in a year with honey and wax; which the Negroes than take with smoke, rewarding the industrious creatures with robbery, exile, death. It will not be altogether impertinent to give you a description of this tree, with which the Bees are more delighted than any other. The Eliconde-tree is very tall, and exceeding great, some as big as twelve men can fathom; spreading like an Oak, some of them are hollow, and from the liberal skies, receive such plenty of water, that they are hospitable entertainers of thousands in that thirsty Region. Once have I known three or four thousand remain at one of those trees, and thence receiving all their marry provision. The Negroes climb up with pegs of hard wood (which that softer easily receiveth, the smoothness, not admitting other climbing) and I think that some one tree holds forty run of water. This tree affords no less bountiful hospitality to the back, than belly, yielding (as her belly to their bellies) her back to their backs, excepting that this is better from the younger trees, whose tenderer backs being more seasonable for discipline, are sound beaten for man's fault; whence came the first nakedness, whereby one fat home cut from the tree, is extended into twenty, and is presently fit for wearing, though not so fine as the the juzanda tree yields, which▪ yields excellent cloth from the inner bark. This tree is always green, of a strange form, especially in the Linschoten's ●. Book. branches that grow very high, and cast down very small threads, which touching the earth do bring forth roots, from whence other plant's o● trees do spring forth most abundantly in great numbers. By like beating of their Palm, they make Velvets, Satins, Taffetas, etc. But I deviate too far from my subject. Beat Rhenan. annot. in 1. lib. Tertul. advers. Martion. And Thevet. Gosmograph● de Levant. c. 7. The burning of Waxen-candles on Candlemass-day had its original from the Roman Sacrifices called Pebruals. Bears are much tormented in their eyes, which is a principal cause why they so much desire to eat honey out of the Hives, that being pricked, and stung with the Bees, their throat, especially receives a phlebotomy, or blood-letting, for they have no better remedy to ease their brain and eyes burdened, and overcharged with humous. In the Island of S●ylan are certain barbarous people called Texeira l. 1. c. 35. Pa●bus, they live naked in the woods and thickets, their principal food is Dears flesh, whereof there is great abundance, which they shoot and kill with their arrows, and cutting them in pieces, filling the trunks of old hollow trees with honey, whereof they have plenty, than they put the flesh therein, and let it remain there till times of necessity, and then eat it, conserving it only in the honey, without any corruption. In the Country of Benin on the coast of Africa, is such plenty Hackluit ● Voyages, 2. part of the 2 Volume. of honey, that the Natives bring to the English trading there, earthen pots of the quantity of two gallons full of honey, and hony-combs for a hundred shells. About Sofala, and generally in the Oriental Ethiopia, breed Joaon. does Santos liuro primeiro da Ethiop. Orient c. 23. Zangaons' (if I be not not mistaken, Bees) after this manner. They make a ball of clay, and stick it in the walls or tiles of their houses, with many holes after the fashion of a Bees, or Waspes-comb, and in every hole they put a Worm or Maggot, like those that breed in Cabbages, some green, others black, others white, others grey; so that they are not all of one kind, or cast; but whatsoever they find, they take and carry it unto the comb that they have made of clay, and in every hole they put a worm, and stop it up with fresh clay, and so enclose all the worms in their several cells, and there within they generate other Zangaons', (or Bees) (understand by generation of others, only their transmutation, whereby they are others from what they were, and the following words import as much) with legs and wings, which when they are perfected, eat through the clay, and come forth, and sly, and after they are grown great, they make a like brood. So that of strange children of divers casts or kinds, they make proper children. A thing, saith the Author which much amazed me. But whether these make honey, or are any ways beneficial to them, the Relator is silent; but being a general practice, it is more than probable that they are some way profitable. Great is the profit of Bees in some places, Varro reports of Varro. two brethren in Spain, who had left them by their father a little Farm house, and about an Acre of ground which they replenished with Bees, and seldom made less of their honey, than ten thousand Ses●ertia yearly, a prodigious, and I think unparelleld increase. Menna a Hermit in the Province of the Samnites, had for his subsistence, only a few Hives of Bees, which when a Lo●gobard thief had stolen, he was possessed of the Devil, till Menna by his prayers freed him. Heraclius the Emperor having War with the Persia●s, Baron. annal. Eccles. ●. 8 and wanting money (the people being before impoverished by him, sent one Nicotas to Alexander the Patriarch to borrow of him the Treasures of that Church (as he did of others) who notwithstanding his refusal, carried away all he could find but only one hundred pound of Gold; but while they were going away with it, there were certain men that brought, as a Present, several Pots of Hony (which by a Miracle) to supply the Patriarches necessities, when they opened them they found all turned into Gold. I subscribe not to some Papists, who pretend there is a Valfridus, Strabus, lib. 2. in vita S. Galli. great Majesty in their Holies (whole-lyes) from the burning of Waxen Candles, and that wax candles for that purpose used, cannot without great Sacrilege be taken away. A certain Countryman stole a wax candle from the Altar, and found it turned into a stony hardness, whereby melting, he acknowledged his guilt before many that stood by, and the wax candle recovered his former softness. I might be large in such Legendary relations, but these are enough, if not too many. CHAP. XXVI. Observations Physical and ●hyrurgical. THe use of Honey with Bread to old folks makes them live long for it keeps and preserves all the senses sound and entire. It is reported that Pollio being asked by what means men might live long and healthy, answered, by anointing their outward parts with Oil, their inward parts with Hony. The fruit therefore of the Bees, saith Ambrose, is desired of all, and is equally sweet to Kings and Beggars; and it is not only pleasing to Princes, but also profitable and healthful, it sweetens their mouths, cures their wounds, and convaies remedies to inward Ulcers. Democritus continued his life with the frequent eating of Honey; and bread with Honey was the Pythagorians meat. Aristoxenu● said, they might live long without Diseases who Atheneus dipnosophist. l. 2. c. 3 Gorop. Becant Nilostop. lib. 3 always said of it at dinner. Goropius commends the honey gathered of the Heath, before the Spanish honey gathered of Laudanum, and divers kinds of Costus, and that because it is sweeter, and not so hot as the honey gathered of Stechadoes and Thyme; it opens obstructions, attenuates gross and thick, cuts and cleanseth viscuous humours, and is especially profitable for those that are troubled with the spleen. Pliny most of all commends that honey which the Bees gather in the Dogg-dayes, almost thirty days after the Solstice, for saith he, after the rising of every Star, especially the greater ones, or the Rainbow, if showers follow not, and there be a warm dew with the rays of the Sun, Medicines, not honey are produced, heavenly gifts for the eyes, ulcers, and bowels, which if it be preserved, the Dog-star being risen, and if by chance it fall out in the same day there be a rising of Venus, or jupiter, or Mercury, there is no such sweetness nor virtue in the supposed heavenly Nectar, to keep Mortals from Diseases, though otherwise deadly; but we have little of this in our Country, where the Hony-gathering is then almost finished, but that which is found in the lower parts of the combs, and some little that is not shut up with waxen covers. Hony is hot and dry in the second degree, wherefore Galen forbids it such as were Hectical, have a Fever, or the Jaundice, and young men; but commends it very much in cold effects, and prescribes it to such as had moist stomaches, for moderately eating of it, it wonderfully nourisheth, and causeth both a good colour and constitution. Honey with age or long boiling becomes bitter; it gives life to Wine when it is flat, Flowers, Fruits, and all simple and compound Medicines by mixture of it are preserved from putrefaction. Hony corrupts by crumbs of Bread, and therefore they that sell honey, are careful lest children passing by dip their bread in it, and so it is transmuted into Ants, or little Creatures like them, if we believe Paracelsus. Paracelsus. Hippocrat. Hony mixed with other things nourisheth, and makes a good colour, but eaten alone attenuates rather than refresheth, for it provoketh urine, and purgeth too much. Hony warms and clears Wounds and Ulcers, attenuates Galen & Avicen. and discusseth excrescencies in any part of the body. It is very effectual to produce hair in baldness, for Quotidian Galen. Agues, especially oil of honey distilled. Distilled water of honey makes a smooth skin, provokes urine, diminisheth heat in Fevers, easeth the obstructions of the bowels, quencheth thirst. The salt of honey of all Corrosives is least painful, and most energetical, and therefore in the flesh of the yard by Chemics, and expert Chyrurgians especially commended. The Epicures who chiefly studied health and pleasure, did eat continually Ambrosia, which consisted of a tenth part of Tzeizes. honey, as Tzetzes reports, concluding that the daily use thereof would prevent griefs, and keep them free from Diseases. Hony infused warm by itself wonderfully helps, exulcerated Galenus. ears, especially if they cast forth ill favours, as also their sing and inflammations. Hony, Butter, and Oil of Roses, of each a like quantity Marcellus Empyricu●. warm, helps the pain of the ears; he also commends Honey, and infant's dung brayed together in the dulness of the sight, and for white spots in the eyes. The rheum or droppings of the eyes in men or horses are Vigetius: hereby helped, I have cured a Horse stone blind with Honey and Salt, and a little crock of a pot mixed, in less than three days, it hath eaten off a tough film, and the Horse never complained after. Hony wherein Bees are drowned, or Ashes of the heads of Marcellus Empyrious. Bees, with honey, clear the eyes; Antic honey, with the first dung of a young infant, and the milk of the Nurse mingled together, and anoint the eyes that are dull upon what occasion soever, but first bind the party, for such is the violence of the Medicine that he cannot otherwise patiently endure it, and the benefit is so forcible, that in the third day it will make a clear sight. Nothing is better for infants that breed Teeth, or in the Ulcers of the mouth than butter and honey; Galen prescribes only the gums to be rubbed with it, for it conduceth wonderfully to the generation, conservation, and whiteness of teeth: for difficulty of breathing, and to cause spitting, honey alone or mixed, is very Hippocrat. available. Hony boiled with Bees, or new Cheese, stayeth a looseness, Galenus & Celsus. Abynzoar. helps the Bloudyflux and Colic. But before honey be used it is necessary to clarify it; Thus, take of honey and fountain water of each two pound, continually scum it as it ariseth, to the consumption of the water, afterwards clarify it with the whites of twelve eggs. Hony nourisheth not only because it is a kind of nourishment, Valleriola in locis come. lib. 3 but also because mixed with other things, it is a cause that they are more easily carried through the body; and he counsels old men to use it much, if they would have a care of their health, and live long without Diseases, and he asserts it by the examples of Antiochus the Physician, and Telephus the Grammarian, who were old men, and did eat Attic honey and bread; and Galen Galen lib. 3. de sanitat ●uend. c. 4. etc. 8 testifieth the same, with often eating honey boiled, seldom raw, and yet Galen forbids long, or too much boiling, because it will make it bitter. Celsus reckons up boiled honey among such things as stop a Cornelius Celcus, lib. ●. c. 3 Lask, the reason is, because the acrimony by boiling is taken away, which is wont to move the belly, and to diminish the virtue of the food. The bodies of Bees taken newly from the Hives, and powdered, and drunk with Diuretic wine, powerfully cures the Dropsy, and breaks the Stone, opens the fountains of urine, and heals and helps the stoppages in the bladder. Bees drowned in honey, and so killed, stay vomitings, and are profitable for deafness. Bee's powdered cure the Wind-colic, mollify hard ulcers in the lips, and also the Bloudyflux. Hony mixed with powdered Bees and so taken, is helpful for Holler●u●. the crudities of the stomach, it is also good for the stomach. Pound Bees dead and dry in the combs, mingle them with Galen in Euporistis. honey, and anoint bald places of the head, and the hairs will spring afresh. The ashes of Bees ground with oil, make hair white. ●rotis, c. 6. de mo●bis mulieb●. Take twelve or fourteen Bees powdered, in any thing every morning, and it helps such whose retentive faculty is weak, so that they cannot hold their water. Oxymel is made of water, vinegar, and honey, now water is Mesue. mingled with it, that by long boiling that may be resolved or loosened which the windiness raiseth up, and that it may be more readily skimmed. In a word, that the working of the Medicine, by the mixing of water might be weaker, and more easily dispersed into the body, and honey is added to resist the phlegm. One ounce of honey and vinegar mixed together ariseth a certain third faculty which was in neither of them before, which is most powerful and certain to attenuate, cut, resolve thick and tough excrements, which have been bred a long time in the Stomach and Liver, and those that settle on the joints, and cause lasting Agues. It is made thus, take of vinegar one part, two parts honey, and twice as much water as honey; first, let the honey and water be boiled, and when they have been well skimmed put in the vinegar, and boil them still, continually skimming them, let them boil till there be an unity of qualities, and the vinegar be Galen. lib. 4, de sanitat. t●end. not raw, or crude, it is given from one ounce to three; Galen saith, if you will make it the stronger, add as much vinegar as honey; it drives out thick and gross humours, and is profitable for the Sciatica, Falling-sickness, and the Gout; good also to gargarize with, in a Squinancy. Water distilled of honey four times by a Limbick, so that the honey were first boiled, makes beautiful hair, kills Lice and Nits; the hair wet there with doth not only become yellow, but softer, and increaseth likewise, especially if it be done in the Sun; it heals swollen or bloodshotten eyes, and helps the hurt corners of the eyes, it is excellent for burnt places, most of all for such as are soft and tender, so that no scar will be left. It must be distilled in a Glass Still, but first mix with it pure and well washed Sand, and make a soft fire. The first water is cast away, the second is preserved, which hath a golden colour, and red at the last; the red purgeth out corruption in putrid wounds if they be washed with it, and a linen cloth moistened in it, be laid upon them, and when it hath purged them, it produceth flesh. Hony when it is distilling is wont to swell, and flow over when it grows hot, this is prevented when the distillation is performed by a wooden Sieve (made with hair) being placed within the cover, so that it toucheth the honey. Reubeus distilleth it otherwise, and adds other cautions: he Hieron. Rubeus, sect. 2. c. 8 saith, the water is with difficulty drawn out of the honey, because it readily as the fire grows hot, ascends to the top; wherefore some mingle glass with it, others sand, the most do anoint the Still within with oil; but it is best distilled especially where they purpose to use the dregg●, by wetting linen clothes in water continually, and spreading them on the head and sides of the Still, and a soft fire below, by which the swelling thereof is resisted, and leaving much vacuity and emptiness in the Still, so that it be filled a fifth, or at the most a fourth part; but because sometimes a larger fire is necessary, the cucurbite must be well crusted with clay. It is excellent for a Catarrh, Cough, Spleen, etc. Oil also is distilled out of honey, let honey in the combs be Andernacus dial. 7. come. 2 put into an earthen vessel, and well macerated in warm Horse-dung, until the wax being separated from the honey, swims aloft, which being taken off, let some Flint stones be mingled with the honey, and little pieces of glass; the first water when it is distilled is very sharp, and then comes the oil. It is singular for the Gout, and for the cure of all Wounds. Oil of Wax is thus made, let two pound of new odoriserous Aldr. lib. ●▪ de Insect. wax be melted in a Frying-pan, and then poured out into a vessel filled with Muskadine, or other generous Wine, and let it continue there until it be cold, after taken out and squeezed well with your hands, and again melted and poured into the Wine as before, and let it be seven times reiterated; and then let it be melted again, and three handfuls of beaten Bricks put into it, let them be well mixed together, and being all cold, let them be put into a Glass Limbeck well stopped with clay, and the joints well lined therewith, that there be no expiration; then let a little fire be made underneath until the Cytron phlegm ceaseth to run, and then let another vessel be set under, and the fire a little increased, until the drops be first thick, and then of a Cytron colour; and lastly, drop true oil of wax, and let this be received in a proper vessel, mixed with the thick droppings, and let it be made thick, and like butter congealed. And now the fire must be enlarged until thick drops dot again distil, which as soon as you see let the vessel that receiveth the oil be removed, and another placed to receive the remainder. Oil of wax heals the cracks and chaps of the lips or paps, Mizaldus' appendix ad centutias. and hinder not the child from sucking, and take off all superfluous excrescences by drying, and are especially good in cold griefs. It is good for them that are troubled with the stone, provokes urine, helps the Palsy, Sciatica, contracted nerves by anointing or drinking of it; kills worms of all sorts, helps the pain of the back, cures a distempered spleen, a drop injected into the nostrils opens their obstruction. It conserveses the memory, confirms the brain, assuageth the Toothache, brings forth the dead or living child, opens the veins, frees the lungs from thick superfluities, with syrup of Violets, helps the Astmatick, cures running eyes, etc. Wax, saith Galen, after a sort, holds a middle of things that Galen lib. 7. de simple. heat, cool, moisten, and dry, and hath some kind of thick and stopping parts, and therefore it may seem not only to dry, but by accident also perhaps to moisten, hindering perspirations; and therefore is the matter both of heating, and also cooling medicines, and although forbidden to be taken inwardly, yet some make Pills of wax, and others mix it with other costives, and give it for a violent looseness. Dioscorides prescribes it in broth for ulcers of the bowels, for Dioscorid. l. 2▪ c. 75. all wax saith he, mollifies heats, moderately fills the bodies (which as Dalechampius expounds, produceth flesh) in hollow Dalechamp. l. 22. c. 24. ulcers, and Pliny confirms the same. New wax, and soft, saith Galen, is better than old, for medicines; yellow wax for the airy nature, doth mollify, more loosen, and resolve the malady. And therefore new wax is often prescribed, for being often melted, it loseth the airy nature, is more earthly, and answers white wax: And white wax is most refrigerating, is most profitable for inflamed rains where the matter is to be repelled, which yet, saith Aldrovandus, is neglected by practitioners in Physic. There may be admirable baths made of honey, which are Mr. Remnant. excellent for Aches, and strong Itches, Mr. Remnant saith, that a friend of his had such a foul itch, that he was like a Leper, whom he thus cured: He took an empty Wine cask, called a Pipe, and took out one head, and made a liquor of water and honey, making it pretty strong with the honey, and heat it as hot as he could endure to stand in it, and put it into the Pipe, and caused him to stand in it up to his neck a pretty while, and this he did three days one after another, and he was recovered as clear as ever. The like experience he made for Aches. If they be renewed with a little honey every day it will be better. In the Northern Regions are few Physicians, but the healthful Olao Magno hist. delle cose septentrion, l. 22. c. 16. air, wholesome food, and especially their Mead are instead of the best physic. Mead, the elder it is, being well boiled, some say, ten, or twelve years old, is most sovereign, and a present remedy for many diseases. Mead, or Hydromel is of two sorts, the weaker, and the Butler Fem. Mon. part, 2. stronger, Mead, and Metheglin. For the making of Mead, if the Must, when it is altogether, be not strong enough to bear an egg, the breadth of two pence above it, than put so much of your course honey into it, as will give it that strength, which is sufficient for ordinary Mead. And afterwards until night, ever now and then stir it well about the tub: According to the quantity that you will make, so must you add a proportionable measure of honey and water, namely six of water for one. The learned Physician Lobel, requireth this Mathi●s de Lobel. proportion of six to one to be boiled to four. His receipt of Spices is Cinnamon, Ginger, Pepper, Grains, Cloves, ana two drams. The second morning put to the Must the scum of the honey, stir all together, and stop the tub a little backward. When it hath settled an hour or two, draw it out to be boiled. And when you see the grounds begin to come, stay and let the rest (save the very thick grounds, which cast to your Bees) run into some vessel by itself, which when it is settled, pour out into the boiling vessel through the clean sieve, and east out these grounds also into you garden. This Must being set over a gentle fire, when you see the scum gathered thick all over, and the bubbles at the side, begin to break it, having slacked the fire, to cease the boiling, skim it clean. Then presently make a fresh fire to it: And when you see the second scum ready, having slacked the fire again, take it quickly away; then make to it the third fire, and let it boil to the wasting of a fourth part, if it be made of the washing of combs; and to the wasting of one fifth or sixth part, if it be made of clean honey; not ceasing in the mean space to take off the scum as clean as you can. One hours boiling may suffice; but if the Mead be of clean honey, it may as well be done in half the time. Instead of twice slacking the fire, you may twice cool the boiling Must with cold Must reserved; or else be sure that it do boil all the while only at one side, and not all over. After all this put in the Spices, viz. to a dozen gallons of the skimmed Must, Ginger one ounce, Cinnamon half an ounce, Cloves, and Mace ana two drams, Pepper, and Grains, ana one dram, all gross beaten, the one half of each being sowed in a bag, the other loose, and so let it boil a quarter of an hour more. The end of boiling is throughly to incorporate the borne and the honey, and to purge out the dross, which being once done, any longer boiling is unprofitable, as diminishing more the quantity than increasing the strength and goodness of the Hydromel. As soon as it is boiled enough, take it from the fire, and set it a cooling; the next day when it is settled, pour it through a hair sieve, or linen bag into the tub (reserving still the Lees for the Bees) and there let it stand covered three or four days till it work, and let it work two days. Then draw it through the tapwaze, and run it into a barrel scalded with Bay-leaves, making the Spice-bag fast at the tap. If there remain much grounds, you may purify them by boiling and skimming, as before; but this will never be so good as the first, and therefore you may put it by itself, or with some remainder of the best, into a small vessel to spend first before it be sour. If the Mead be not much, you may run it the next day, and let it work in the barrel. Being tunned it will in time be covered with a mother; which if by jogging the vessel, or by other means it be broken, the Mead will turn sour. But so will it make excellent vinegar, and the sooner, if it be set in the Sun, which the longer you keep, the better it will be. Metheglin is the more generous or stronger Hydromel, for it beareth an egg the breadth of a groat or sixpence, and is usually made of finer honey, with a less proportion of water namely four measures for one; receiying also in the composition as well certain sweet, and wholesome herbs, as also a larger quantity of Spices, namely to every half barrel, or sixteen gallons of the skimmed Must, Eglantine, Marjerom, Rosemary, Time, Winter-savoury, ana half an ounce; and Ginger two ounces, Cinnamon one ounce, Cloves, and Mace ana half an ounce, Pepper, Grains, ana two drams, the one half of each being bagged, the other boiled loose. So that whereas the ordinary Mead will searce last half a year; good Metheglin the longer it is kept, the more delicate, and wholesome it will be; and withal▪ the clearer and brighter. One excellent receipt, I will here recite, and it is that which our renowned Queen of happy memory did so well like, that she would every year have a vessel of it. First, Gather a bushel of Sweet-briar leaves, and a bushel of Time, half a bushel of Rosemary, and a peck of Bay-leaves; See the all these, being well washed, in a furnace of fair water; let them boil the space of half an hour, or better; and then pour out all the water and herbs into a fat, and let it stand till it be but milk-warm, than strain the water from the herbs, and take to every six gallons of water, one gallon of the finest honey, and put it into the borne, and labour it together half an hour, then let it stand two days, stirring it well twice or thrice each day. Then take the liquor and boil it a new; and when it doth see the, skim it as long as there remaineth any dross. When it is clear, put it into the fat, as before, and there let it be cooled. You must then have in readiness a tub of new Ale, or Beer, which as soon as you have emptied, suddenly whel● it upside down, and set it up again, and presently put in the Metheglin, and let it stand three days a working, and then tun it up in barrels, tying at every tap hole by a Packthread, a little bag of Cloves and Mace, to the value of an an ounce. It must stand half a year before it be drunk. If you marvel that so great a quantity of water is required, it is partly because of the goodness of the honey, which being pure and fine, goeth further than ordinary; and partly that it may have the longer time in boiling before i● come to its strength, and therefore some will have eight parts of water to one of honey, but then they boil it so much the longer. The third part at least being wasted. CHAP. XXVII. Of diver● kinds of Wild-Bee●. THere is one kind not half so big, as a Honey-bee, with a bright shining green head and forepart; she hath longer horns than a Hive-bee, she hath four wings, her nether part is of a light shining Carnation on the outside, the belly of a greenish shining glistering colour, almost as bright as the shining of a Glow-worm, with a very large long sting (not forked) or somewhat like to a sting▪ I could not force it to enter it into my hand, whether it will sting I know not; that which is equivalent to the skin is as it were continued without ringles; this Bee is very strong, gathers as the Hive-Bee sandaracha; and breeds in holes of old posts, divers near one another, we may call her the glistering Bee. There is another sort of Wild-Bee which is very laborious, she is not so great as a Hive-Bee by a third part, but in shape and making altogether like her, the mouth opens side-ways, wherewith she holds very fast, like pinchers, her hinder legs are of a tawny colour, the ringles of her hinder part grey, the rest of a bluish black, her forepart is partly black, and partly grey, she useth to abide (if my memory deceive me not) in Brick-walls, in holes in the mortar between the Bricks, many neat one another; we may call her the Mortar-Bee. There is another sort not half so great as the former, but grayer, she digs or mines perpendicularly into stiff clay ground in Highways, or Footpath sides, the earth that she works out, lies round about her hole like the casting of a Worm, but much sinner; after she hath entered three inches right down, she makes traverse holes one under another, sometimes two, sometimes three in breadth, as several cells, or chambers where she breeds her young, which are not Worms at first, but have a perfect shape of a Bee, herein concurring with the Queen-bee, and though she be laborious, and gathers much Bee-bread, yet could I never find any thing provided beforehand, or laid up in any cell, but all is consumed by the young, of which I have found near forty belonging to one downright hole (not come to maturity, and maintained by one) all in several cells or Partitions one above another, the transverse holes being open to the downright, that so they may be visited and fed by the breeding or Mother-Bee, which confirms my former assertion of the old Bees feeding the young. This sort of Bee is very Political, living by hundreds, nay thousands near one another, but each in a distinct mansion, we call them the Earth-Bee. There is another s●r: about the length of a Hive-Bee, but broader and greater made, like a small Humblebee, but differing in colour, she hath a round head, broad face, with long horns on the head, a ring of yellow turning upwards, above the mouth the chaps are indented, and hold like Pincers, the back and head are of a dark ●usset, six dew-clawed feet of a light brown, she hath four wings, her nether part is of a dark black, with five yellow spots on either side of the edges of every ringle, she hath a broad tail; this kind copulates often openly, while she is at work all the Summer; she pur●es, or darts too and fro as she gathers, without a Sting, makes a louder and clearer sound than the Hive-Bee. There is also a smaller sort of this kind, in nothing differing but in the magnitude, these breed in clay-walls of houses and b●rns, in holes in the clay which they make many together, like several inhabitants to make a Town, but each hath her peculiar house, or hole. There is another sort of wild Bee, altogether as long as a Horne●, but the nether part not above half so great; it hath eight ringles, the three next the incision of a shining black, the four next towards the tail, which grow all less one then the other downwards, of a light Orange, and the tail of a bright brown, the forepart and wings (which are but two) and belly are of an Orange colour, the head not very round, the mouth piked, or like a Birds bill, but the lower chap longer than the upper, which opens not sidewaies as other Bees, but one over the other, two short horns on the head, but two wings orange coloured, somewhat shorter than the body, six dew-clawed feet of an Orange colour likewise, she buzzeth not so loud and smart as the Scarabee, she lives by footpath sides, and bare places of fields, of a quick sight, and not easily taken, without a sting, copulates frequently, feeds on Flies and Grasshoppers, and this observe as a general rule, that few of those sorts that have but two wings gather Bee-bread; I might describe divers others, but not being able to recite any particulars of them, I will not trouble the Reader any longer. CHAP. XXVIII. Of the Wasp. A Wasp is a flying oblong Insect with four wings, of a bright Ash-colour, the two inmost neither half so long, nor so large as the out-most, six yellow dew-clawed feet mixed with Chesnut-colour towards the extremities, two black movable horns on the head, growing on either side as high as the top of the eyes, the head is black and hairy, the forehead divided into three yellow spots, with a black stroke down the middle, the jaws yellow without, black at the mouth, the jaws hath not the solidity of a bone, but is like a strong gristle, indented like a Saw, the back is for the most part of a shining black, and the belly also, the nether part is a bright yellow in the scales, but black bars, in the opening of the upper scale, the black in largeth itself towards the middle of the scale; and lastly, she hath a venomous spear where with she will prick often (contrary to the Bee) for it is not barbed. The Wasp's Nest is begun of one, not many mother Wasps or breeders as some imagine; the mother Wasps go not abroad after they have b●ed many young, but are maintained by their posterity at home; whether the old breeders continue longer than a year Aristotle questions, and Scaliger likewise, but determine not, it being a secret not then known; but it is apparent they continue no longer, for their wings are worn, and thereby are they disabled for flight, much more for breeding. The mother Wasps have stings, and use them, and the reason Arist▪ de hist. ●nim. lib. 9▪ c▪ 65. of their abode at home, is not because they are great and heavy bodied (as some) for their wings are proportionable to their bodies, but with their much working in the Spring, making their Nests alone, breeding and feeding their young they wear their wings, and therefore after a while stir not abroad, but order all at home. The Wasp's Nest is made for the most part in the ground, (sometimes in the thatch of a house) in a hole begun by a Mouse, or Mole, not very deep, about a foot and a half, sometimes two foot from the entrance, for the manner of their work, making of their combs, breeding and feeding, they do almost wholly agree with the Hornet and the Bee, for Bees, Hornets, Scalig. comment. in Arist, de hist, lib. 5. c. 19 and Wasps are alike in all, as an Ass, Horse, and Ox, and how Hornets breed. See Cap. 10. pag. 89. The Wasp's Nest is made Oval, some consist of eight combs or stories one beneath another, fastened strongly by many pegs, or pins one to another, about three quarters of an inch distance between comb and comb, the middle combs are about nine inches in the Diameter, all round, and the whole involved with a five or six doubled folding, or watered cover, yet all wrought into one entire piece, consisting of the same matter with their combs, being greenish, russet▪ and g●ay, whereas the combs are of a dark russet, with only one hole through the middle of the cover, big enough for one Wasp to enter at once; the cover is fastened with some pins to the ground, or roots in the earth. The middle of each comb is somewhat Pyramidal, bending upwards, and hollower in the inside than the outward part of the comb, and the centre hath a very strong pin to fasten it to the next comb, which ●uns like the axletree or main post through them all, and in less space than every inch in the whole breadth, are rows of pins, or pilasters, which fasten each comb very firmly to the next, so that they will not easily be separated. And here in they see me to have been exempla●s of Architecture rather than Bees, fashioning all their combs orderly, strongly, usefully▪ and comely; the pins or props are framed broader, & bigger, both at the top and bottom, than in the middle, with two or three butteresles both above and below, where by they hold more strongly, and being small in the middle, less hinder their passage about the combs. The Wasp's combs are plain on the upper part, but filled and furnished with hexangle cells downwards, the cells are not so deep, nor yet so long as the Bees, and they are not made strait but asloop, that the young may not so readily fall out as they would if they were directly downwards. The seed is at first almost as small as a Mustardseed, of a Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 19 darkish white, not spherical, but oval, and they fasten it not to the bottom of the cell (sed ad cella latus apum more, saith Aristotle) but to a corner or angle a pretty distance above the bottom, and observe (for the most part) an exact order in disposing of their seed, that they keep the same angles in every cell, not one in an angle of the Southside of a cell, and another in an angle of the North, or the East, but all in the South, so that the seed lies orderly in rows: But if one lays her seed in the con●mry angle (as sometimes, though seldom) then the next takes it for a rule, and it is punctually observed perhaps through a whole range of cells. This seed being hatched (for the manner how, see the tenth Chapter) grows a little while by virtue of the seminal power, it sticks at one end, bending towards the middle of the cell, but somewhat erected (or rather dejected, for the head is downward) that it may receive food, and when it fills the breadth of the cell, it grows loose, and falls (or to speak properly ascends) to the bottom of the cell, for the mouth of the cell is downwards raising itself; and now the mouth of the worm begins to be visible, and it is daily fed, as we noted of the Bees (for they are Infects of the same nature) but some what degenerating; Georglus Piscatorius. and Pliny saith, in fae●u, eadem prope natura quae apibus, and grows to the full dimension of the cell: when as we noted in the Hornet, it grow● dull and torpid, and refusing meat is shut up by a cover wrought over the head: But to return back a little. At first, after the seed is hatched, it is oval towards the head, near to the tail there is a blackish spot; It will contract itself almost round, sometimes as a Caterpillar, when it moves, as if it would go, for indeed the worm makes no progressive motion. If you break the worm, in the body is a thick watteish humour, with a harder substance, like a black list in the middle of it, and that from end to end. The transmutation begins to be first visible in the superior part, and the eyes are first discerned, and the incision between the head and the shoulders, which yet as it grows more perfect, becomes smaller, the middle incision is scarcely visible, when the eyes may be seen, than the legs, and the horns begin to be framed, and the wings are last finished. When they are perfect, they thrust up the covers over their heads which hang at their backs until they come forth. They excern an excrement while they feed, which is contained under them in the bottom of the cells, but assoon as the young cut their way forth, the older Wasps carry it out of the nest. The young Wasps (though the combs be taken out of their nensts) that are shut up (not the other, for they must be fed, or they will die in three or four days) will come to life, and perfection, although slowly, because of the small heat; but for above three weeks I have had them in a chamber successively come to perfection. They gather no honey, that is, make it, rob they do, but then Scaliger come. in Arist. de hist. l. 5 c. 19 Arist. in loc. pred. they spend it as fast as they get it, yet Scaliger saith mellificant, they begin to breed in the latter end of the Spring, contrary to Aristotle, who saith, they breed not in the Spring, but Autumn, whereas they miscarry by the end of Autumn. They breed first their own kind, and by the end of August, ordinarily have fledge Drones, which are about the greatness of an old working Wasp, but somewhat longer, whose covers they heighten above the combs when they shut them up, but in cells no greater than the Wasps. The Drones have no sting, they have two testicles, which on crushing are easily discovered, and they are coated with a hard black tunicle, joined together like a pair of breeches, sharper towards the point, but broader upwards, and at the upper end not coated, but full of a whitish liquor; the testicles are somewhat like, but that they are united together to the young coated Grasshoppers whilst they are in the dams belly. The Drones are not of so bright a yellow as the Wasps, and their movable horns are a great deal longer, yea longer than the mother Wasps horns, which they spread very wide like a fork, but not right forth, widening them by degrees, and towards the tops, bending them sideways. Presently after they begin to breed Drones, they breed also mother Wasps, which are twice, nay almost thrice as great as the Drones, these begin to forsake the nest about a week in September, and so daily as they come to perfection, being first made prolifical by the Drones with whom they couple. The Drones continue in the nest, as long as the working Wasps, namely until the wet, and cold in October puts a period to their lives. Whereas the mother Wasps, as soon as they have engendered, with the Drones fly forth, and shroud themselves in hollow trees, thatch, or such like places, where they lie in a dead sleep without feeding till March, when the first warm weather revivies them, and causeth them to fly abroad, and then they feed, but if after they have been a while abroad, the Spring be very cold and wet, they then for the most part, miscarry, and die. For the mother Wasps, they make larger hexangle cells in the lowest combs than for ordinary Wasps, and also enlarge the covers above the combs near a quarter of an inch higher than the comb, the covers and highing are very white like fine white paper. The young Wasps are somewhat grey at first, and after turn to a bright yellow, and the Bees are more white at first, and after turn to a bright brown. Aristotle doubted whether the Wasps lost their stings in Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 65. Winter; while they are in a deep, or dead sleep, they exercise them not, but revive them by a fire, or in your warm hand, and you may experimentally affirm the contrary. That they did copulate, Aristotle; acknowledgeth, but whether the male and female, both had stings, he professeth that he was ignorant. Wasps are a kind of Cannibals, for they rob from all, and eat not the Bees provision only, but the Bees themselves, nay they will eat the young Wasps of another nest. Once, Wasps are very strong, and daring creatures, especially near their nest, not fearing to anger, nay to injury the most mighty. The Poet elegantly thus expresseth it. Spencer's visions of the world's vanity. A mighty Lion, Lord of all the wood, Having his hunger throughly satisfied With prey of beasts, and spoil of living blood Safe in his dreadless den him thought to hide? His sternness was his praise, his strength his pride, And all his glory in his cruel claws: I saw a Wasp▪ that fiercely him defied, And bade him battle oven to his jaws. Sore he him stung, that it the blood forth draws, And his proud heart is filled with fretting ire, In vain he threats, his teeth, his tail, his paws, And from his bloody eyes doth sparkle fire. That dead himself he wisheth for despite, So weakest may annoy the most of might. CHAP. XXIX. Of the Hornet. A Hornet is a flying Insect, more than twice as great as a common Wasp, with four wings, the inmost smaller, and not so long as the utmost by a third part. For shape she is like a Wasp, but differs in colour: All the back wings, and belly, legs, and horns are of a bright Chesnut colour, and some part also below the division in the middle, and then yellow scales, and Chesnut-coloured openings, or bars with spots on either side of every yellow scale, on the upper-side but more Chesnut-coloured on the under-side▪ Her forehead is of an iron colour, in the middle of her forehead is a yellow spot like a heart, on either side whereof grows her movable horns, on the outside are her eyes oblong, and a little prominent, her face is a yellow square like a plate, her cheeks or jaws are yellow without, and black in the mouth; her jaws are a very bone indented like a saw, more thick toothed, and finer than a Grasshoppers, contrary to Aristotle, and Pliny also, who affirm of all Infects, that they have Arist de hist. animal. l. 4. c. 1. no boniness in any part, whereas a Hornets jaw, and also a great Grasshoppers, are a sold bone without, and within of an equal hardness. Hornets have no fangs, their tongue is divided into small fibers: Their breathing is visible, cut off one of their heads, and you shall see (a while) on expulsion out of the neck of a whitish moisture, and then drawn in again, at first very strongly, and then with more weakness, and at last ceasing, yet life continuing in either part of the divided body above an hour. A Hornets entrails is contracted in the body, but extended, is as long as the body, they have a very large cavity in the end of the tail, out of the middle of it, the sting is extended and drawn in also as they please, it is not hollow (as some think) that I could discern; near to the tail I found in dissecting a Hornet (and never but once) a white egg as great as a lentil, and just such a one as I have seen in the combs, but never dissecting divers Bees, and Wasps could I find any, nor yet in Hornets (excepting one) perhaps they are very small (if at all) and quickly grown, and suddenly ejected. Some suppose them to be bred of a horse: Cardan of dead Cornel. Agrippal. de occult. Philos. Arist. de hist. Animal. l 9 c. 66. Mules: Virgil of Asses: Plutarch of a rotten horse; and so also some conceit Wasps are bred, but with us they are bred for the most part by generation: Of their copulation Aristotle was ignorant, they breed most commonly in hollow trees, in thatch, or in houses, in empty Bee-hives, rarely (but sometimes) in the ground: For the manner of their breeding, see the tenth Chapter, and the former Chapter of Wasps, with whom for the making of their combs, hatching and feeding their young, they do altogether agree, they are not so prolifical as the Wasps, for their combs are never larger, and the cells being much greater of necessity, they must breed fewer: Their stinging is very dangerous, but otherwise they are not so mischievous as the Wasps, for though they sometimes kill a Bee, yet they rob not the Hives, they feed on flesh and fruits, and most of all of ashen trees, feeding of the bark, making the boughs whiter, and in Autumn gather plentifully of the Ivy, contrary to Aristotle, and others, who assert, they gather of no flowers, and herein to differ both from Bees and Wasps. They sting dangerously, some creatures deadly, Dr. Penny reports, that being at Peterborough in a public street of the Pennies apud Muffetum de Insect. l. 1. c. 9 City, he saw a Hornet pursue a Sparrow, whom at last she struck with her sting, and therewith presently killed her, and filled herself with the dead Sparrows blood, to the astonishment and wonder of many beholders. It is reported by Aristotle, as a strange and almost incredible thing, of certain Mice in Persia, which being dissected, great with young, those young not yet kindled, have been gravid, whereas in Hornets and Wasps there is a greater marvel, for the breeders coupling in Autumn, continue to be prolifical in the Spring, and the young bred of them, not only in the first, but in the third and fourth generation have a procreative power from their great Grandmothers copulation. The water of distilled Hornets, or Wasps, or wherein Bil. ca ●t. 7. 17. they have been boiled, if it do but touch the skin, the place will swell so, that there will be the symptoms of a dropfie, or poison, or some great distemper; but Treacle drunk or anointed on the place, is a cure without any pain; with this Harlots and Beggars deceive the most circumspect and wary, as if they were with child. One thing more which I had almost forgot: If the hole in the tree wherein they breed be large, when they be numerous, they will work it up (all but a small passage for entrance) with the same matter whereof they make their comb●. CHAP. XXX. Of the Humblebee. THe Humblebee is of various magnitudes and colours, some greater, but shorter than a Hornet; others as little, but rounder and shorter than a Bee. All of them are very hairy, they have two horns, very strong indented jaws, wherewith they hold or bite very hard. Some have their heads coal-black, the upper part of the back yellow, the lower part black, they have four wings, the belly all black. In the nether part first a division or ringle of shining black without hair, than a ringle of pale yellow hairy, than a ringle of black, and so black to the tail, but thick and full of light grey hairs, that it seemeth grey, she hath six legs with scabrous feet. They carry their Bee-bread on their legs, as the Honey-bee, but no wax, as Scaliger, Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 11. cap. 22. Pliny and others, whether they carry the matter of their combs on their thighs, I am not certain, but believe it, for they gather only on flowers, but the Hornet and Wasp carry it in their mouth. They breed saith Aristotle, on the ground among stones, Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 67. and have two or three entrances to their nest, but it is not so; but they breed either upon the ground, in the long grass, most commonly in Meadows, and spared lays, or else in a hole in the ground, much deeper than the Wasps: all their nest is covered; nay environed with moss. Aristotle and Pliny are very brief in the history of them, and therefore very obscure; some imagine the reason hereof was because their nature was well known, but I rather conclude, because they knew little, or nothing of them. Sc●liger Comment. in Arist. de hist. l. 9 c. 66. And it is very evident because they confound the Silkworms, and the Humble-Bees under the name Bombyx, and Scaliger also as it appears knew little of them. The nethermost ringles of the black Humblebee, are as black as jet, clear and shining; nay more transparent, for it will reflect an image, but the many long hairs, except it be near at hand, nay in your hand, do somewhat obscure it. It seems they are very rare, and scarce known in Italy, for Aldrovandus' glories in a ●east of Humble-Bees that was found by his Apothecary gathering simples, and Aldrovand▪ de▪ Insectis, l. 1. c. 4. brought to him (as he saith) not only to delight him with a novelty, but to communicate as a secret of nature to posterity. He supposeth them a kind of wild Bee, and propounds it as a Q●ery, whether john Baptist in the wilderness lived not with their honey? Aldrovand. supposeth wax may be had out of their combs; but this he borrowed from Aristotle, who saith, Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 5. c. 19 they make wax, but paler than Bees, but melt the combs, if you can. Their combs are oblong cells as big as Acorns, but not altogether so long, clustering together (one somewhat higher than another, somewhat like a bunch of grapes inverted, sixteen or eighteen joining together (and then another like comb lying close, but not fastened to it, and so another) of a dark yellow, which (if after they have bred their young) they fill with Bee-bread, and some with honey; their honey is of a bright yellow, very sweet, but not so pleasant as the Bees, having a rank taste (occasionally) from the ground, their combs are not wax (as before) though gathered of the flowers, they are as tough brown paper, but not of so dark a colour, broken, they show like japan paper made of Cotton, woolley. They engender with thei●● ails opposite one to another, in the mean time resting on some plant, or the stump of a tree, they continue long in venery, and while they copulate, often clap their wings, and make a shrill noise; their mates they choose in the Nest, and are carried away by them. These as other Infects before described, after they have done breeding of Females, about the end of August, breed Drones for the propagation of their kind. It is remarkable, that though the cells or pipes wherein they breed are of a like magnitude, yet the Humble-Bees in the same Nest are of various magnitudes, some more than twice as great as others, herein differing from Bees and Wasps, which continued in the same dimensions that they were first Metamorphosed into, only when they are strong and lusty, seem somewhat fuller and plumper, but when they grow old, than they grow lank and wither; whereas the Humble-bees, many of them double their first magnitude. They are very laborious and hardy Creatures, working in such weather when the Bees dare not, and continuing it many weeks, after Hornets and Wasps are laid up, or miscarried. There is another kind of great Humblebee, in the forepart exactly agreeing with the former description, but the nether part is altogether of a shining black, and not so hairy as the former, it is sharp pointed at the tail, and hath but one cavity, out of the which cometh a sting, which groweth out of the under part of the tail, and is forked like a Snakes tongue, having two points forthright, not barbed like a Bees, so that it stings more than once; there are two covers on either side of the sting to keep it close and safe, and these are as long as the sting, but bigger, rougher, and spreading on the top, I conceive to hold the sting in, in the act of generation; there are six partitions or ringles on the neither part, and on the outsides, especially of the fourth and fifth golden coloured hairs. The Humblebee first described, astords some special rarities not observed by any, and therefore I must return to her again. In the tail being opened, is a double cavity or hole, the one (if I mistake not) for generation and parturition, and the other for the evacuation of excrements; in the nether part (dissecting it) I found as in a Hive Bee, a bladder to which adjoins the entral, not so white as in a honiebee, than you shall have (as I have often found) their young (but one visible at once) which are not excluded, torpid, and liveless eggs, but live and grow in the dams belly; I have found some as large as great Tares (like the Worms in the combs) so that all the parts of the Worm are very visible, and these have lived after I have cut them out some hours, and would continually contract and gather themselves into a ●ound, and then again extend themselves, but were not able to make any progressive motion▪ being without feet. In the breast I perceived a little thing to pant, and beat a great while after I severed it from the lower part at the incision, when I after, opened the breast, I found four several parts like several members, but I was not able (my sight being weak) to distinguish one member from another, but concluded there was a heart, liver, and lungs, all were reddish, but some parts were more red than others. Under the horny tunicle of the eye is a white moisture, and something white likewise, like brains in the middle of the head; her tongue is drawn so close, partly under her neck, and partly into her mouth, that it is scarcely visible, but when she works; being dead, I found it much longer than a Bees, as long as a Barley corn; she hath two fangs, on either side one, the tongue at the root is as great as a small pin, underneath of a black colour to the middle, where it is divided into three parts, two shorter on either side, and a longer in the middle, so that it hath a triple tongue; this sort that breed their young within them, are without a sting; on their bellies near the roots of their legs, are little round reddish creatures, with very long horns, with six legs, which run very quick and swift, which (I believe) are a kind of Lice proper to them; their tail stretched out, is very like their mouth, being as it were a compliment of claws meeting in a round, and this is proper to this kind without a sting, which I therefore call the Claw-tailed Humblebee. Those which breed a living creature within them, after a sort produce it egg-fashion, for it is covered with a thin membrane Arist. de generat. Animal. l. 3. c. 9 like the shell of an egg, but I discerned no such membrane encircling the worm in this Humblebee. This grey Humblebee in the tail is somewhat broad, and hath two circular horny claws, or pincers not visible, till they be drawn out, and within them two other shorter but not circular. Some creatures saith Bodinus, conceive eggs within them, Bodinus Theatrum naturae l. 3. and there hatch, and bring forth a living creature as the Viper, and all kind of Whales, but neither he, no● any other mentions this Humblebee. Whatsoever saith Aristotle, bringeth forth a living creature and Arist. de hist. l. 2. c. 6. not first an egg, hath breasts, and all that have breasts, have paps or nepples except the Dolphin, which hath two pipes, on either side one, which the young ones suck: The Philosopher, and Scaliger his Commentator, except not the Viper, no● the Slow-worm, because they perhaps concluded, that they hatched the young of analogical eggs within the dams belly; I am sure they ought to have excepted this kind of Humble Bee as also that Fly that we spoke of before out of Scaliger. How they order their young after they be excluded, I cannot yet determine, for I have not found any of their nests, since I observed this particular. The Cells or Pipes wherein the young are bred, are not flat at the top as the Bees and Wasps, but oval, and are all of one matter and colour, whereas the covers of the Wasps and Hornets are, though of the same substance, yet whiter and fiver. CHAP. XXXI. Of the Grasshopper. IN the production of no creatures is nature more serious, or rather more wanton than in Grasshoppers, who is able to describe their various colours? or the divers forms of their bodies, or can exactly report their walking, leaping, flying? With us some are green, some tawny, some russet, in Ethiopia red and yellow, in Africa white. One hath written a Tractate of seven kind of Locusts or Fran. St●●ca●…. de sc●tem generibus locust▪ Grasshoppers according to the Scriptures, and Rabbins; and yet mentions, not those four kinds enumerated among clean creatures, and allowed the jews for food, namely Arbeth a most prolifical kind of Grasshopper, which therefore had this Levit. 11, 22. name according to Kimchi and Broughton. The second kind is Solaam by the Seventy, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Hieron calls it a Scarabee, but not rightly, for it is a swift creature, going on the four fore-feets, and leaping with the two hindmost which are longer than the others. The third sort is Chargol, which in our Bible is translated a Beetle, but there is a great difference between Beetles and Grasshoppers, the Greeks, translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, for it fights with a Serpent, and strangles it, as both Aristotle and Pliny record; and Maiolus in his Colloquies tells us, That his Gardener returning from work, saw one of these Grasshoppers conflicting with a Serpent, which at last it killed. And therefore Niphus was too bold to translate it a Scolopendra, or Asp, when as the Philosopher calls it a Grasshopper, and the Arist. de hist. Animal. l. 9 c. 6. Seventy translate it a Locust. The fourth kind is called Chagol, the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. It is a cruel devourer, not only consuming the fruits, but stalks, nay barks of trees. In the Scripture we find five other kinds, Gaza from shaving▪ Iel●k from licking, Chasil from destroying, Thela●sal from rust, which it occasions to the fruits, and Chenamal from staying, Rhodulph Medius in Levit. because it never willingly forsakes its place. Modius on joel, and Levit▪ reckons up various kinds of the first sort called Ar●eth. Moreover in the month of May, out of a ●spittle that hangs upon herbs is produced a green winged creature, in shape very like the little Grasshopper, it leaps, and after flies. We use to call the frothy matter wherein they are bred Wood-se●r, that is the corruption of the woods; I know not the reason of the name; others call it Cuckoo-spittle. In Norw●y it often reins a little four footed beast, as great ●● a Rat, of various coloured hair, which feeds of all green things Scaliger de Sub●●●. exerci●at. 1●2. like Grasshoppers. When their food fails they die, and the air being corrupted with their stenth, causeth to the inhabitants Meg●●ms, and the King's-evil. They call it Lemmer; this though not properly a Grasshopper, yet like them very destructive. Of what form was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Suidas, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of C●lius, the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ni●ander, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Hes●cbius, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Aristophanes, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Eusta●bius, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, of Phavorinus, Lud●loc●r●, of Fsid●r●, and many many others mentioned by authors differing one from another, but yet not fully described, much less their natures, so that we need an Oedipus to reveal, and discover them. A Grasshopper hath two very movable horns, as long as the whole body, on either side ●f the jaws two short ones; It hath two broad lips shutting flat on the other, and two lesser that shut sideways, all which together close the mouth, and the head, with the lips closed, somewhat resembles a horse's head. It hath two round prominent eyes; Nigidius denied that they saw at all, as Pliny records, when as they have clear and glassy eyes, yet covered with a horny tunicle (the eyes are not movable) Plin. Nat. hi●●, ●. ●1. c. 37. there is a visible Pupilla, six feet, the hindmost as great, and as long again as the foremost to leap withal, and raise itself up, with two joints in every one, near their setting on to the breast, these two are very near one to the other. They have also a joint in the middle, the upper part as the thigh greater at the top, and smaller downwards, and smooth. The lower parts (which are their legs) rough and scabrous, and several pliable joints in the feet, and as it were visible toes, which are rough and dew-clawed. A long smooth tail more than half the length of the body, sharppointed, and two short little tants, or pricks growing near the end of the tail, pointing towards the extremity of it. When you hold it by the wings, though it neither stirs, no● strives, yet shall you both see and feel the whole body beat and pant, ●s also when it creeps, or stands still, although not so much, lest of all when it is in motion. It hath four large wings, but the under wings lie folded or doubled, which deceived Willichius, who unwarily beholding them, took them to be Jodocas Willichius in suo de Locustis dia● lo●o, several, and therefore published that they have six wings; the under wings being open, they are very fine and membranous, near an inch broad, spreading like a sail; the upper wings are crusty or shelly. It hath as it were, a scaly Gorget, from the head to the incision or back. The back is more hard and shelly than the belly, and hath several semicircular equidistant strakes down to the belly. The belly is very soft and white on either side, all along to the tail, and green in the middle. On the breast are sharp pricks six in number according to the legs, against each leg one. When the head is severed from the body, the jaws, the lips, the horns, all move, but the head dies sooner than the rest of the body. The body will leap a great while after the head is off. In the stomach is a thick juicy moisture. The breast being opened, first appears the heart, and then other large members, one like the liver of a reddish colour, another less and grayer, which I suppose to be the lungs. In the belly I have not found fewer than eighty young ones, in some one hundred. They grow quickly as great as Ant-eggs, and as long, they are first yellow and soft, full of a yellowish moisture, than ruby, then of a tawny colour, when after a certain space this softer tunicle hardens into a shining black coat, or shell, long and flattish, and these alterations are all in the same Grasshopper, for in some you shall find all without coats, in others, some with coats, and some with none at the same time. They have three black teeth in either jaw, the teeth and jaw are one piece, and of a bony substance. In the head is a manifest brain, or at least somewhat equivalent. Some Grasshoppers have not the long prick at the tail, but two tants above and two shorter underneath, and some have stumps instead of wings, but howsoever they variously differ in their externals, yet in all that I have dissected are alike, the vitals indeed, and other particulars, are not so visible in the smaller, as in the greater. Grasshoppers copulate after the manner of other Infects, the less ascending the greater; for the male is the lesser. They disclose Arist. de hist. Animal. ●●●. c, ●8. their eggs on the earth, fastening a pipe which they have at their tail to it. The males have none: All lay their eggs together in one place, so that they make a kind of comb, but not on the superficies of the earth, but a little underneath, than the form of them as they were first produced, being changed out of that earthy cover, appear little and black Grasshoppers, and after the skin being broken on every side, they become greater, they bring forth their eggs in Autumn, and presently being delivered of them perish, for there breed certain worms about their necks which strangles them saith Pliny, which eat through them, saith Scaliger, and the males also die; they are quickened, and come from under the earth in the Spring. Grasshoppers b eed not much on mountainous, or squalid moist lands, but in Champion grounds which are apt to chap, for they lay their eggs in the chaps and crannies, out of which, Winter being past, in the beginning of the Summer following, of such eggs as are alive, come the Locusts or Grasshoppers. They copulate thus, the male ascending the female, puts in ●r. V●l●riola. those two tants or pricks that are eminent in the end of the back, by turning back of the tail into the females womb, and they are very long and closely joined together, that they can scarce be severed, neither yet by leaping or motion, no nor yet without difficulty with your hands. The female in her venery, moves her belly earnestly, and closeth in the lower part to the male, and holds him very long, sometimes with the opening of her womb, sometimes with a straight shutting of it, making her dalliance more delightful; for while her womb opens, the male more deeply insinuates himself to the bottom of i●, and when it is contracted, is more delighted with the pleasure of it. There are seen two passages in the females privity severed each from other, and covered with a thick coat, it is black on the outside, and hard and cartilaginous▪ but within seems somewhat rough and scabrous, with certain wrinkles. At the bottom of this covering, the womb growing white, is like a woman's privy parts. The male after copulation dies; For by a long continued use of venery, they spend all their radical moisture and spirits also. The females after they have brought forth either by the violence of the pain, or multitude of their young, whereby their strength is consumed, perish likewise; or as Aristotle by little Lice which breed in their necks, and as Pliny saith, strangle them, as Scaliger, eat into them and kill them. They fly over large Seas, continuing divers days together in their flight, and make such a noise with their wings, that they seem to be Fowls, and shadow the very Sun. They infested Italy oftentimes out of Africa, consuming all with their bitings, and with their black, sharp, and burning excrements, and with a sharp slaver, which they in eating let fall out of their mouths, yet are they not poison, for both the Parthians and Ethiopians feed of them. Willichius assigns them a King, and a Monarchy, but Solomon Proverb. 30▪ 27 denies it, saying, That they have no King, yet go they forth all by bands, but though they be sine rege & lege, yet have they a conspiring agreement to do mischief. When they wasted Gaul 852. they marched in the air twenty miles a day in an ordered battle, and form squadrons, and when they fell on the earth they had their camp; the Commanders with a few went before the Army a day's journey, as it were to find out fit places to quarter in, and the very same hour that the forerunners or harbingers came the day before, the whole Troops came the day after; before the rising of the Sun they stirred not from the place where they settled, but the Sun being risen, they marched, or flew away in their orderly Regiments. Cuspinian observes the same, in the same Country, in the year Cuspinianus. 874. but with this difference, that they marched then but four or five miles a day. Of Locusts there are sometimes seen such monstrous swarms I. Leo hist. of Africa l. 9 in Africa, that in flying they intercept the Sun beams like a thick cloud. They devour trees, leaves, fruits, and all green things growing out of the earth. At their departure they leave eggs behind them, whereof other young Locusts are bred, which in the places where they are left, will eat, and consume all things, even to the very bark of trees. Their coming is known by the discolouring of the fields long Scaliger exercitat, 192. before, for they shine by reflection. Before the birth of Christ, about a 170. years, the Pastures Julius Obsequens. of Italy, were covered as it were with clouds of Grasshoppers, and about Cap●a a hundred years together. In the Consulship of Marcus Pla●tius Hypsaeus, and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus, Africa scarce breathing from bloody Paulus Or●sius contra pag●. nos, l. 5▪ c. 11. wars, an horrible and extraordinary destruction ensued. For whereas now throughout all Africa, infinite multitudes of Locusts were gathered together, and had not only quite devoured the corn on the ground, and consumed the herbs with part of their roots, and the leaves, and tender boughs of the trees, but had gnawn also the bitter bark, and dry wood, being with a violent and sudden wind hoist aloft in mighty swarms, and carried along time in the air, they were at length drowned in the African Ocean. Whose loathsome and putrified carcases being by the waves of the Sea cast up in huge heaps far and wide along the shore, bred an incredible stinking and infectious smell: whereupon followed so general a pestilence of all living creatures that the corrupt bodies of fowls, cattle, and wild beasts dissolved by the contagion of the air, augmented the fury of the plague. But how great and extraordinary a death of men there was, I cannot but tremble to report: For in Numidia where Micipsa was then King, died fourscore thousand persons (in the Kingdom of M●ssinissa according to Eutropius, if I mistake not, eight hundred thousand.) And upon the Sea▪ coast next adjoining to Carthage and Utica, above two hundred thousand are said to have perished. Yea in the City of Utica itself were by this means swept from the face of the earth thirty thousand brave soldiers, which were appointed to be the Garrison for all Africa. And the destruction was so sudden and violent, that out of one gate of Utica, in one and the same day, were carried above fifteen hundred dead corpses, of those lusty young gallants. In the Reign of Basilius the Emperor, the Eastern parts were Georgius Ced●enus hist. Compend. consumed by Grasshoppers, that the inhabitants were forced to sell their children, and at last to pass into Thrace. But afterwards a vehement wind carried them into the Hellespont, where they were drowned and cast up on the sands which they covered, and prodigiously lived again of themselves, and wasted all the Countries adjoining, and Thrace, especially three years together. In May 1350. an innumerable multitude of Grasshoppers F●zellus do ●ebu● siculis. of an unwonted greatness, and uncertain original, appeared in the Province of Catana in Sicllia, which consumed Corn, Vineyards, Woods, Gardens, and Trees, both domestic and wild, and consumed their barks to the very roots every where in one day, and then by a sudden wind were carried into the Ionian Sea, and there drowned; but being after cast upon the Sicilian shore, caused by their stink a cruel plague in july following. Swarms of Grasshoppers came out of Africa into Italy, and also into France 1353. and also 1374. causing such a famine and plague, that the third part of the people perished, and they O●h●●risingensis. had most of them six wings, and at last were hurried with a violent wind into the British Ocean. About Misnia, 1543. there were so many Grasshoppers jacobus Ekcelius. that they covered the ground about a cubit thick. In all the Dominions of Prete janni is a very great and F●an. Al●r●●▪ Ethiop. Hist. ● cap. 32. & 33▪ horrible Plague, which is an innumerable company of Locusts, which eat and consume all the Corn and Trees, and the number of these Creatures is so great, as it is incredible, and with their multitude they cover the earth, and fill the air in such wise that it is a hard matter to be able to see the Sun; and if the damage which they do were general through all the Provinces of Prete janni, they would perish with Famine, and it were impossible to inhabit the same, but one year they destroy one Province; sometimes in two or three of these Provinces, and wheresoever they go, the Country remaineth more ruinate and destroyed, than if it had been set on fire. These Vermin are as great as a great Grasshopper, and have yellow wings, we know of their coming a day before, not because we see them, but we know it by the Sun, which showeth his beams of a yellow colour, which is a sign that they draw near the Country, and the ground becoming yellow, through the light which reverberateth from their wings, whereupon the people become suddenly as dead men, saying, we are undone, for the Locusts come. During our abode in the Town of Baru●, we saw the sign of the Sun, and the shadow of the earth, which was all yellow, whereat the people were half dead for sorrow; the next day, the number of these Vermin which came was incredible, covering four and twenty miles in compass. At another time we traveled five day's journey, through places wholly waste and destroyed, wherein M●llet had been sown, which had stalks as great as those which we set in our Vineyards, and we saw them all broken and beaten down, as if a Tempest had been there, and this the Locusts did; the trees were without leaves, and the barks of them were all devoured, and no grass was there to be seen, for they had eaten up all things, and if we had not carried Victuals with us, we and our cattle had perished. This Country was all covered with Locusts without wings, and they told us, that those were the seed of them which had eaten up all, and that as soon as their wings were grown, they would seek after the old ones, and the number of them was infinite. While we abode in a place called Aquate, at another time came such an infinite swaime of Locusts, as it is incredible to declare, they began to come about three of the clock in the afternoon, and ceased not till night, and as they came they lighted, and the next day in the morning they began to depart, so that by nine of the clock there was not one of them left, and the trees remained without leaves. The same day and hour there came another squadron of them, and these left neither bough nor tree unpilled, and so they continued for the space of five days, and they said they were young ones which went to seek the old ones, and they did the like, where we saw them that were without wings, and the compass which these Locusts took, was nine miles, wherein was neither leaves, nor barks on the trees. This Country seemed not to be burnt up, but rather to be covered with snow, by reason of the whiteness of the trees, which were all peeled, so that all the Country remained bare. At such times the people depart from their own Country, so that we have found all the ways full of men and women, travelling on foot with their children in their arms, and upon their heads, going into other Countries, where they might find food, which was a pitiful thing to behold. Once, Eutyopius makes mention of great Locusts, which Eutropius l. 4 were seen not far from the Roman Territory, so formidable, and such devourers, that the inhabitants were frighted with the beholding of them, so that we must conclude that these small creatures have a chief place among God's Troops and Armies. If Pharaoh ask, Who is the Lord? Not Angels, not Men, nor yet fierce Lions, and Tigers, but devouring Grasshoppers shall be his challengers and conquerors, and ask, Who is Pharaoh? They are all females if we believe Vincentius, and Albertus, Vincentius as the Scarabees all males. Great droughts produce them, at least cause a prodigious increase of them, 1553. after five years' drought, were great Armies of them; And Paulus Draco●us reports that in the tenth year of Mauritius the Emperor after a great drought from january to September, there were infinite multitudes of Locusts, which two years caused a great famine in Italy, by consuming corn and fruits, and 1542. an innumerable multitude of Locusts overspread a great part of Europe, at first they wanted wings (being it seems produced by the drought) after they had two, and then four, and having wasted one place, went unto another, leaving a terrible stink after Cornelius Gea●●a. them wheresoever they had been, but at last with Autumn's cold were destroyed. Their extraordinary appearance is (accounted by some) a Hieron. Mercuri●lis. Georgius Tu●onensi●. sign of an approaching plague, sometimes of war, for it is reported, that two Armies passing by Clermont into the Romanaick Territory (a place in France) there fought together, where many of of them were killed; when Clo●a●ius was about to fight with his son Chrannus, whom overcoming, he caused to be burnt with his wife and children. These eaters are usually eaten by the inhabitants of Arabia deserta, and of Lybia, who esteem their coming as a fortunate Jo. I. ●o lib. 9 boding, for seething and drying them in the Sun, they bruise them to powder, and so eat them. And they were the food of john Baptist in the Desert, yet there have been some, as Theop●ylact testifies, who understood by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the bud● o● tops of certain herbs, o● some kind Theophilact. of wild fruits, in which number was Hermolaus Barbarus, who saith chrysostom, and A●ha●osius before him, were of the same judgement; but chrysostom denies it, and saith a Locust is a Hom. ● in Marc. small creature, between a flying, and ● creeping; of which in the De●ar●s of Iud●a were great store, they were wont to boil them in oil, and they were the food of the poorer sort. Augustine confirms it also, that john fed of Locusts. And August in Epist. ad Rom. Theophilact witnesseth the same, who doth also interpret the eating of Locusts allegorically, as also Orig●n. Diodorus saith that the Acrid●●agi, or the Ethiopians bordering Adamant▪ Origines, Diodorus, Siculus. lib. 3. c. 3. Strabo. Geopra●. l. 16. Solinus poly hist. c. 43. on the Desert that feed on Grasshoppers, are of lower stature than other men, l●an, and exceeding black; So also. Str●b●, and adds they are of a very short life, seldom exceeding forty. And Solinus also takes notice that the borderers on M●urhania in a certain season (the Spring) gather great quantities of Locusts which they salt, and live hereof all the year, but none outlive forty years. The Parthians of old fed of them, as Pliny▪ reports. And Scaliger exer●itat. 9 ●. Scaliger saith, the Syrians and Persians eat them before they have wings, namely the young ones. It is to be observed, that all Grashopper-eaters are of a Hieron. Mercurialis lib. 2. v●●. lect. 20. short life: A learned Physician enquiring what was the cause the people about the Red-sea are troubled with boils on their legs and arms, demands if it be from the air, or the region, or their food, concludes peremptorily it was from their food. And Diodorus affirms that certain people with frequent eating of Diodorus l. 3. cap. 3. Locusts, were not only short lived, but much anguished, and at last consumed, not only with boils (mentioned before) but with Agatharsis. a cruel kind of winged lice, of which one gives a full relation. At the Vernal equinox when the South-west-winds blow from an uncertain place, an incredible number of great Locusts are brought, which in flying differ little from birds, but much in the shape of their bodies. With these Locusts salted and otherways prepared, the people live, they are excellent for footmanship, but feeding of so dry nourishment, they live not beyond the fortieth year, for than they die, if not before, a miserable death, for a certain kind of winged louse is bred in their bodies, like unto. Dog-flyes, but somewhat less. They begin at the breast and belly, and in a short space eat off all the skin of the face. Some of them are like Lepers, and gievously scratch themselves, and the disease still continuing, and these vermin increasing, their humours are spent, and they extremely tormented, till at length they be killed and consumed by them. CHAP. XXXII. Of American Bees. IN the West-Indies the Bees are small, about the bigness of Gonc●lo Fernandes de O●●edo naturally general ●storia de la India's. c. ●o. Flies, or somewhat greater, and the points of their wings cut overthwart, and have through the middle of the wing, one white line across. They have no sting. They make great Hony-combs, and the holes in them are four times greater than the cells of our European Bees, although they be much smaller, their honey is good and wholesome, but it is very dark, like wine being boiled. In the Island of Coz●mel, which is near the coast of Iuea●an, Rhamusco vo●●erzo delle Indie l. 17. c. 1. there are many Hives of Bees like those of Spain, but less, and much honey, and wax, the honey is like the Spanish honey, but somewhat sharper. In the Island of Hispaniola are no Bees, that ever I saw or Goncalo Fern. de Oviedo ●e●la generale & naturale historia della India l. 15 c. 3. ●●●● Rhamul. 3 vol. P●rch●●●●●g. 3 part l. 5 c 3. Jo. school. l. 4. c. 34. heard of. In the firm land are very many, and of many kinds, as well as in the form and shape of the creature, as also in the variety of the taste and colour of the honey, and difference of the wax. But though Oviedo neither saw nor heard of any, yet are there ●●es in Hispaniola, but as small as Flies, which sting not; their hives are four times as great as ours, their honey is white. In the Indies are few swarms of Bees (he understands domestic Bees, which then were rare, but now in many places common. Their Honeycombs are found in trees, or under the ground, and not in Hives as in Castille. The Honeycombs, which I have seen in the Province of Char●●s, which they call Chiguanas are of a grey colour, and have little juice, and are more like unto sweet straw, then to Honeycombs. The Bees are little like, unto Flies, the honey is sharp and black, yet in some places there is better, and the combs better fashioned, as in the Province of Tucuman in Chille, and in Carthagene. In Peru, especially about the City Cartage, are many Bees, Cronica del Peru per Pedro de Ci●ca, c. 25 which breed in hollow Trees, and make as good Honey as the Bees in Spain; there is one sort of Bees not much greater than Gnats, these stop up the hole, or passage into the cavity of the tree, and by a pipe of wax as great as the middle finger, go in and out to their labours, their Honey is thin and somewhat sharp, they get usually about a quart of honey out of a tree. There is another sort of Bees which are somewhat greater, and black (for the former are white) the entrance into the tree where they work is made up (except a passage for them) with wax, and some other mixture, whereby it is harder than a stone, their honey is without comparison better than the former, and a Tree will afford usually a gallon, and sometimes more. There is another sort of Bees which are greater than the Spanish Bees, but none of them stings but when they find that any go about to plunder them, they will charge upon him that ●nts the tree, and hang about his hair and beard; these greater Bees yield usually three gallons out of a tree, and it is ●a●ie better honey than any of the former. In the Province of Guayaquil, which is not far from Quito, An● D'Herrera Historia general de los hechos, etc. decad. 5. lib. 10. c. 10. they breed in Trees, and are not much greater than Flies, the Wax and the Honey which they gather is red, and although it hath a good taste, yet is it not like to the Honey of Castille. Near the Rivers of Vasses and Plate, the Bees are not like ours, being not greater than the small Flies where with we a●… Maximil. Transilvanus in Epist. ad Episcop. salisburg. troubled in Summer; they work in Trees, and make larger combs than ours, the extremities of their wings are blunt, as if they were cut (Oviedo and T●evet confirm it) or bitten off, and have in the middle of them a cross spot drawing towards white, without stings, their wax is as black as pitch. The honey generally of the Bees, of the new world, candies not, but is always liquid like oil. The Country of Mackasies 372. German miles from the Huldrichus Smidel. City of Assumption in the River of Pla●e (near Pern) is so abundant in Bees, that you shall scarce open any tree with a hatchet, where will not run out five or six measures of pure honey; the Bees that make it are very little, and without stings. Aldrovandus citing Hispanus saith, that in the Isle of Cumana, Petrus Hispanus. the swarms hang on the Trees, and slow down with honey. In Ty●ona, not far from Quito, the Indians make many conserveses A. d'Hertera de las Indi●s occid decad. 6. l. 3. c. 1●. Lin●coten. l. 3. of honey, which is somewhat plentiful with them, and send them to sell to the Countries round about them. The Indians of Cumana, although their Country be well replenished, with good bread, corn, fruits, and all kind of fish in great abundance, yet eat Bees, Lice, Spiders, etc. The Brasilian Bees are very unlike to ours, and dister not Hist. Navigat. in Brasil. Letius. much from the little black flesh Flye, which annoy us in Summer, and make their combs usually in hollow trees; they call the honey Y●a, which they eat as we do, their wax is as black as pitch, which they call Ye●i●, they use it not for candles, as we do, but to stop their great Canes, wherein they keep their feathers that they be not eaten by a kind of Butterfly, which they call Arovers. They come in multitudes to the fire, like Crickets, where they eat whatsoever they find, especially they gnaw the upper part of leathern doublets, and shoes. If we negligently reserved hens, or other food, in the morning, we, should have only bones. Several sorts of Bees in Brasile: Yeatee is the smallest of Mr. Joh. Stan●s▪ my friend, and neighbour who lived many years in Brasil. all the Bees that ever I have seen in the Country, and is in making much like a gnat, but of a yellowish colour, and hath commonly her honey in the hollow of a tree, either at the root, or not above three or four foot from it; it stingeth not, and where they enter, they make a pipe of yellowish wax about four inches long, with the mouth of it, like to the mouth of a Trumpet, the combs are joined together like clusters of Nuts, and their honey is an excellent ba●some, for I have had experience of it myself for the curing of very dangerous green wounds. Zellab, and Zellobson are the two chief sorts of Bees, and sting not at all; the lesser is so like our Bees here in England, that I think I should not know one from the other, the other is bigger, but yet much of the same colour; they have honey in abundance, and the further up into the Country the more plenty; I have seen more taken out of a tree at a time than a Firkin will hold, as clear as running water, but if drunken, it is exceeding-strong, and causeth thirst, it must be taken very moderately. They build most commonly in some hollow bough of the tree, or else in the body of a tree, called by the Indians Kerauvab, they have their honey in clusters of balls, much like our Humble-Bees, and their young ones in combs which lie compassed with the balls of honey, and in the balls you shall find some honey as it is new brought in, very thick and dry, but taste it, it is very sour, and so some more near ripe, but not fit to eat, until it come to be clear as water; you may see in the balls or clusters, the colour of the blossom from whence it was gathered. There are two other sorts of Bees that are but small, and of a black colour, one sort stingeth not, but the other doth; they are very like each to other, and build about the middle of the tree, the honey of them both is much alike, but not so good as the former, being of a darker colour, and their combs are in manner with the former, and they are called E●ete. There are other sorts of black Bees called Erepnoh and Erepnohuson, they both sting, and entangle much in a man's hair, the one buildeth in the hollow of a tree, and the other in the branches, that which buildeth in the hollow of a tree, will not suffer any man to come within two or three rods of the tree where they are. I never saw any of their honey, but the natives have told me, that they have indifferent store, but it is very laxative, and breedeth diseases in the eater, as bloody flixes, etc. the other buildeth in the branches, and make their house of dirt, bigger than one of our large Bee-hives, and enter at the middle of it, their young▪ are as it were, in little cells or chambers, and from thence between several layings of dirt, they have their honey, which is not very much, but is binding. There is another small sort of Bees, and they either build in fields, where there are but small store of trees, and they low ones; they are of an ashy colour, and build in the branches like Erepnohs but their nest is like a film, or skin, and of the colour of the Bee, they have not much honey, and have a thin flat comb, or else they build among the Tobacoes, and from thence they take their name, being called Tobac●v●. I Hispaniola their Wasps are greater than ours, and sting Purch●● Pilg. 3. part. l. 5. c. 3. Oviedo l. 15. c. 3. more dangerously. There are many of them, and they very poisonful, they cause great pain when they sting, they are like those of Castil●, but somewhat greater, and under their wings above the yellow towards the end, have a little Lion-like colour. More Oviedo. Suma●▪ ●●o de la naturaly general istoria de las India's c. 49. fully in another place, he saith, There are many Wasps in the West-Indies. They are very hurtful and venomous, and their stinging is without comparison, more painful than the stinging of Spanish Wasps, they are almost of the same colour, but greater, and the yellow of them is more red, and their wings are spotted with a black colour, and the points of them reddish of a burnt colour. They make very great nests, and the clusters of their combs are as large as the combs that the Bees make in Spain, but they are dry and white inclining to russet, they have nothing in them but their young: They breed in trees, and also in the roofs and timbers of houses. There are many Hornets in Hispaniola, and their stinging more torments, than the stinging of their Wasps. Rhamusio l. 15. c. 3. torzo V●l● Mr. John. Stanes. ● There are two sorts of Hornets in Brasile, which the Indians call Moribundas, the one black, and the other much of the colour of them we have here in England, but the black is bigger and longer, and stingeth violently. They make their house like a Canopy, or much like to the top of a Beehive, and they are fastened to a bough of a very high tree; so that they seldom offend any man, unless they first offend them; but your herdsmen are sometimes much vexed with them, in driving their cattle, they are unruly many times, they run among some Sippoes' or▪ Withes that run into the tree, whereby they disturb them, and then they come down to the terror of men and beasts. Their house is open below, so that you may stand under them, and see them go into a comb that lye●ll flat at the bottom, much like to our Hony-comb. FINIS. Books lately Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, at the Sign of the Three Crowns, over against the Great Conduit, at the lower end of Cheapside. A Learned Commentary, or Exposition upon the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians, by Dr. Richard Sibbs, published for public good by Thomas Manton, Folio. There is newly come forth Mr. William Fenner his Continuation of Christ's Alarm to Drowsy Saints, with a Treatise of Effectual Calling: The Killing Power of the Law: The Spiritual Watch: New Birth: A Christians engrafting into Christ: A Treatise on the Sabbath, which were never before printed, bound in one Volume, Fol. and may be had alone of them that have his other Works, as well as bound with all his former Works, which are now newly Printed in the same Volume with this. Truth brought to light, and discovered by time, or an Historical Narration of the first fourteen years of King james, in 4ᵒ. The Journal or Diary of a thankful Christian, wherein is contained Directions, for the right method of keeping and using, according to the Rules of Practice; a Day-book of National and public, personal and private passages of God's Providence, to help Christians to thankfulness, and experience. By john Beudle, Minister of the Gospel at Barstone in Essex, large 8ᵒ. Mr. robinson's christian's Armour in large 8ᵒ. Book of Emblems, with Latin and English verses made upon (Lights) by Robert Farly, small 8ᵒ. Grace to the Humble, as preparation to the Sacrament in five Sermons by Dr. john Preston. Picturae Louven●es, or Pictures drawn forth into Characters, 12ᵒ. A most Excellent Treatise containing the way to seek Heaven's Glory, to fly Earth's vanity, to seat Hell's horror, with godly Prayers, and the Bell-mans' summons, 12ᵒ. johnsons' Essays expressed in sundry Exquisite Fancies. The one thing necessary; By Mr. Thomas Watson, Minister of Stephens Walbrook, 8ᵒ. Zion in the House of Mourning, because of Sin and Suffering, being an Exposition on the fifth Chapter of the Lamentations, by D. S. Pastor of Uping●am, in the County of Rutland. Groans of the Spirit, or the Trial of the Truth of Prayer. A Handkerchief for Parent's Wet-eyes, upon the death of their children or friends. The Dead Saint speaking to Saints and Sinners living, in several Treatises, viz. On 2▪ S●m. 24. 10. On Cant. 4. 9▪ On Iohn●. 15. On john 1. 50. On I●a. 58. 2. On Exod. 15. 11. Never published before. By Samuel B●lton, D. D. la●e Master of Christ's College in Cambridge. Four profitable Treatises very useful for Christian practice, viz. The Killing Power of the Law: The Spiritual Watch: The New Birth: Of the Sabbath. By the Reverend William Fenner, late Minister of R●chford in Essex. People's Need of a Living Pastor, at the Funeral of Mr. john Frost, M. ●. by Mr. Za●h. Crof●on. A Treatise against the Toleration of all Religions. By Mr. Thomas Edward's. Chatechizing Gods Ordinance in sundry Sermons, by Mr. Zachary Crof●on, Minister of Buttolp●s Aldgate London, the second Edition corrected and augmented. A Coppy-Book methodised and engraven, by Thomas Cross, wherein fair Writing is expressed, by which one may learn to write of himself, that can but read▪ Dr. stoughton's thirteen Sermons containing the form of Sound words, and some other Treatises. The Godly Man's Ark, or City of Refuge, in the day of his Distress, discovered in divers Sermons, the first of which was preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Moor. Whereunto is annexed Mrs. Elizabeth Moor's Evidences for Heaven, composed and collected by her in the timeof her health, for her comfort in the time of sickness; By Ed. Calamy, B. D. and Pastor of the Church at Aldermanburic. Enchi●idion judicum, or Iehosaphat● Charge to his Judges, opened in a Sermon before the Right Honourable the Judges, and the Right Worshipful, the Sheriff of the County Palatine of Lancaster. Together with Catastrophe Magnatum, or King David● Lamentation, at Prince Abners Incineration. In a Sermon meditated on the Fall, and preached at the Funeral of the Right Worshipful john Atherton of Atherton, Esq high-sheriff of the County Palatine of Lancaster. By john Livesey Minister of the Gospel at Atherton. There are going to the Press some new Pieces of Mr. William Fenners, late of R●tchford in Essex, never yet printed, preserved by a special Providence, one of which is a Second Part of his Wilful Impenitency; being five Sermons more that he preached upon the 18. of Ezekiel, and the 32, verse, FINIS. Mr. Purchas His Theatre of Political Flying-Insects. THE Second Part. BEING Meditations and Observations, Theologicall, and Moral, Upon the Nature OF BEES. By Samuel Purchas Master of Arts, and Pastor of Sutton in Essex. LONDON; Printed by M. S. for Thomas Parkhurst, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the sign of the three Crowns, over against the Great Conduit at the lower end of Cheapside. 1657. THE SECOND PART▪ Meditations and Observations, Theological and Moral, in three Sentries, upon the nature of Bees. The first Sentry. THere is no creature but may teach a good soul one step towards his Creator. We ought therefore to make a spiritual use of things natural, and the things of this present life, by them raising up our minds to heavenly meditations, and in an holy alchemy (as one saith) draw gold out of lead, heaven out of earth, grace out of nature. The world is a glass wherein we may contemplate the eternal power and majesty of God; For the invisible things of him from the creation of the Rom. 1. 20. world are clearly scene, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God▪ head. It is that great book of so large a character, that a man may run and read it, yea even the simplest man that cannot read, may yet spell out of this book that there is a God. Every shepherd hath this Calendar, and every ploughman this A, B, C. What the French Poet divinely sung is thus as sweetly Englished. I. Silveste●. The world's a school wherein a general story, God always reads dumb lectures of his glory. A shame therefore for us to have earthly hearts void of spiritual meditation, when every creature every where yields us matter enough. All of us can use the creatures carnally, and so can beasts; the spiritual use is rare. II. God humbles us with ignorance in many things, not only divine but natural and in common use, as in the Lodestones drawing of iron. In that little fish the Remora, the stay-ship that will arrest a ship when it is going full sail In the nature of Bees how blind are we? notwithstanding all our observation and labour. In the production and continuance of the Queen Dr. Dike Evangel. histories. Bee, in the generation of other Bees, and generally in the forms of all things. A just punishment of our pride, in affecting and aspiring to knowledge too high for us. And if there be in nature such secrets, what then in grace? Let us not be too curious in prying into God's ark, lest we smart like the fly fluttering about the candle, for God is a consuming fire to those that will be sporting themselves in the quirks of their wit about his sacred mysteries. Let us wait till the life to come, and the veil shall be taken from our eyes, in the mean time humble ignorance is better than proud curiosity. III. Many have troubled themselves and others to discover the several kinds of working Bees, whereas of working Bees in these parts of the world, there is but one sort. And all Bees agree, if not in a just magnitude, colour, and proportion, yet certainly, in their operations, natural dispositions and inclinations; So that our Bees and Bees in Spain and other parts make all their combs with like hexangle cells, and are all industrious to gather honey, although in some parts according to the Climate they are more retarded from working then in others. And all the Saints that are dispersed throughout the whole world, have the same nature in them (although there be external differences) they have the same spirit in them, though they be never so remote one from another, & never saw one another's face, yet may they know one another's minds, for one mind dwells in them. And when one mind dwells in divers, they be of the same disposition, one nature is common to them all. IV. Wasps labour not as the Bees to furnish themselves with provision for the future, but for the most part live on spoil and rapine; and about this are as indefatigably diligent and earnest early and late, as the painful Bees in their profitable labours. So it is with many in the State, who in unlawful callings, and in the maintenance of their unlawful trades do take as much pains, nay more than some in lawful. Demetrius his example shows it, Act. 19 and the Proverb is, The belly hath no ears. V. Many creatures have retireing places; the Bees when winter, night or storms approach, they have their hives or dwellings in trees, they have their hideing places. Only a wicked Dr. Sibbs, The poor man's riches. careless man that hath not acquainted himself with God, when troubles come he hath no hideing place, nor no abiding place, but lies open to the storm of God's displeasure▪ therefore he is surprised with fears and cares, and pulled in pieces with distractions: he is a Meteor that hangs in the clouds, he cannot tell which way to fall. VI Bees are laborious and industrious in their youth, and yet dispense not with themselves to be idle in their age, but as their skill is increased by daily practice, so do they with incessant diligence follow their business▪ and that in the most difficult and laborious tasks, being more early at their work then the younger; and in chilling airs when they dare not venture forth, will they be abroad▪ nay when they are weak, and have over-spent bodies and ragged wings▪ yet will they be abroad, although they miscarry in their labours. How different is the practice of the men of the world? where a new broom sweeps clean. Their first beginnings are goodly and glorious, but the Dr. Dike, Evangel. Histories. end is not answerable. Many are hot professors and zealous in their younger years, but grow key-cold in their elder years; therefore Eccles. 7. The end is better than the beginning. This deceitfulness of men is also in their special callings. Many good Magistrates at the first, as Saul; and Ministers, as judas; but they are best at first, like N●buchadnezzar: image, a golden head, and iron and clayie feet. VII. If a man did find an all-sufficiency in God, he would never Dr. Preston, God's All sufficiency. turn from him, nor seek to the creature; Even as the Bee, if it did find honey enough in one flower, would not hasten to another; but because it doth not, it goes from flower to flower. And so is the nature of man, as Solomon expresseth it, saying, that he hastened to outward things, that is, when he fell upon one, he found not enough in it, he made haste to another, and to another. So the nature of man if it did find sweetness and comfort and contentment enough in God, it would not turn from him to the creature, but because in his sense the object is too narrow, there is somewhat he would have more, he looks over the Pale as it were, he seeth something he desireth, and that causeth him to step out. VIII. Bees will endure Wasps abroad, or in other hives, but never willingly in their own; for antipathy is a perpetual enmity. If the force of antipathy prevail so far to make an irreconcilable hatred, as great should be our hatred against sinners and God's dishonour. It is fearful when we can easily comport with the wicked and digest their company and society. IX. Bees when they are weary of the drones, having no further use of them; and fearing prejudice and future want by their gourmandizing; at first show their dislike by molesting and troubling of them, but when this will not cause them to depart, nor yet give over their wont courses, then with courage and confidence do they set upon them, confront, kill, and slay them. Teaching Christians according to their places, that it is not enough to dislike the doings and practices of the wicked, but they must, having reproved them, confront & oppose them, nay strive, contend, and war with them. Many faintly and coldly show their dislike against wicked men, as Eli against his wicked sons: But this is (to use S●phocles his comparison) as if in a festered wound or sore, the Chirurgeon should only blow upon it with his mouth, whereas there must be cutting, lancing, searching, burning, and the greatest violence that can be. Asa was herein famous for not enduring his own mother in her Idolatry. 2 Chro. 15. 16. X. If the Queen Be in a swarm, following after the company (but because of the weakness of her wings, or tenderness of her constitution, being never abroad before, and so not able at first to endure the cooler air) fall down; they that be her present attendants, and saw her fall, stoop with her, encircle her, (and if she rise not and retrne to the hive, or go to the main body of the swarm, (fettled perhaps a little distance with longing and trembling expectation of her presence) stay with her and starve with her rather than forsake her, contenting themselves with the condition of their Leader. And shall afflictions be the way that the Master enters into glory, and the members find fault with them? shall the head be crowned with thorns, and the members wrapped in softness? this is an unhandsome indecency, and a disunion too near an antipathy; who ever will be Christ's Disciple, must take up his cross, deny himself, his own fonder appetites, and trace his Master's footsteps, though marked out with blood that he shed for our redemption; for he that will save his life shall lose it, and he that will lose it shall save it to eternity. XI. Put a drop of honey into a bottle of Vinegar, it is as sharp as before: so drop in the sweet word of God into such an heart Dr. T. Tailor, Parable of the Sour. as i● soured with the world, the taste is not changed, the word is not overmastered. XII. Bees for the most part feed on honey, which over-liberally eaten turns to choler, no wonder then if they be fiery furious and choleric creatures: There is a power in meats to assimilate Mr. Cotton expos▪ on the first Epist of joh. c. 2. v. 17. those that eat them, what we feed on we are oft like unto: feed on gross meats, your spirits will be more gross and dull, feed on light meats, your spirits will be more quick and agile: so if a man feeds on the world, he can relish nothing but the world, his spirit is made carnal and stupid and worldly, and can rise no higher, therefore when Solomon gave himself to seek Eccles. 2. 3. pleasures, to try what was in them, though he did not neglect wisdom, as Eccles. 1. 8. yet he found by experience, deal as wisely as he could, in the end they did so stupefy him, that he was led away by them to Idolatry. Then is a man become stupid 1 Kings 11. 4. when he is serious about trifles, and trifling about serious things: by pursuit of these his judgement was quick in earthly matters, but in matters of religion▪ he began to grow very weak and ignorant; how much more than they that wholly give themselves to the lusts and pleasures of the world? XIII. Bees in violent frosts are torpid and stir not, especially in the Northern regions, where they are almost all winter, if not in a dead▪ yet a very deep sleep, but the mighty power of God in the return of the spring revives and quickens them. And it is not a less almighty power that keeps the life of grace in the greatest falls and temptations of the Saints; that keeps life in David and Peter, that it should quicken and revive again when the Sun of righteousness with comforting beams refresheth and warmeth them. XIV. Bees are patient and harmless creatures, and seldom unprovoked pro●… injurious; but he that shall often stand before the hives in the heat of the day, when they return home with their labours, may too late repent his temereity and foolhardiness. Lawful liberty used to the full is exceeding dangerous, he that will take all the liberty he may, will sometimes take that he may not. It is not life at all times to go into the high Priests hall. We are oft mistaken in our judgements concerning Dr. I▪ Taylor, The great Exemplar. the lawfulness or unlawfulness of actions; He that will do all that he thinks he may lawfully do, if he increase in giving himself liberty, will quickly arrive at doing things unlawful. He that because a man may be innocently angry, will never refrain his passion, in a little time will be intemperate in his anger, and mistake both his object and the degree. Thus facetiousness and urbanity entertained with an open hand, will turn into jestings that are uncomely. If you will be secure, remove your tent, dwell further off, God hath given us more liberty than we may safely use. XV. Let Bees be kept close and imprisoned in their hives, though they have ease and air in abundance, yet they will not be contented, but still complain and murmur, gnawing and eating away the stopping and impediments, that they may apply themselves to their natural and delightful labours: so a river let it be dammed and stopped up, yet if the course of it be natural to go downwards, at length it will overbeare the dam and run over. Let water that is sweet be made brackish, by the overflowing of salt water, yet because naturally it is sweet, it will in time work out the saltness. Here we have a picture of every man's nature, look what the constant stream of his disposition is, that which is natural to him, though he may be p●nt up and hindered from the practice of it for a time, yet will he break through all impediments that he may be at it, though some temptations may forcibly break in and b●r●e and stop up for a time his walking heaven-ward, yet will he never be at rest, until he hath removed them, and got into his former course again; whereas if a wicked man step into a good course by some trial, or good education, etc. yet long he will ●ot hold in it, he will break through the impediment because his natural disposition, the stream of his heart runs another way. XVI. Bees will not be without a Leader, for in all they act they receive directions from the Queen Bee. As the governor of a ship, he hath his hand (sometimes) to the sterrage, and his eye to the Polestar to be directed by that; so is the life of a Dr. Sibbs. Christian, he must always be doing that, that God prescribes him, and he must have his eye to the star to be guided in his course by God's direction: he that doth not this knows not what it is to trust in God. XVII. As the Bear dares hardly intermeddle with his desired honey, for fear of the stinging of the Bees; so some men dare not commit sin, for fear either of the laws of men, or in slavish fear of hell, or the prologue to it, terror of conscience, yet hugs it in his heart, embraceth it in the arms of his affection, suffers it to reign in his heart, and to take up his thoughts as by a Commission, continually contemplating thereon. XVIII. The Drones labour not, but altogether intent their pastime and recreation, and then return into the hive, and fill themselves with the purest honey, whereby they quickly grow foggy, and either cannot when they go forth return into the hive, and so perish abroad, or after a while are ejected or slain by the Bees. And such sporting Drones the world is full of, Mr. Bolton, Direct. for walking with God. who plunge themselves over head and ears in courses of pleasure, wherein they unworthily wast the fat and marrow of dear and precious time, the flower of their age, the strength of their bodies, emasculate and melt the vigour of their spirits into effeminate sensuality and lust, drown the fair and goodly hopes of their education, the improvement of their parts in froth and folly, as though they were placed upon earth, as Leviathan in the Sea, only to take their sport and pastime therein. Lovers they are of pleasure, and having their fool's paradise here, must therefore in the equity of a just and holy proportion, with the rich man look for their payment and torment hereafter. XIX. Bees will not continue well nor long without a Leader, nor will they endure divers or more than one. Therefore in the union of swarms, and in castlings, where sometimes many go forth, yet will the Bees dethrone and destroy all but one, and until it be effected are in a discontented tumult and hurly burly, yea often in a civil war, and if it fall out the parts to be somewhat equal, thereby is occasioned (sometimes) a total ruin and destruction. For look how far any thing goes from unity, so near it comes to perishing, and any where the more peace and unity, the more safety and security. And if in the little compass of a hive, there is such need of a governor and unity, much more in the great hive of the world. And this governor must needs be God, for by men or Angels it cannot be governed. The preservation of every thing is in the unity of it; and therefore you see any thing that is divided, that division is the dissolution of it, as when the soul is divided from the body, and when the body is divided from itself; so likewise in a family or Common wealth, much more in the world. If there were not one fountain, there would be different streams, and if there were divers principles of things, there would be a swarving and division in the nature and order of things, and so not an unity, and so by consequence it would be the destruction of the whole. Of necessity therefore there must be a governor, and this governor must be one, and that one is God, who guides every creature under the Sun, even the smallest of the creatures, and orders and directs them to their several ends and businesses, to which he hath appointed them. XX. Bees being little and light creatures, are much agitated and disturbed with tempestuous and stormy winds, which because they cannot altogether prevent, they by a natural sagacity and providence do arm and enable themselves against them. The Bees of Candie (as it is reported) poise themselves with smaller Platarch. De solertia animal. pebbles which they carry in their feet, but our Bees to help themselves fly very low near to the surface of the earth, and for the most part under the Lee-side of a hedge, whereby the violence of the wind is much checked and broken. For as a Ship that is well furnished with tackle and fails, that may give the motion and advance the swiftness of it; yet if it hath not ballast in it, or weight in it to make it go steady, or a Lee-shore, where (by the height of the banks) the violence of the wind is somewhat broken, it is up and down tossed always, and the more fails the more danger and hazard. So Christians in their voyage to the new jerusalem, must not only have the wings of love, but the ballast of fear descending in a low flight to make them go steady. We must not have love only but fear, (whereby we fly low) lest otherwise we move but want only, skipping and danceing by fits and by spurts in good ways, and keep not any constant course in our holy voyage. The eminency and excellency, the security and safety of a Christian conversation ariseth from a mixture of fear and love; for as the purest white and fairest red mixed together, make the Dr. S●●ugh ●●n▪ Righteous ●●n● plea to t●●e happiness. beauty of the face in the body: so the mixture of fear and love make the beauty of the affection in the soul, fear mixed with love, for it must not go alone. Fear though it be apt to make us careful and cautious, careful how to please God; and cautious, fearful to offend him, yet if it be alone will precipitate us into despair, or into the forlorn hope It must be tempered therefore with love▪ that we look not only upon the greatness, but on the goodness and sweetness of God, that as we are affected with the prospect of the one, viz. his greatness, with an affection of holy humble fear, and lowly awe and reverence of him, so that that may not beat us down and overthrow us by despair, we must keep up (advanced by the wings of love) looking upon his sweetness and his goodness. If we think on nothing but love, six our eyes on nothing but goodness and sweetness in God, we shall be ready to charge our sins on his back in our presumption of his goodness, building on his mercy inordinately, and so presume to do any thing. I say, love alone would be too want on except it be poised and balanced with a holy fear and awe and reverence of God. XXI. If a swarm be checked and stunted with bad weather presently after it is hived, or if it be small, or very late in the year, the Bees will be carelessly desperate, and gather nothing to purpose, for they are out of hope to get enough for their winter's provision and maintenance, and as good never a whit as never the better. Good is the Loadstone of all endeavours, a man will Mr. Ho●ker, Souls preparation for Christ. not labour for nothing, therefore despair kills a man's labours, and plucks up the root of all his endeavours; if there be any good present, hope makes us labour to increase it; if there be any good to come, hope labours to attain it: but good there must be at least in hope and expectation, or else all endeavours will flag and wither away to nothing. XXII. The field wherein Bees feed, is no whit the barer for their Mr. F●●●ers Med. biting, when they have taken their full repast of flowers or grass, the Ox may feed, the sheep fat on their reversions. The reason is because those little Chemists distil only the resined part of the flower, leaving the grosser substance thereof. So ejaculations bind not men to any bodily observance, only busy the spiritual half, which maketh consistent with the prosecution of any other employment. XXIII. Many observing the Bees flying into their hive, suppose them best furnished, that they see go home laden on their thighs, and think the other idle that they see carry nothing; whereas though the former be well busied, yet oft times the other are better who are more deeply more richly laden, being full freighted with honey. God's servants in this life are more in substance then in show, when they fast, they anoint not their faces; and when they give alms let not their right hand know, what their left hand doth. Good actions are not always rewarded here, and therefore in vain do men muster and set them out upon beadroles in this life: labour to get the approbation of God, and so do good that thy conscience may be well stored in God's sight, who seeing thee in secret may reward thee openly, and make thy light shine clear as the perfect day. The wise Virgins Mr. johnston, Parable of the Virgins. have their oil in their vessels, that is, have their holiness and beauty hidden, and their actions only to be taken notice of by God. XXIV. Bees, if they be not disturbed or provoked, are seldom troublesome or offensive, especially in a remote distance from their hives, but molest or disquiet them at home, than they will furiously invade you, and admit of no terms of peace, but die or prevail in the ruin of that man or creature that offends them. There are many men in the world, that seem of excellent natures, quiet spirits, while they are not stirred or moved, but if they be once provoked, the latent embers be uncovered, than they are implacably mischievous. XXV. Bees if they fall into the water and be drowned, or be chilled and dead with cold (if it be less than the space of a day) if you lay them in the warm Sun, or bring them near a fire, they will recover life and revive again, and do well. The affections of God's children are apt to grow dull and languish, if Dr. S●●●gh●on, Righteous man's plea to true happiness. not to be chilled by earthly objects; for our hearts are ponderous, Multum tra●it de terra, de carne multum, it weighs downward, as the weights of a clock move downward continually, and if they be once at the ground, the clock is silent, they must pull it up again every twelve hours, or in such a certain compass they must wind them up. And so in this case, there must be courses of winding up holy affections: if the fire be gone, the fire be out revive it, kindle it again from heaven, reinforce, chase and warm yourselves by the fire of prayer and other holy duties. When the fire on the Altar was extinguished, it was unlawful to have it kindled but only by the means of heaven. It must be the fire of heaven, not any other fire that must revive us. We must oft be renewing of our holy affections to keep them vigorous and lively. We must frequently excite and stir up ourselves, when we begin to faint we must rub and chase our affections, and especially spread our chilled spirits before the Sun of righteousness, that he may with the M●l. 4. 2. heat and healing of his wings revive and quicken us. XXVI. The little worm or potential Bee, after a short life of a few weeks, stirs no more, feeds no more, but lies dead and entombed, in the cell wherein it was bred: but wait with patience a score of days, and you shall see it revive, and appear a far more noble creature than it was before. What is this, but an emblem of the resurrection? Aaron's rod which was a dry and withered stick, in a night buds and blossoms, and brings forth ripe Almonds. For to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to die, and a time Eccles. 3. 1. to rise again. XXVII. Bees can with ease and facility dart in their stings, but they have no power to extract or draw them out again; hurt they can, help or ease they cannot. We are all naturally wise to do evil, but to do good we have no understanding. We are all as spring-locks, shut we can of ourselves, but not open, for our natural powers (as the Schools speak) are become naturales A●nin. impotentiae. And howsoever the sword of the Lord, and the sword of Gideon may go together, yet the hand of Gideon, or the sword in his hand, or the edge on his sword, is not able to pierce, unless God give power, non enim tam agimus quam a deo agimur, saith Zanchie; for man is not so properly said to Zanch. do good, as to be compelled to do it by the good Spirit of God. XXVIII. Robbing Bees will desperately adventure to spoil and plunder their neighbours. But if they find sentinels before the ports to question them, and a strong guard at the gates to oppose them, and when they have with danger and difficulty passed through these, numerous forses within stoutly charging the first assailants with their ruin and destruction. The survivors will be weary and wary, doubtful and fearful further to prosecute their treacherous designs. For even naturally all brute creatures avoid that place where they are sensible by a token that their fellows have miscarried. But how great the neglect of God's judgements among men is appears: perhaps at first they are deeply affected with them, but yet as a pang it is quickly overpast, and as news it soon grows out of date. Pharaoh was no sooner quitted from one plague, but presently his heart was hardened to draw on another. The Israelites that were so affected, flighted and frighted at the horrible end of Corah and his complices, even the morrow after fall on Moses and Aaron, and upbraid them for the loss of the people of God. Many Dr. Prideaux, Higg●ion and S●loh. look on others judgements, as furnished with a supersedeas from all arrests, and argue from their punishment how they have deserved, without the least reflex upon their own mutable condition. XXIX. As Bees are industrious to gather, so what they diligently get, they do not carelessly and at random disperse about the hive, but discreetly and orderly, beginning at the top and so downwards, dispose it in their waxen cabinets, and as soon as they be full of honey close them fast with a waxen lock, both to prevent robbers, and also to necessitate themselves to further labour as long as the season of gathering continues. Many hear, but the word heard profits them not, because they are careless to treasure up the truths delivered, they quickly forget; such are like unto a man who beholds his natural face in James 1▪ 23. a glass, and goeth his way, and forgetteth what manner of man he was. But would we thrive under the means, we must when we have heard and marked and understood the truth of duties delivered, lay them up, lock them closely and safely in our hearts, as in a safe repositary, we must commit good instructions to memory: had we rich treasures we would not lay them up negligently, but keep them under locks and keys, bars and bolts, why then should we let holy instructions slip out of our memories, whereby all former labours, as of the speaker, so, of the hearer is utterly frustrate. XXX. If the Bee lights upon a flower where there is no honey (being wasted or gathered before) she quickly gets off and flies away to another, that will furnish her. Let us not lose ourselves, and forget our errand; our father Adam lost our happiness, and we are sent to seek it; seek it where it is, and Mr. Harris, Way to true happiness. go handsomely to work; say, I am not made for riches, they are made for me; I am not made for creatures, they are made for me, and I am their Master: Therefore these cannot make me happy. I am made for eternity, for everlasting life and happiness. Therefore let me study that, mind that, see that end beyond inferior ends; Why do men seek wealth, but to be happy? why pleasures, why honours, but because they would be happy? If these cannot bless and enhappie me, why should I burn daylight? why should I not off them, as the Bee gets off the plants that yield her no honey, and once at last see where my business lies, in pursuing happiness, and where my happiness lies, in God's ways; the first step whereof is poverty of spirit. XXXI. When the wax is mollified and wrought warm, than set the seal on it, for it will receive the impression. And when God hath any ways mollified our hearts, and made them in a mourning case, close with him; when we find ourselves any whit softened, take the hint, improve that opportunity. XXXII. Bees are naturally harmless and patient creatures, each in and for her own particular will ordinarily receive any prejudice, hurt, or molestation, and when they suffer are wondrous calm, but near the hive, where the cause seems to be public and their common wealth to be endangered, than they are marvellous hot and furious, and notwithstanding the feircest opposition, will resolutely charge all that stand in their way, in the defence of the public, although they die in the conflict. But how far short are many Christians in their practices? in any public cause where the glory of God is concerned, or the common good interested, you shall have them bear all quietly: Oh, saith he, you must have patience, and bear with small matters: but in a cause that toucheth his own particular (say himself be concerned in his penny, in his peace, in his reputation, or the like) than none are so fiery, none so furious, he is all upon a flame, than no penalty is thought too great, no disgrace too heavy for such a person that hath done him displeasure. Whereas a meek Christian in his own cause will be meek and silent, but in God's cause zealous and earnest. See it in Moses when he was censured, disparaged reviled, he bears it quietly, pockets it up without distemper: but at another time when the cause was public, when it concerned the glory of God, and the good of the Church, than none so zealous, none so fiery as Moses, he cannot brook nor bear. XXXIII. Bees in july extract honey out of many and various flowers, but yet by little and little and in a small proportion; but if a honey-dew than falls, in a short space are they largely replenished, and have a triplication of their sweets, and a full refection with their Nectar. Holy prayers, meditations and intercourses with God, private readings, soule-soliloquies and spiritual discourses are intertainers and satisfiers of the Saints recessities, Dr. I. Tailor, The great Exemplar. but in public solemnities, God opens his treasures, powers out his graces more abundantly; private devotions and secret offices of religion are like refresh of a garden with the distilling and petty drops of a watering pot: but addresses to the Temple, and serving God in the public communion of Saints, is like rain from heaven, where the offices are described by a public spirit, heightened by the greater portion of assistance, and receives advantages by the adunations and symbols of charity, and increment by their distinct title to promises appropriate even to their assembling, and mutual support, by the piety of example, by the communication of counsels, by the awfulness of public observation, and the engagements of holy customs. XXXIV. Drones to the eye are goodly creatures, fairer and larger than the working Bees, they make a great noise and loud buzzing, fly often forth in the heat of the day, as if they were busy to advance the public good: but they are all empty and vain glorious shows, for they contribute nothing to the public store, but when after a few wanton vagaries, they have emptied themselves and whetted their stomaches, they return into the hive and liberally feed of the Bees labours. So one writes of young Marius, that by reason of the stoutness of his talk and gesture, he obtained to be called the son of Mars, but when he came to proof, he gained a new name, and was called the son of Venus. Thus many in their words appear gracious, but by their actions are basely effeminate and sickle, wanton and idle. XXXV. Some hives will lie out two or three years together and not swarm▪ or if they do, very late, and then ten to one but they miscarry and die, both the old stock and the swarm too. Now the best way to preserve such a stock, is timely to drive it into an empty hive, and the Bees being many, will provide themselves sufficiently against winter, and swarm seasonably another year, so that in some cases driveing is not an undoing and destruction, but a preservation of the stock. Thus the gardener cuts off a graft or scions to plant it into a new stock, not to Mr. Heoke●, Souls preparation for Christ. burn it. So the Lord sometimes cuts off a sinner from his abominations, but he will not cast him into hell, and the Lord melts the heart of a poor sinner, but consumes him not; but as the Goldsmith melts his gold, not to consume it all away, but to make it a better vessel; so the Lord melts a poor sinner, to make him a vessel of glory. The Lord will fire this proud heart of yours, and clip off those knotty lusts, but if you belong to him, he will leave a little remainder of hope, that you shall be form and fashioned anew, not consumed. XXXVI. The Queen Bee is a very amiable creature, and of a brighter colour, and more transparent hue than other Bees, she is somewhat yellow under the belly, and on her legs, inclining to a golden colour, and this colour intimates her princely nature, her royal blood, and sovereign dignity. Some Heralds tell us, that none ought to bear gold-yellow colour in arms but Emperors and Kings, and such as be of the blood royal. Oh that none would bear the glittering show of profession Mr. R. Abbot, David's desires. and holiness, but those that are of the race of Jesus Christ the King of Kings, than should we not be as the Priests, Prince, and people of Israel, a snare in Mispah to the simple, and a net spread on mount Tabor to catch them that know us not, with an opinion of good men and good women, faithful Christians and true believers, when we are nothing less. XXXVII. The Bees work is admirable, orderly, and geometrically proportionable, all full of wonder; whereas the Wasps and Hornets combs for substance are unprofitable dross, although they be hexangle cells, and somewhat orderly framed downwards, yet upwards have no beauty, are nothing so polite and accurate. But the Humble Bees combs are but rude lumps, a little hollowed for their own end and use. To these three sorts may we compare the obedience of most men professing Religion; there is the obedience of the common Protestant, perhaps somewhat more than a pagan performs, yet a rude and indigested devotion, heaped up together by law and custom. Then there is the obedience of the hypocrite, in many things resembling true devotion, super-fine carriages, but yet on one side only, to man-ward somewhat exact and formal, but to God-ward rudely, careless, and negligent. Whatsoever is done is not done with respect to God and conscience of his commandments. Lastly, there is the obedience of the true believer, arising from a grounded knowledge of the will of God and faith, and from a holy fear and love of God, conscientiously and respectively to approve himself to God in the discharge of his duties, and it is exactly modelized and squared according to the rule of God's word. XXXVIII. It is an observation that a man cannot draw (even in natural Dr. S●oughun. things) a long strait line perfectly exact, except he draw it by some rule; It is not the steadiest hand that can do it exactly, but there will be some crooks. And therefore men use to take a rule to draw a line by. Certainly it must be so in spiritual obedience, a man must have an eye to the word of God, and make that his card and compass to sail by, make that the rule and warrant of his actions or else though he hit (as it were) hab nab at some circumstances, it is not formal obedience. Now though a man may (hand over head, as they say) make some hasty and tumultuous doings, patch up a great deal of mud together, to make a wall, not caring for a square to make it perpendicular (as the Humble Bees rudely compose their combs▪ hand over head without any great care or art) yet if a man would build a Temple or stately Palace, he must do it perpendicular, it must be evenly and orderly built according to an exact line both within and without also (and thus geometrically and regularly build the Bees as it were by square and plummet) or else one part will over-top another, and all tumble down. It is so in this cause, whatsoever is not squared by the rule of God's word, what ever materiality it may have, it hath little or no formality of obedience. XXXIX. How many small things annoy the greatest? even a mouse Dr Hall, Occasional Meditat. troubles an Elephant, a Gnat a Lion, a very flea may disquiet a Giant. What weapon can be nearer to nothing then the sting of a Bee? yet what a painful wound hath it given? that scarce visible point how it invenomes and rankles, and swells up the flesh? the tenderness of the part, adds much to the grief. And if I be thus vexed with the touch of an angry fly, Lord, how shall I be able to endure the sting of a tormenting conscience? as that part is both most active and most sensible, so that wound which it receives from itself, is most intolerably grievous There were more ease in a nest of Hornets, then under this one torture: O God, howsoever I speed abroad, give me peace at home, and what ever my flesh suffers, keep my soul free. Thus pained, wherein do I find ease, but in laying honey to the part affected? that medicine only abates the anguish. How near hath nature placed the remedy to the offence? whensoever my heart is stung with the remorse of sin, only thy sweet and precious merits, O blessed Saviour, can mitigate, and heal the wound; they have virtue to cure me, give me grace to apply them; that sovereign receit shall make my pain happy; I shall thus applaud my grief, it is good for me that I was thus afflicted. XL. Bees (as many other creatures) have wit enough to find out remedies for the cure of their maladies: to preserve them strong and vigorous, and to recover themselves being weak; they (if they be near the Sea) delightfully gather of flowers that grow on the salt marshes, as Thrift, Hog's scurvygrasse, etc. and where they are remote from it, they water in st●kes and saw pits, and extract a nitrous saltness with their water. But man only being wounded by sin, hath not by the light of nature any wit to seek for remedy, yea only man is careless of his eternal salvation. Every one is wise enough to do evil, jer. 4. 22. but to do well they have no understanding: and no marvel, for as the clearest eye beholdeth not the brightest object, except Dr. jenisen, Earth's vanity. the Sunbeams do come between to enlighten it, so the sharpest wits are not able to conceive the heavenly mysteries of our redemption, regeneration and eternal salvation, without the bright beams of God's Spirit shining into them to enlighten them. XLI. Those hives are in best case where the Bees make most noise; but those Commonwealths are in best state where least noiso and tumult is. XLII. As a man may eat too much honey, so pleasure itself Dr. Hakewill, King David's Vow. grows loathsome and distasteful by immoderate use, Nempe voluptatem commendat rarior usus; moderation is the mother of duration. It is like the steady burning of a tape●, or the fire upon the Altar, which never went out, whereas headstrong violence, like a squib or flash of lightning dazzles the eyes for a moment, but is instantly extinct. XLIII. It is not good to provoke Wasps and Hornets, but it is Mr. Randall, St. Paul's triumph. much worse to provoke Devils. Some rude people will dare the Devil, and challenge and bid the wicked fiend to come if he dare, and to do his worst, etc. Silly wretches, the Devil laughs at them, to see how foolhardy they are against him▪ that hath them in his clutches already. XLIV. Bees out of their unwearied and restless nature are incessantly active for their future preservation, and therefore when they cannot work (Harvest being warm but dry, and not affording many flowers) they will steal and plunder. And for that purpose send forth sundry Emissaries, which search and examine every hive in their walk. At first these espials make faint essays, but finding little opposition or contradiction, they then (yet doubtful) enter, and finding the access easy, fetch presently a new supplie, and still recruite their forces, so that after a little while, it will be difficult, if not impossible to withstand them: whereas a guard before the door, a stout resistance or peremptory repulse at the first, would have not only weakened, but frustrated all their designs. Wouldst thou get the mastery over thy sin (whatsoever it be) give it altogether peremptory denials, suffer it not to delight thee in the least tickling conceit and pleasing speculation. It will be easy to abstain from it when the denial is resolute and peremptory; bar up the doors, give ust no audience, get as much strength to resist, as the lust hatl power to attempt. If we cannot put Dr. Prest●●, Doctrine of Mortificat. out a spark, how shall we put out a flame? if we get not the Mastery over the first motion to sin, much less shall we be able to overcome when it is brought to maturity in action. Sin is like the water, give it the least way, and we cannot stay it, run it will in despite of us. And a stream rises by little and little, one shower increasing it, and another making it somewhat bigger, so sin riseth by degrees. XLV. Bees when they are pleased and contented make an uniform and delightful harmony, but being illegally acting as in robbery, or discontented in the loss or absence of their Leader, they are distracted as it were, in their flights (nay frights) and uncertain motions, and displeasing and harsh in their buzzing clangours▪ for as when the string of an instrument is out of tune, than the Music doth jaure: so when discontents predominate, all is in a confused m●dley, atapie, and disorder. Discontents produce not greater mischief in the hive of the Bees, or of the Common wealth then evil concupiscence doth in the soul of a man, it ma●res all his good actions: to mingle water with wine, it makes the wine the worse; to mingle dross with silver, it makes the silver the more impure: so evil concupiscence being in the soul of a man, doth stain disorder, and blemish his good actions, in that he performs them either with vainglory, or selfe-respect. XLVI. Princes promise any thing to discover a treason, but they never Pet Matthew, Continuat. of the general hist. of France, in he life of Hen. the 4th. trust the Traitors, and if happily they favour them for a time, the hatred which follows after is more violent and irrecoverable: for they use them as Countrymen do their Bees, when they have drawn out the honey and wax, they chase them away with fire and smoke. XLVII. Many hate not sin, neither fly it because it is sin, but as M Stock, expos. on Mal. c. 2. v. 16. children do Bees, not because they are Bees, but because they have a sting; so do they sin, because it is hurtful. XLVIII. When Bees are most angry in their swarming or sighting, Dr. Featly, judges Charge. cast but a little earth upon them, and they are presently quiet, and give over their humming noise and contention. So though nothing else can assuage the tumour of the proud, or quench the burning desire of honour in the ambitious, of wealth in the covetous, of pleasure in the volupt●ous; yet the consideration of the grave can. He that seriously thinketh with himself, these goodly robes of mine, cloth nothing but dung, all my dainty fare feeds but worms. I who (perhaps) have power over other men's lives, have no power of my own life, no not for a moment. Even whilst I sit upon prisoners▪ and condemn guilty persons, I am arraigned in my conscience, and plead guilty before God: he that keeps down his heart with these thoughts, can no more be overthrown with pride, than a ship which is well ballasted be blown away with a storm. XLIX. There are no strains in Music so delightful, as those in which discords are artificially bound in with concord's; nor dishes so dainty as those in which sweet-things are seasonably mingled with sour; nor pictures so beautiful as those, in which bright colours with dark shadows are curiously tempered. Nor would the sweetness of honey be so much commended, if there were not difficulty and danger in the compass of it. Did we not fear the sting in the Bees tail, we would not so much value the honey in her mouth? but what with peril, if not pain, is procured, is better prized, more praised. L. Bees as they are always laboriously painful, so especially when they have been long shut up and confined by unseasonable weather; then upon the first approach of a calm Sun-shinie day, do they roof themselves up from their (now loathed) rest; or on the fall of a honey▪ dew in a warm and mild season do they eagerly pursue their delightful labours. Shall irrational creatures take the hints of opportunity, and shall we trifle them away: Let us be jealous and cautious, of these creepings and turnings, these serpentine tricks of the flesh, and the world, that would slay us: Lay hold when thou hast an opportunity to hear, to read, to pray, Post ist ●ccasia calva, make use, take the occasion, when God hath led thee to privacy, thou art there where thou mayst freely have communion with thy God, slight it not negligently, let it not slip, it is Gods call, doth the Spirit of God whisper us, saying, this is a duty thou must do, and thy conscience doth witness with thy spirit, that it is so, and thy own affections (if thou hast any heaven-ward Dr. Stoughton, Righteous man's plea to true happiness. duty-ward) do stir thee also, let not this wind blow in vain over thee▪ extinguish not the Spirit by neglect, when God offereth thee a hint by his Spirit take it, take that hint, I say, a man may do more in an hour of prayer, when he hath the motions and the power of the Spirit, when the forerunner of it is some sweet motion cast into the heart of a man, some sweet touch of meditation puts him upon duty, o● then if a man would make use of the sails of that hint, by that wind he might dispatch a great voyage of prayer, and return richly laden. LI. The first life of a Bee is scarce worthy to be called a life, vita est; non vitali●. She is included in a little narrow cell, without any locomotive power; she hath neither eye to see, nor organ to hear; Is not sensible of danger, much less able to prevent it; Is only capable of that meat, which is put into the mouth, whereby it grows but unprofitably, like a plant rather than a brute: for it can neither help nor hurt, but after it is transmuted by death, it appears in a more excellent and glorious condition: It is agile and industrious, beneficial to itself, to others. In a word, the first life is but a spark raked up in ashes, the other is a spark blown up into a flame; the first is the sap in the root, the latter like the sap that fills the branches with leaves and mature fruit Wherefore is it that the Saints desire death, not that they might be deprived of the comforts of life; they would not put off their clothes, but to be better apparelled. They desire death to attain a life, that might swallow up the weaknesses, sicknesses, troubles of this: not as a gulf swallows up that which is cast into it, or as the fire swallows up the wood by consuming it; but as perfection swallows up imperfection, or as manhood swallows up childhood, not extinguishing it, but drowning it that it is not seen. LII. By nature the Bees expel the Drones, because they affect Mr. Sym▪ Life's preservative. only ease and content themselves to do nothing, caring only to avoid labour which attends upon active and industrious employment. And why was Meroz cursed? because they came Judg. 5. 23. not out to the help of the Lord against the mighty; and idle and floathfull spending of a man's life is every where in Scripture condemned. Wilful defects a domissions of doing good bring damnation, he that wanted his wedding garment was Mat. 22. 13. thrust out of doors and cast into utter darkness. LIII. Soft wax admits any stamp, and simple persons are easily corrupted by themselves, or deceived by others. LIV. The world is troublesome, it's gall is more than its honey, Mr. T. jacombe, E●●k● walk. it is not only vanity but vexation; have all, it is but a vanity, want but a little 'tis vexation. Ahab is sick, because he hath not poor Naboths vineyard; Haman wants but a knee from Mordecai, and this imbitters all. LV. All the ways of worldly pleasure, are strawed with needles Mr. Bolton, Directions for walking with God. and nettles, which ever and anon prick and sting her darlings, as they pluck her fading flowers: so that at best, they are but like Bears robbing a Beehive, who ravenously rifle the combs, and with much ado suck out a little honey, but in the mean time are sound stung, and swollen about their heads for their painful pleasure. LVI. Honey over liberally eaten causeth vomiting, the stomach cannot hold it: such are ill gotten goods to the heart, as the Canaanites were to the good land, the land groaned till it had spewed them out, the conscience travels till it be delivered of these. They are to the soul as jonah to the Whale, the Whale had devoured him, but could not rest, till he was restored; so it is with the conscience, if men play the whales, and make fish of all that comes to net, the conscience will be as weary of such a burden, as the whale of the Prophet's bones. LVII. Many lay the whole strength of their affections, upon the Mr. 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 su●e ●all▪ things they fancy (or as the Cripple lays his full weight upon his crutches) and therefore when they are taken from them (as Pharaohs chariot wheels) they are drawn upon all four, and stick in the mud: yea they set on their affections as the Bee her sting with all their might and strength, they convey into others their very bowels and hearts, and therefore when they are gone they are heartless. LVIII. He that is pained with the Bees stinging, must for cure speedily Geminianus de exemplis. lib. ●. pluck out the sting, and then apply juice of mallows mixed with oil, or honey to the wound. And the best remedy for a wounded conscience, is first to pluck forth the sting of sin, and then to wash in Christ's blood, and for the future keep the heart above all keep; for as the eye is subject to infinite distempers, so is the conscience. LIX. Bees solitary and alone (especially in the night or winter season) are quickly benumbed with cold, and die; but many united together are agile and livel; nay one chilled with cold, put to the many, recovers, and hath a new return of life. So that I do not improperly speak, if I say, they live as much by heat as by meat. And therefore if there be many in a hive, though there be but a tolerable supply of food, they will do well, but if they have never so much meat, and be not many and numerous, they will miscarry and come to nothing. The communion of Saints puts life into those that have it not, and increaseth it in those in whom it is. The health of the body doth not communicate itself to others; it is otherwise in the life of the soul, the life of it makes others to live more, as iron sharpens iron, so one holy man doth another: when two lie together they keep one another warm, there is action and redaction, this is a powerful means to get and increase this life. LX. Bees in the Spring when the weather is fair will work cheerfully, but if the Sun withdraw his beams, the wind blow hollow, the chilling showers descend, than they are presently dull and liveless, scarce appear, if at all not far from the hive; it is an uncomfortable time, the spirits of the Bees lower, are heavy and sad: we see it also in the body, that the animal spirits in the brain, which are the causes of motion and sense, if they be obstructed, there follows an Apoplexy and death. So it is, between Christ and the soul, he is the Dr. Sibbs, Bowels opened. Sun of righteousness, by whose beams we are all comforted and cheered, but when they are withheld, than our spirits decay and are discouraged. Summer and Winter arise from the presence and absence of the Sun, the presence of the Sun when it comes near causeth the earth to be clothed with a rich embroidery of fruits and flowers. And what makes the Summer and Winter in the soul, but the absence or presence of Christ? what makes some so vigorous beyond others, but the presence of the Spirit? As it is in nature so it is here, the presence of Christ is the cause of all spiritual life and vigour, but if he withdraws his presence a little, the soul fails. LXI. Bees when they assault a man strike fiercely at the face, the beauty of man; and principally in the face aim at the eye, the beauty of the face. Thus Satan though he be malicious against all mankind, yet chiefly against those who by Christ are conquered out of his hand, and having their garments washed in the blood of the Lamb are most beautiful. For as the Panther raging on the picture of a man, betrays the hatred he bears unto him. So the Devil to testify how much he hates God himself, spends the greatest of his fury on them that bear the image of God. Thus do Satan's instruments incarnate Devils, though they care not usually whom they wrong▪ opprosse, injure, hate, yet most of all the holy ones in earth are the object of their hatred, they are the drunkards songs, and a sport to the foolish. What muttering, what whispering, what censuring, what sinister construction is set upon every action of theirs? what discovering, what blazeing of infirmities? what so high, but they will reach it; what so deep, but they will be sounding the bottom of it? but a day will come when they will cry out with Cicero, O me nunquam sapientem, et aliquando id quod non eram falso existimatum. Ay me, that indeed was never wise, but falsely thought to be what I was not. And with those in the book of Wisdom; We fools thought his life Wisd 5. v. 4, 5. madness, and his end without honour: how is he accounted among the children of God, and his portion among the Saints? But the innocent heart shall then lift up a cheerful countenance, as knowing that though here it were despised, yet there it shall be justified and rewarded with a crown of glory. LXII. Wasps gather not as Bees yet some seeing them running on the tops of flowers, and sucking in the cells are notably deluded, supposing that they gather as well as the Bees: Whereas they only suck to satisfy a wanton fancy, but carry away nothing for a future supply of themselves or Commonwealth. Hypocrites in many outside duties may comply with believers, and have their conversation in such actions, that they are usually practical in, and so deceive many, who are easily beguiled with similitudes. All deceit is from similitude. False wares having the same die that the true have, deceive the buyers; so falling stars are like other stars. When we see men that profess religion false hearted, many are apt to think that all are so; wherefore the Apostle prays that they might abound in all Phil. 1. 10. knowledge and judgement to discern of things that differ: this proximity makes many deceived. LXIII. A lamp or candle by the brightness of it enticeth the Bee (as many other flies) to embrace it, but by that means she is either drowned in the oil, or burned in the flame. So the shows of sin and the pleasures of the world, entice the minds of men that their hearts are drowned in many fears and sorrows, and when they suppose that they have catcht all, they themselves are caught. Finally, corruption and destruction (the natural ends of all things under heaven) layeth hold upon them, Qui lachrimarum causas tripudiantes peragunt, Greg: Moral. lib. 20. c. d. et ridentes mortis negotium exequuntur. Who go dancing through the causes of their mourning, and with laughter act the tragedy of their own death. LXIV. The Titmouse is a great destroyer of Bees, and more easily and certainly to obtain his prey, will in the winter watch at the doors of their hives (their Castles of security) and as soon as any come forth seizeth upon them, and eateth them; If none appear he knocks with his bill, and they feeling the motion come forth to know the cause, and are presently devoured by him. In the Spring time he resorts to the willow trees, (whither the Bees come to gather) and there invade● them, so that they are no where secure. And thus, and more active is the great Apollion the Devil to destroy men● bodies and souls, sometimes ●itting temptations to men's tempers and constitutions (for he cannot by force without our own consent prevail over us) As a bait of promotion for Absalon, because he is ambitious; of pleasure for Samson, for he is volupruous; every man will not be drawn to sin by every object; an earthworm esteemeth not pleasure, and a man by temper voluptuous, esteemeth not profit much, no●●n ambitious man either; and therefore the Devil who is wise (as Isid●re saith) hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Ephes. 6. 11. and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●▪ Rev. 2. 24. his artificial ly●●●r. lib 1. de ●umm● b●no. ways and deep reaches, and presenteth men with suitable objects, for the love of which he thinks they will be content Mr. H●●●d, Souls misery. to strain their consciences, and break God's laws; and presenteth them at sit times and places, for every tune is not a season all places are not opportunities, there is the hour and power of darkness. And there is the time of pleasure and prosperity, Luk. 22. 53. when men are apt to be regardless of themselves, and the high Priests hall to work upon Peter, the times of our weakness when we are wholly deprived of such a friend or governor, as might by their watchful observation of our courses restrain us from sin, or by their counsel uphold us, by their rebukes and corrections recover us if we fall. LXV. If the Queen Be miscarry in the hive, or flying out of it for recreation or evacuation (for otherwise ordinarily she stirreth not forth) come to some mischance. All her subjects are presently in a sad mourning posture; now there is nothing but confused discursions, a woeful complaining, a cessation from work, and quickly a miscarriage and death of all. And if Christians sad and grieve the holy Spirit of God, and cause him by their sins to go away from them, they cannot (if they be sensible of their condition) but be in a sad and mournful estate; for as the air is dark and i'll, the earth cold and wet, and the face of the sublunary world uncomfortable▪ when the Sun, which is the light and life of it, hath withdrawn his light; so must the face and state of the soul needs be very gloomy, when the Spirit, who is the comforter, hath withdrawn his presence. LXVI. When a man crops a flower from the earth, he can get nothing Dr. D●●▪ Doomsday. out of it, but the sweetness of the smell, or the delightfulness of the colour: but when the diligent Bee comes, she will make more of it, she will extract that which is (as it were) the very spittle of the stars. So when simple carnal minded men, read the Poets and the Philosophers, they gather nothing but delight and pleasure; but when the diligent Bee comes, a wise man, a serious considerate man, he draws honey out of them. LXVII. There is left in the Church, a power and authority, which must be used when there is occasion, to draw the sword against contumacious rebels which will not be reclaimed by other means. As St. Ambrose saith, The Preacher of the word must be like unto the Bee, he must have both a sting and honey. LXVIII. Bees when they have filled themselves with water, they cannot gather honey, until they have vomited it up. And he that will thrive by the food of the word, must empty and unburden the stomach of his soul of all things that will hinder the purity and power of it from taking possession of his heart: he must bring a heart and a head like two empty buckets to draw with geedinesse and joy the waters of life out of the wells of salvation: even the honey comb, the sweetest thing in the world is loathsome to a full stomach. LXIX. Many creatures (in particular Bees) by antipathy and instinct of nature shun that which is contrary or obnoxious to their safety; and men by their intellectual parts do foresee and diseerne what is hurtful and dangerous to them or their lives, and decline and oppose things that have a tendency thereunto. LXX. As Samson met the Lion as an enemy when he was alive, Mr. Renolds, explicat. of the 110 Psal. but after he was slain, he went unto him as unto a table; there was only terror while he lived, but honey when he was dead. So doubtless many men to whom the bodily presence of Christ, and the mighty power and penetration of his heavenly preaching, whereby he smote sinners unto the ground, and spoke with such authority as never man spoke, would have been unsufferably irksome and full of terror (as it was unto the Scribes and Pharisees) can yet now that he is out of their sight, and doth not in person, but only by those who are his witnesses torment the inhabitants of the earth, pretend much admiration and thankful remembrance of that death of his which was so full of honey for all that come unto him. LXXI. Bees are diligent and painful in their work, but frugal and temperate in their feeding. Their sood consists of two kinds, or rather one diversified, wet and dry, honey and Bee-bread, so that you may draw a bill of their fare, and a catalogue of their provision in setting down bread and water: and having these they have enough, for they want nothing. But many men lay out on a meal a years allowance, and waste as much provision in a few hours as were sufficient to relieve the famine of an army. Quickly do many men devour all that all other members (the Caters and Purveyors) can bring in, yea whatsoever art can devise, luxury, and all the obsequious servant of the idol Belly invent; So that judas his purchase, Aceldema, is no way comparable, that indeed a greedy grave, employed to funeral uses, able in eight and forty hours, as it is reported, Sandys, page 187 and other travellers. to consume the flesh of any carcase therein buried: but this in four and twenty hours consumes many carcases of fishes and fowls, and generally twice a day all the flesh therein interred. LXXII. What is a Bee to a Bear, or a Mouse to an Elephant? and yet if a Bee fasten his sting in the nose of a Bear, or a mouse creep up and gn●w the trunk of an Elephant, how easily do so little creatures, upon such an advantage, torment the greatest? certainly the proudest of men have some tender part into which a sting may enter, the conscience is as sensible of God's displeasure, as obnoxious to his wrath, as subject to his word in a Prince as in a beggar. If the word like David's stone find that open, and get into it, it is able to smite the greatest Goliath. LXXIII. The Drones are a lazy and careless generation, delighting themselves in sportful recreations, and delicious dainties: never providing nor forecasting for themselves how it shall be with them afterwards, but think to far tomorrow as they have done to day, and so succeeding days, as they have days; but the provident prudent Bee, finding a likely decay of the gathering season, and observing that the Drones are only spenders and riotous wasters, do at last violently expel them their hives; which they are unwilling to leave, having provided nothing for themselves, and therefore readily return again; but because they will take no warning, they then slay them without pity or compassion. And as dangerously do many men pretending for wisdom play the fools, delaying the practice of repentance, procrastinating to take the offer of grace, and thus deceiving themselves. They think to do it perhaps tomorrow or afterwards, and so oft cozening themselves, the Dr. Preston, New Covenant. time they prefixed sliding away, and then another is determined, which likewise goeth away but nothing is done, and so another, till at last time be no more. Take heed you be not deceived in this, I will do it now and now, bu● modo et modo non habet modum. The Chariot wheels when they run, the second runs near the first all the day long, but never overtakes it. As in a clock the second minute follows the first, but it never overtakes it; so it is with us, this doing of it now and now and to morrow and to morrow, these little distances deceive us and delude us. We think to do it in a short time, and by reason of the nearness and vicinity of the time, we think we shall do it easily, but we are deceived with it. As Grasshoppers deceive children, when they think to lay their hand upon them, they hop a little sum there and a little further, that in the conclusion they take them not at all. So it is with us, we cousin ourselves in that manner, we lose our life▪ we lose our opportunity of taking grace, because we think it to be so near: we think we can take it the next week, or the next month▪ and out of this we are confident it is in our power, and so our time flies away, and we have never part in it. LXXIV. The Bees labour diligently to get food for the supply of their young, they bring it home to the hive, and lay it up in the combs, but (alas) they are yet never the better for it, for they are fixed in their cells, they cannot stir forth to take it: therefore they do more, they bring them food, and put it into their mouths, as oft as they need. The reason why men's hearts are not wrought upon in the Ministry of the word, is because many Ministers labour not the right way to show men their sins, and to convince their consciences, they insist only in generals, whereas a particular application brings every man his part and portion, and not only sets the dish before him, but cuts him meat and carves it for him. LXXV. If any shall demand why Bees of all creatures are so indefatigably diligent, and with unwearied pains follow their sweet labours, flying sometimes abroad in stormy seasons, whereby (oft prevented of a return) they miscarry in the field. Nay when they are old and grey, feeble and faint, they will venture forth, though they lose themselves, for most of them die at their work— vitam sub fasce reponunt. May I not answer, first because they hope in winter delightfully in rest and quiet to enjoy their plenty. Secondly, some say for fear of punishment, those that are idle being enforced, but a fear of starving (the worst of punishments) prompts them forth; for if they be not timely furnished, with a competent provision, they must inevitably perish. Thirdly, because it is incompatible to their nature to be idle. They have a natural propensity and inclination to their honey-gathering labours. Tantus amor ●lorum et generandi gloria mellis. And this delight, as a watch wound up, carries them sweetly on through all difficulties and dangers. Three goodly threads which twisted all together have strength enough to draw the most sleepy sluggard out of his bed of sloth and idleness. And if it should be questioned, why the people of God are so constant, so faithful in such fruitless services (as the world accounts them) and not dashed out of countenance, nor daunted by afflictions, but hold on their practice and diligence in a course of obedience, maugre the malice and mischiefs the oppositions and contradictions of men and Devils. First, from the hope of a blessed reward, which makes them with Heb. 11. 25. Moses choose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season. Secondly, from the fear of a just punishment and a curse if they should decline and balk the service of God. For we must all appear 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. before the Iudgement-sea●e of Christ, that every one may receive according to that he hath done. And though here were weight enough (as a late learned Divine observed) to set the most rusty wheels a going; yet because these two may work in Dr. S●ough●on, The preachers dignity and duty. base minds, and are in themselves but sinister ends, which many that seem to go strait may look a squint upon; fear in the forward, and hope and reward in the rearward, marshal all their forces, and love in the main battle, or rather tota in toto et tota in qualibet parte, animates every one to valour and victory: punishment is servile, and hope of reward is mercenary. There is a third motive which is the peculiar character of a Christian mind, and that is love. And this winds up a Christians affections to that intention of zeal and fervency. Reward hath an attractive, and punishment an impulsive, but love hath a compulsive faculty: reward draws him, punishment drives him, but love hales him forward to the discharge of his duty; hope like a tender mother enticeth him with a reward, fear like a severe Master incites him with a punishment, but love like a sovereign Lord commands him. Hope hales before him, and fear blows behind him, and both on each side row him, but love within like the very soul of obedience, teacheth him a natural motion. LXXVI. Bees are neat and cleanly creatures, and careful to carry forth all dross, soil, and filth, lest their hives should be defiled; yet sometimes because of long violent colds, many enemies, weaknesses, because of some distempers, it is requisite for the Bee master to help in the purging of them. The Church of God after a long time of peace is apt to gather and contract corruption, as water doth by standing, as the air itself will, Dr. Sibb●, The Church's visitation. if it have not the wind to purge it. And as it is in the bodies of men, if they be not curiously looked unto (after a certain time) they will gather such a burden of humours, as will rise to a distemper, so that they must be let blood or purged, etc. Such is the infirmity of men's nature, and the malice of Satan, that enemy to mankind, that the best of God's people will quickly gather some distemper or other, and stand in need of purging. And we are as much beholding to God's corrections as to his comforts in this world, without which we should quickly settle upon our dregs. LXXVII. Bees in the honey-season bestir themselves; the winter is long, and their enemies many, and therefore much pains must be taken beforehand, or else they will miscarry. And if they be late swarms, notwithstanding all their diligence, except there be an additional supply by timely feeding, want cannot be prevented. Were the winter short, robbers few or none, ill weather but a few weeks, as in Sicilia, Ethiopia, and some Southern Climates, small preparation might serve the turn; but in our colder regions the greatest pains are seldom too much, sometimes not enough. Whosoever enters upon the profession of religion with vain hopes of ease and pleasure, doth but delude his own soul; forecast therefore what will fall, and get provision of grace beforehand to sustain. As if a man were to go a dangerous journey, he provides himself of weapons and cordials, and all the encouragements he can, lest he should faint in the way. Whereas he that walks for his pleasure, provides nothing, he cares not for his weapons, or his cloak, because if a storm comes, he can quickly run under shelter. He that makes religion a recreation, can walk a turn or Dr. Sibb●, Difficulty of salvation. two for his pleasure, and when any difficulty ariseth, can retire and draw in his horns again; but a true Christian that makes it the main act of his life to please God, arms himself for the worst that can befall him; he is resolved not to retire for any trouble or perfecution whatsoever that stands between him and happiness. LXXVIII. Man swerving from the end for which he was created, and Mr. ●●l●s, The worldling's lookingglass. serving the Devil, the world, and his fleshly lusts, degenerates from his nature, and becomes worse than the very beasts, for they stand firm in their places enjoined them by God in their creation. The Bee is careful to do Gods work, having no tutor nor remembrancer, but man is senseless and careless to obey his Maker. LXXIX. As the Bee sucks honey out of every flower, and a good stomach Mr. T. Goodwin The vanity of thoughts. sucks▪ out some sweet and wholesome nourisliment out of what it takes unto its self: So doth a holy heart, so far as sanctified, convert and digest all into spiritual and useful thoughts. LXXX. There is no vice in a man, whereof there is not some analogy Dr. Hall, Occasional Meditat. in the brute creatures: As among us men there are theives by land, and Pirates by sea, that live by spoil and blood; so is there in every kind among them variety of natural sharkers: the Hawk in the air the Pike in the river, the Whale in the sea, the Lion and Tiger in the desert, the Wasp in the hive, the Spider before the hive, sometimes among the flowers in the Bees walk. And see how cunningly this little Arabian spreads out his tent for a prey, how heedfully he watcheth for a passenger? so soon as ever he hears the noise of a Bee (or a fly) a far off, how he hastens to his den; and if that silly heedless traveller, do but touch upon the verge of that unsuspected walk, how suddenly doth he seize upon that miserable booty? and after some strife binding him fast with those subtle cords, drags the helpless captive after him into his cave. What is this but an Emblem of those spiritual freebooters that lie in wait for our souls; They are the Spiders, we the Bees, they have spread their nets of sin, if we be once caught, they bind us fast, and hale us into hell. Oh Lord, deliver thou my soul from their crafty ambushes: their poison is greater, their webs both more strong, and more insensibly woven: Either teach me to avoid temptation, or make me to break through it by repentance; oh let me not be a prey to those fiends that lie in wait for my destruction. LXXXI. The Bee gives honey, but sometimes she stings: prosperity Mr. Watson, Art of divine contentment. hath its sweetness, and also it's sting. Sunshine is pleasant, but sometime it scorcheth. LXXXII. Bees love their Queen, and therefore will fight courageously in her defence, is she present with them, and excites them with her voice (like a trumpet) they will even to the last gasp venture their lives▪ they are in the eye of their Leader, and that makes them bold and daring. And shall a Christian pretend love to his God, and not be courageous in the presence of his great Lord and Master, who is ever present with him, about him, and in him; undoubtedly, he that hath seen God once in the face of Christ dares look the grimmest creature in the face, yea death itself under any shape. The fear of all things flies before such a soule● only a Christian is not ashamed of his confidence. Why then should he not be as bold for his God, as others are for the base gods they make for themselves? LXXXIII. Bees long shut up in their hives in winter with extremity of cold, upon a fair calm day when the Sun hath warmed and cheered them with his quickening beams, will show their thankfulness (as it were) in a pleasing murmur, and dance Lavolta's in many circumgiring motions and circling vagaries in the air, and then returning into their hive will make there a loud congratulatory humming, whereas before they were in a dull and silent posture. And it is as natural for the new creature Dr. Sibb●, come. in a Epist. ad Corinth. c. 1. v. 2. (when it feels the Sun of righteousness warming the soul, when it tastes of God in Christ) to show forth itself in thankfulness and praise: and it can no more be kept from it then fire can keep from burning, or water from cooleing. It is the nature of the new creature so to do. LXXXIV. Bees when they got forth in a swarm, will sometimes be provided of a habitation before hand, some hollow tree or hive not far remote where the Bees died in the preceding winter; but when they come to it (if not before) they will prepare and purge it of all dead Bees, stinking Sandaracha, rotten combs▪ and where the outside▪ of the combs are dry and crisple▪ they will ●ate and pair off the rotten wax▪ as Masons in buildings pair off the crumbling outsides of the weatherbeaten▪ stones, (and then make a rue front) that they may not after build upon a rotten naughty or weak foundation, their art is not to pull down edifices, but to build them up, but they do that which belongs not to them properly, that they may do that which belongs to them; for they will not build upon an unsourd and crumbling foundation. God to make his children trust in him, casts them cut of themselves, he will not build on a rotten foundation, he will not build on carnal trust, pride, and covetousness, but he will demolish that rotten foundation with afflictions and crosses. He will use such meres that we shall have small joy to trust in sin; he will force us by crosses and afflictions to go from our sins, he will demolish that rotten foundation that he may raise up an excellent edifice and frame of the new creature, that shall endure to everlasting. The work of a Physician is to cure nature, not to weaken it, but if the body be distempered, it must be weakened before it be strengthened, to make that sound he must give them strong purgations, that shall afflict them and affect them as much as the disease for a while, but all is to make them strong afterwards: So God afflicts us to drive us out of ourselves, that we may come at last to trust in him, in whom is all our good and happiness. LXXXV. Bees live like Soldiers in a Camp, and therefore as besieged Cities or Armies that fear an approaching enemy, never dare give themselves wholly over to security, but always night and day have their scouts, centiness, corp. du guard, to keep watch and ward, lest some of their many enemies should by a sudden Camisado surprise or beat up their quarters. We have a hellish enemy the Devil, a roaring Lion, who waiteth for a time of drowsy security, wherein he may suddenly seize on us, and tear us in pieces. Therefore when the●e seems to be most security and cessation of spiritual arms, let us conceive the most danger to be at hand, and prepare and arm ourselves against the day of battle. For Hierom saith truly, Tun● maxim expugnaris, Ad Hesied. lib. 2. c. 6. cum te expugnari nos●is, thou br● most assaulted when thou feelest no assault. When our adversary seems to sleep, he watcheth but an opportunity to run upon us, and destroy us. Mr. Fo●●●●ke, Conflict between man and the Devil. If we were assured that some fearful enemy was upon his march and approaching towards us with fire and sword; the trumpets sounding, the drums thundering, the horses neighing, and the Cannons roaring; what watch and ward would we keep? how would every one bestir him, and who would not thrust himself into the danger, and be ready to stand in the gap to save his Country, his life, his friends, his liberty, his goods? But Satan our Arch-enemy, who seeketh to destroy that which is far more precious unto us then all these things, yea then all the world (For what shall it profit a man if he shall August Soli●●●. 16. Ini●● i●us ut 〈◊〉 semper v●gilat fire so●nn●, et nos ut ● st●● amus 〈◊〉 erigila●e e s●mno. gain the whole world, and lose his own soul) is not only approaching, but also encamped against us with all his forces, and shall we now sleep in sin, and be senseless in gross security. LXXXVI. Be Masters tell us, that they are the best hives which make the greatest noise; so that is the best conscience which makes the greatest noise with daily reasonings before its own bar. Mr. R. Abb●t, The assize at home. If we never go to bed before we have parleyed it out throughly with our hearts, than we shall find of ourselves as Alexander said of Antipater, That he did wear white garments without, and was purple within; so we will give no rest till we find some comfortable testimony of our amendment. LXXXVII. It is observable that the creatures nearest the earth, are most greedy to accumulate, what creature stores up so much provision as the Bee? But the birds of the air that fly next heaven, neither sow nor reap, nor carry into the barn, saith our Saviour. Mat 6 26. We are next to heaven in profession, let us hate to be furthest off in conversation. LXXXVIII. Bees are small creatures, but have great and daring spirits, (and almost deadly poison) though industry and diligence can work much to tame other creatures, yet little on this; by a continued converse and frequent presence, their rage and fury may be palliated, but once provoked near the hive, they acknowledge no respect to any, For the most part those beasts have least immanity, that have most strength, Oxen, Horses, Mr. adam's, Poli●●ck hunting. and Elephants are tame and serviceable; but Bees and Wasps have stings: So wisely hath the Creator disposed, that there might not be a conjunction et potentiae et malevolentiae, that malice and might may not meet; so they are suffered to have will to hurt and not power, or power and not will. LXXXIX. Religion is the greatest enemy to religion, the false to the true, favos etiam vespae faciunt, Wasps also make combs, Tertul. though instead of honey we find gunpowder. XC. The grub or worm in its first state or life is a rude creature, not much delighting in itself, less delighting others, but when it is shut up to be transmuted, than it is for a time a formelesse lump, without any beauty or comeliness: but wait a few days and the parts will appear, life will move in these yet imperfect members which are at length perfectly form, and then it Mr. Conen, Expos. in Epist. I●hn. c. 3. v. 2. comes forth an agile useful creature. And as God doth not make the whole fabric of the world at once, though it wa● not impossible to him being a God almighty, but in the space of six days, so doth God deal with his children: when God creates in his children a new heart, he suffers first their hearts to be as a rude and massy lump, full of darkness, and then sends his holy Spirit into their hearts, which illuminates them, and drives away those black clouds of darkness and ignorance, and then he breathes into them the sweet air of his Spirit; And thus out of Tohu and B●hu is the new creature form. XCI. We should do as the Bee when she hath sucked sweetness from the flower, she better concocts and refires it in her own Mr. Wetson, Christians Charter. body, and so it becomes pure honey. Thus when we have sucked any precious truth, we should by holy meditation concoct it in our hearts, and then it would become pure profitable honey. XCII. The young Bees as soon as they have passed their second birth, and transmuted their shape and qualities, and are winged and strengthened to fly abroad, presently fall to their work, and imitate the elder Bees. And so doth the believing soul, as soon as it is borne again, strengthened and winged with grace from God, makes after him in works of obedience, holiness and praises, imitates the examples of the Prophets and Apostles, as they have followed Christ. Let disadvantages be what will be, you cannot keep young Bees in the hive when once transmuted and winged, no more can you keep the regenerate soul from working the works of God, and with holy praises ascending to heaven, when they are once under the line of Christ's everlasting love and feel it shine mighty hot in them with full face, with perpendicular rays, but with a present rapture make holiness their work and Hallelujahs all their language. XCIII. Honey is gathered with much art from great variety of trees and flowers; and joy is a honey, a fragrancy made from above with much picking, choosing, and composing. XCIV. Bees are neat sweet and cleanly creatures, naturally abhorring stinking places and strong scenting herbs. It is true they gather of the flowers of some weeds which are bitter and offensive, but yet the flowers are not (as Broome, Henbane, Mayweed) as your taste and smell may inform you. But where the flowers participate of the ill sent of the herbs they meddle not at all (as Gallopsia, Cheesrunnet). And Christ puts ●io toads in his bosom (saith one) nor believers wicked men into M. L●●ie●, Useful instructions. the intimacy of their affections, purity will bosom purity, corruption cannot delight in uncorruption, Heterogeneals will not incorporate, light and darkness are inconsistent, gracious and ungodly men cannot live and link together. A good heart cannot with more pleasure rest itself then in God's resting place, in Christ's society, in the way of the Spirit, in the Ministry of Angels, and fellowship of the Saints. XCV. In the Common wealth of Bees all are employed, none are idle; The Commander directs and orders, the Drones are useful for procreation, and by their heat very instrumental for the hatching of the young Cure, every one contributes somewhat to the public good. And in the Beehive of the Church, there is no pretence for any man to be idle in the profession of religion. Thou hast not riches, thou canst not give; thou hast not place▪ thou canst not show countenance to others▪ but if thou be'st a child of God, thou hast the Spirit of prayer, the Spirit of adoption, the Spirit of a son in thee, which enables thee to pray for thyself and others, there is no Christian but he may do this. XCVI. Bees though they freely act in all their undertake, yet do they all with reference to the public, and in subordination to the Queen, whom they not only love, but after a sort live in; for without her they will live no longer in their old habitation; not at all, except they get under the regiment of another. And this their Queen they delightfully serve and observe, her (silent) directions do they readily comply withal; once, their carriage in and out of the hive is regulated and squared by a love of and awe unto this their Commandress. And it should be with believers after this manner, wheresoever we are, or whatsoever we do in the world, our conversation here must be directed by a higher aspect. The ship while it is tossed in the Sea i● ruled by the Pole star, that must guide it: So in our conversation in the world, the staff of our conversation may be the business we have in the world, but the rule the regiment of all must be from heaven, with an eye to God. XCVII. A little honey is sweet, much ●ulsome: such is pleasure, whose Dr. Hall, De●●d. ● epist. ●. insinuations are so cunning, that you shall not perceive your excess, till you be sick of a surfeit. XCVIII. Revenge commonly hurts both the offerer and sufferer, as we see in the foolish Bee (though in all other things commendable, ●●em Med and Vows, 1. cent. yet herein the pattern of fond spightfulness) which in her anger invenometh the flesh, and loseth her sting, and so lives a Drone ever after (indeed lives not long after) I account it the only valour, to remit a wrong, and will applaud it to myself as right noble and Christian, that I might hurt and will not. XCIX. Hast thou found honey, that is, hast thou found the sweetness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Proverb. 15. 1●. of a man's familiarity or conversation, eat that which is sufficient for thee, that is, use his friendship or familiarity to sobriety; not altogether withdrawing thyself, lest he forget thee; not yet too frequently visiting, lest he loathe thee; for it is better by seldom coming to make thy presence desirable, then by frequent visits to make him weary of thee. Whereupon the son of Sirach saith, Be not unsatiable in any Eccles. ●●. 29. dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats: but the words which follow make it clear, Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. C. Although Bees have small strength, yet have they great anger Calvin C●…mem. in Psal▪ 118. and insatiable wrath, and when they violently pursue any, do not a little terrify and affright them. Such is the pertinacious and implacable rage of the enemies of God's people, that if God did not wonderfully stand by, interpose and support them, they would avoidable perish: but they are quenched as the fire of thorns, which although it makes a great crackling noise in the beginning, and a greater flame then solid wood, yet is suddenly extinct and consumed, so that in a word, though wicked men tumultuously set upon God's people, their violence in a moment shall come to nothing. THE SECOND CENTURIE. I. Temporal occasions open the mines to dig out spiritual instruction: For Christians may climb by the stairs of these inferior creatures, to contemplate the glorious power of the Creator. A good Christian like the Bee works honey from every flower; suffers no action, demonstration, event to step by him without a question. All objects to a meditating Solomon are like wings to rear and mount up his thoughts to Mr. adam's, Sinners passing bell. heaven. As the old Romans when they saw the blue stones thought of Olympus▪ so let every object, though low in itself, elevate our minds to mount Zion. A mean scaffold may serve to raise up a goodly building; it was once said, Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas; now better, Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere casus. It is good to know the casual beginnings of things▪ it is better to know their casual ends It is good to be a natural Philosopher, but better to be a supernatural, a Christian Philosopher, that whiles we intentively observe the creature, we may attentively serve the Creator. II. Some use flowers only for the beauty or the smell▪ the Physicians Mellif●●ium similem joach. Nisai. for health, but the Bees for honey. So do wise and prudent persons apply their studies for the enriching and feeding of their minds. III. As a Spider's web is not therefore better because it is woven out of her bowels; so neither is the labour of the learned ●ipsius in ●●tis in lib. 1. P●l●●. c. 1. more contemptible, because as Bees, they gather much from others. IV. Consider a Bee (out of a hive) as a solitary Insect, and it is the most helpless and shiftless creature that is; If she works, alone she cannot frame repositaries to lay up food; would she breed, she cannot both hatch the young and gather meat. Is she assaulted with enemies, alone she hath no defence nor power: Finally, she cannot secure herself from any, much less from the many evils and enemies whereto she is obnoxious. And what is a man out of Christ? as a man in a storm that hath no clothes to hide his nakedness, to cover him from the violence of the tempest. As a man in a Huricane, that is out of a house to shelter him, as a stone out of the foundation that is scattered here and there as neglected, as a branch out of the vine, without sap and influence, ready to be cast into the fire. A man out of Christ that is not clothed with him, that is not built on him, that is not grafted into him, is a destitute forlorn and neglected wretch. V. The weakest creatures have the strongest shelters. Bees have hives and hollow trees to secure them; thus weakness occasionally is a help, for conscience of weakness makes all creatures seek for supply out of themselves. So the Coneys (as Agur saith) hide themselves in the rock, they fly to their burroughs; and the Bees to their hives. Man is a weak creature in himself, weak in judgement, weak in affection, but the consciousness of our weakness should make us seek for strength out of ourselves, go to God in Christ, and then he is a kind of almighty man. I can do all things (saith the Apostle) in Christ that strengthens me. A Christian is omnipotent if he depend upon the promise, and commit his ways to God, but he is impotent and weak in himself, it is God therefore that must establish us. VI Gnats in numerous multitudes (like clouds) do nothing D●. Hall, Occasional Meditat. but play up and down in the warm Sun and sing; and when they have done sit down and sting the next hand or face they can seize upon; see here a perfect Emblem of idleness and detraction: how many do thus miserably spend their good hours? who after they have wasted the succeeding days, in vain and merely unprofitable pass time, sit down and backbite their neighbours. The Bee sings too sometimes, but she works also; and her work is not more admirable than useful; but those foolish flies do nothing but play and sing to no purpose: Even the busiest and most active spirits must recreate, but to make a trade of sport is for none but lazy wantoness. The Bee stings too, but when she is provoked, these draw blood unoffended, and sting for their own pleasure. I would be glad of some recreation, but to enable and sweeten my work▪ I would not but sting sometimes, where is just cause of offence; but God bless me from those men, which will ever be doing nothing or ill. VII. The Commandress of the Bees is a Queen, a royal creature, and therefore she works not, it is beneath her dignity to drudge and toil as the meaner subject, she flies seldom abroad, communicates little with the world; state procures respect and honour to eminent persons. Though she hath a sting, yet rather as an Ensign of power, than an instrument of revenge, for she never useth it. It is the property of a base and dunghilly Dr. Sibbs, co●. in a Epist. ad Corinth. c. 1. v. 2●. spirit to be vindicative. If I be a Christian, I am a King, shall I debase myself in sinful practiles? shall I cast my crown in the di●t? God hath raised me, and made me an heir of heaven, shall I abase myself to sin, and to base lusts? (the Devil's drudgery) so that I cannot role my own members, and yet profess myself to be a King? When we are tempted to sin, and to base courses let us say as good Nehemiah, when he was moved to fly, What shall such a man as I fly? so should we say to any temptation, to base courses of life, what shall such a man as I do this? For a Christian that is a King, that hath a guard of Angels about him, that is the most excellent creature in the world, for him to abase himself to the world. He that is bred from heaven, for him to have no higher thoughts than the things below, to have an earthly mind or revengeful thoughts, is a shrewd presumption, that he is only a titular Christian, and hath not received the inward and spiritual anointing. VIII. All is one to God to make an Angel or a Bee, to create the brightest Cherub, or t●●● most contemptible fly; for in every creation, no less than an omnipotency must be the efficient, and no more than nothing is ever the object. IX. If the Queen Be be slain, or any ways miscarry, the whole hive is overthrown: but if she safe, though they have weakenings, meet with injuries, suffer from enemies, yet they will recover themselves and out▪ grow other dangers. A man's darling sin is Satan's strongest hold, whither, when by the power of the word he is dislodged out of other parts of the soul, he retires as to his most impregnable Castle; but if in this he be over poured by the blessing of God on the word of his Gospel, then is his dominion shaken, and the man driven to a deep detestation of himself, thrown down to the lowest step of a penitent dejection, he is inegered with thirsty greediness for pardon and grace, and at length forced out of his natural estate. X. Bees in their private quarrels are patient and regardless, they neglect an● slight personal injuries; but if their hives be assaulted, their Common wealth beleagered or endangered with Wasps, robbing Bees, or other enemies, they lustily bestir themselves, fight it out to the death: whereas the Drones as they watch against no danger, so they resist none, but love to sleep in a whole skin, letting all go at six and seven (as they say:) like lazy passengers in a dangerous leak, will not lay hands to the Pump, and yet must miscarry with the ships destruction. And are not most men in the world Drones not Bees? affected perhaps with their own troubles or reproaches, but silent and slothful in God's cause and truth, than they are loath to stir fearing hatred, trouble, obloquy among men. If their own reputation be called in question, it will not a little startle them, but if God's name be blasphemed, his word traduced, his ordinances violated, the course of the Gospel be stopped, in the freedom and liberty whereof is the Church's happiness and glory and the sailing of it the destruction of a people. Yet they are little affected, it goeth not to their hearts, they keep silence as if this of all other things did least concern them. When jehu approached near unto jezabel, and espied Dr. Sclater, Com▪ on Mal. c. ●. v. 16. 2 King. 9 32. her in her window, after the fashion of harlots; he cries out to them with her, Who is on my side, who? and the eunuchs threw her down. The Lord seems sometimes thus to say to us in the extremities of the Church's affliction, and he seems to cry to us, who is on my side? If then thou be silent, that which our Saviour hath, will be here applied, who is not for him is sure against Mat. 12. 30. him, and so shall be accepted in the day of accounts. XI. Wasps and Hornets are very noisome creatures, and therefore we seek their destruction, Nay burn up nests and young, and that before they have injuried us or ours, only because we know, what they would do, if they be suffered to live and fly abroad. And shall poor Mortals think it much, if God who knows our thoughts a far off and the principle, within us, and what men would do if occasion be offered, which for the present they know not of themselves, as Hazaels' answer to Elisha imports, Thinkest thou, etc. No wonder if the Lord ●ut▪ off ● King 8. 13. many in their youth and infancy, because he knows their nature, that they would do this and this Such passages of his Dr. Preston, G●ds immensity. providence there may be, as to cut off children and young men out of the foresight of the evil that they would do to his Church, because he knows their thought a far off. XII. The Drones are always idle, observe them as often as you will and you shall never find them carefully endeavouring their present or future good. Bees, though laborious creatures, yet if you come to the hive in winter, especially in extreme frosts and colds, are shut up, none appear, or if in a warm day they fly a little abroad, yet they bring nothing home, contribute nothing to the public treasury, they then seem to be as careless and as thriftless as the Drones. But the Drones are constantly idle, and therefore at all times you find them alike careless; come this day and you see them to gather nothing, and come another time and you find them gathering nothing. But the Bees though they be sometimes hindered for want of the external favour of the heavens that they cannot gather, as in the winter time. Yet when the Sun returns in the Spring, and the plants and trees begin to put on their Summer robes, and the heavens are clear and smile upon them, than they diligently follow their delightful labours. Vigorous and spiritful actions are not always infallible characters of life; a man may be a living man and yet in a swoone, no action left in him: a man may be a living Christian, and yet be in some deficiency of spirit, and in some swoone, his spirits bound up and not in case for action always in any kind; so that actions are not sure characters of being in the right way to true happiness. For a godly man may be like a tree which may have life in it, when it hath neither fruit nor leaves upon it, as in the winter time; Dr. Stoughton, Righteous man's plea to true happinesse. but in another season, they are more or less fruitful, for the Bias of their soul is set to God-ward, and to heaven-ward, and though it may by a rub be put out of its course, yet because the qualification of their souls are heavenly, their affections are changed and turned, they will be exercising themselves in spiritual duties: whereas wicked men in whom is no change of hear● are never heaven-bound; they may pretend it sometimes and make fair shows and promises, as the Drones in a fair day fly abroad with many a circling motion, and a great humming noise; but observe them, it it not to add to the public store, but that they may with better stomaches devour the Bees labours. Thus the Pharisees performed many duties, made long prayers, but to devour widow's houses. XIII. Every drop of honey is honey, and has the nature and definition of the whole, it is throughout like to itself; so our felicity above is homogeneal, heaven is all heaven, every corner of heaven, is a heaven; every thing that is tasted a heaven; every thing that is smelled a heaven; every thing that is looked upon or meddled with, a heaven, a full felicity to the soul. XIV. Bees are temperate feeders, but when they are violently robbed of their honey, or forced from their hives, they will then eagerly and glutton-like fill themselves, and scarce give over without smoking or much disturbance: Now they are like to lose all which they had painfully laboured for, and charily shut up with waxen covers, as under lock and key, till a time of scarcity; And they resolve therefore to have a share before all be gone. And thus many wicked men, having had by legal terrors a foretaste of hell fire before their time after their deliverance, grow a great deal worse, and knowing their time to be but short, fall on earthly delights more furiously, and grasp the pleasures of the world with more greediness and insatiable importunity. XV. A Bees sting easily enters in, and when the Bee is flown away, yet the sting remains and works itself with more violence deeper, diffusing thereby the venom more strongly, and causing greater dolour and pain; and the longer it continues, with more difficulty is it at last extracted: so that no man that knows the danger, except he have the perfection of a mad man, would run the hazard of the anguish by delaying to pull it out. And such is sin, it easily pierceth the soul, and when the tempter is gone, yet once entertained, it easily winds itself further in; And having the plea of continuance and custom will not be easily shaken off: shall a Blackmore change his skin, or a Leopard his spots in three or four days, which they have contracted in twenty or thirty years. Oh no, but (as a late Mr. Bolton, Instruct. for comf. afflict. consc. learned and holy Divine observeth) the longer thou puts it off and deferrest, the more unfit thou shalt be to repent; thy custom in sinning will exercise more tyranny over thee, the curse of God for going on still in thy trespasses will be more heavy on thee; The corruption that lurked in thy own bosom will be more strong against thee; Thy understanding will be more darkened with hellish mists of ignorance; Thy judgement more perverted; Thy will more suborn; Thy memory more stuffed with sensual motions; Thy affections more rebellious; Thy thoughts more earthly; Thy heart more hardened; Thy conscience more seared, and thyself more sold to sin, And every day thou conti●…s estate of darkness, thou art much more the child ●…an then thou wast before. XVI. Bees have many enemies, the Mouse, the Wasp, the Spider, besides robbing Bees their worst enemies; it is no wonder then if they keep a continual guard, lest they should be surprised, and examine every one that goes in and out, and are presently in alarms upon the least motion or disturbance; their safety and well-being lies at stake. A believers condition is obnoxious to dangers, very liable to temptations, and shall we not walk circumspectly, and stand always upon our defence? We are naturally subject to so many b●tteries and breaches, by the assaults of Original sin, and other implacable enemies to our souls, that there is extreme need of perpetual watch and ward, of repenting and repairing daily, lest the new man be too much oppressed, and be often surprised with the many and cunning encounters of the old Adam. The consideration of this should prevail much with us, to set a daily guard about our souls. David was very watchful, yet he was surprised unawares by the sudden rebellion of his heart. We should therefore observe our hearts, as Governors do rebels and mutinous persons. We see to what an excess sin grows in those that deny themselves nothing, nor will be denied in any thing, who if they may do what they will, turn all liberty into licence, and making all their abilities contributaries to the commands of overruling and over-ruly lusts. XVII. What a pity it is to see these profitable industrious creatures Dr. Hall, Occasional Meditat. fall so furiously upon each other? and thus stinging and biting kill each other in the very mouth of the hive. I could like well to see the Bees do this execution upon Wasps, enemies to their common stock, this favours but of justice; but to see them fall foul upon those of their own wing, it cannot but trouble their owner, who must needs be an equal loser by the victory of either. There is no more perfect resemblance of a Commonwealth, whether civil or sacred, then in an hive: the Bees are painful and honest compatriots, labouring to bring wax and honey to the maintenance of the public state; the Wasps are unprofitable and harmful hangs-by, which live upon the spoil of others labour, whether as common Barrators, or strong thiefs, or bold Parasites, they do nothing but rob their neighbours. It is an happy sight when these feel the dint of justice, and are cut off from doing further mischief, but to see well affected and beneficial subjects undo themselves with duels, whether of law or sword; to see good Christians of the same profession shedding each others blood upon quarrels of religion▪ is no other than a sad and hateful spectacle, and so much the more, by how much we have more means of reason and grace to compose our differences and correct our offensive contentiousness. Oh God, who art at once the Lord of Hosts and Prince of peace give us war with spiritual wickednesses, and peace with our brethren. XVIII. Creatures have their instincts, there is a natural instinct in every creature to that feeds it; Bees go naturally to the flowers▪ by an instinct; so the spiritual soul that hath the lise of Christ, runs to whatsoever may feed and maintain that life. All the creatures as soon as they are borne, run, they know whither to go to suck, because that is ordained by nature for their preservation; so there is an instinct in the soul to carry it, to that that feeds and maintains it. XIX. Let a swarm be hived never so orderly, and the hive beforehand rubbed and prepared carefully, let it be covered and shadowed from the Sun, and in a word, in the best manner accommodated, yet if the Queene-Bee be wanting, there is nothing but discontent, confusion, and hurly-burly, and after a hopeless search, a final departure. Whereas a mean habitation with her presence will give full content and satisfaction. Had we a Magazine of comforts, were we possessed of heaven it Dr. Sibbs, St. Paul's straight. self, with all its glory without Christ, yet heaven without him would not be heaven. It is better therefore to be in any place with Christ, then to be in heaven itself without him; all delicacies without Christ are but as a funeral banquet when the Master of the feast is away, there is nothing but solemness: what is all without Christ? I say the joys of heaven are not the joys of heaven without Christ, he is the very heaven of heaven. XX. Bees by a natural sagacity can foretell a storm, yet sometimes are they overtaken with unseasonable and rainy weather, but then do they high themselves a pace homeward getting under the Lee side of a hedge, and at last secure themselves in their hives: but as soon as the tempest is over, and the Sun breaks out they are abroad again, forgetting their former danger. Many men in their outward crosses and afflictions, while the storm and tempest of God's wrath beats sore upon them, run to God as their rock, and inquire early after him, but when once a hot gleam of former health and prosperity shines upon them again, they high as fast out of God's blessing into the warm Sun (as they say) from sorrow, to sin, to delight in sensuality, from seeking God to security in their old ways. XXI. He that goes about to cure the wound of his conscience for sin, with sensual delight; doth as one that is stung with a Wasp, and rubs with a nettle the smarting place. XXII. As Bees when they are once up in a swarm, are ready to light upon every bough, so rebels being risen up by the commotion of ambitious leaders, are apt to follow every Sheba. It is unsafe for any State that the multitude should know the way to an insurrection, the least tract in this kind is easily made a path. XXIII. As Jonathan's honey was sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the Dr. Hall, Contemplate. lib. 12. soul; for behold his honey was turned into gall. And if the eyes of his body were enlightened, the light of God's countenance was clouded by the act: So is it with every sin, for though stolen waters be sweet, yet he knoweth not that the dead are there. XXIV. It is observable in the old Law, that God hated the very resemblance of the sin of pride, he would have no honey mingled in their offerings; Ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey in Levit. 2. 11. ● any offering of the Lord made by fire. Indeed Leaven is sour, Mr. Watson, Christians Charter. but what is there in honey that should offend? why no honey? because honey when it is mingled with meal or flower, maketh it to rise and swell; Therefore the people of Israel must mingle no honey in their offerings: this was to let us see how God hateth the resemblance of the sin of pride. XXV. Some Bee-Masters will be over-diligent to kill the Drones, because sometimes when they are supernumerary, they will not only pester but prejudice the hive; and at other times deceive the expectation of so large a tribute as they look for from them: and yet in the mean time are negligent, or not sufficiently careful to prevent the devouring Wasps or robbing Bees, which in a few days will consume more than the Drones in a whole Summer. Bee-Masters ought to be careful about the former, but most of all of these, because of that ruin and desolation that is quickly occasioned by them. As a Shepherd M● 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 joh, ●9. ●●. should watch his lambs from flies, but most of all from Wolves and Foxes: Sure he is but a sorry Shepherd, to kill the maggots in his sheep, and let the former worry at pleasure. And surely (saith one) he is a sorry Magistrate, that stocketh and whippeth and hangeth poor snakes when they offend (though that is to be done too) but letteth the greater thiefs do what they l●st, and dareth not or careth not to meddle with them. Like Saul, who when commanded to destroy all the Amalekites, both man and beast, slew indeed the Rascality of both, but spared the greatest of the men and fattest of the cattle, and slew them not. XXVI. Moths are supposed to be offensive to the Bees; sure I am, if the Bees be few they will breed their blots in their combs, and quite spoil them, and thereby force those few to desert the hive; for remedy whereof it is prescribed by some to smoke the combs, and so to expel and chase them away. Which practice mystically informs Magistrates that if they would be rid of those Moths and Gnats that swarm about the Courts of Justice, and will be offering to buzz at their ears false reports of their brethren, they should cashier and smoke them away. Magistrates should do well therefore to begin reformation at home, and if any of them have a servant that heareth not well deservedly, to put him away out of hand, and to get an honester in his Room. XXVII. Bees, though chilled and dead with cold, or drowned in water, if in a convenient season they be laid near the fire, or in a hot Sunshine, will revive after a while, and recover as if they had never miscarried. For there is some hidden though undiscerned life, and by the aid of that little remainder of vivifying power (which was more strong originally, and is not yet totally extinct) now further called forth and wrought upon by adventitious heat, there is a new quickening and life. So by the awaking of the North wind and coming of the South, I mean the blessed Spirits breathing upon a regenerate heart, sti●led dangerously with some pestilent lust, by stirring up and refreshing the retired and radical power of grace, that immortal seed of God never to be lost, will sweetly and graciously bring it again to its former spiritual comfortable temper and constitution. * Dr. ●●llan● Divinity professor in Oxford. Moderating in this question holden negatively, An justi fides potest ad tempus ami●●i, aut fina●iter des●. e●e. The Lords chosen may fall from their outward prerogatives, and from the fruits: but that divine nature still abideth in them: and it is only with their grace, as it is with the mind in distempers of Melancholy and Frenzy; with the Sun in Eclipses; with the tree, when leaves and fruit fail it; with the natural life, when it moveth not, nor yet breatheth sensibly, which in diseases of the Mother is often discerned. XXVIII. The ancients prescribed (as for other causes so for this also) to stop up the hives every third day; that the Bees might when they were set at liberty, with greater earnestness and delightful diligence ply their labours. And we find by experience, when they have been a while shut up and imprisoned by unseasonable weather, they follow their work more eagerly, on the first opportunity (as a stream stopped for a little while, will break out with greater violence after) they will now lose no time, but be at their labours both more early and late, then when they were not kept in; Nay in such weather when (had they not been restrained before) they would have lain still asleep in the bed of ease in their hives. Sometimes the Lord may for a time retire the light of his countenance, and sense of Mr. B●lton▪ Instruct. for c●…. afflict. conse. his graces from his children, for trial, quickening, and exercise of spiritual graces, that they may put forth themselves with more power, improvement, and illustriousness: the cold comfort of a disertion in this case, being unto them as water cast upon the Smiths forge, to make some of them especially to burn inwardly as it were in the mean time with new intention and heat, to brea●● out and flame more gloriously: there are many gracious dispositions and endowments in the Christians heart, which would never see the light, at least with such eminency, were it not for this darkness: the brightness of lamps languish in the light but they burn clear in the dark: the splendour and beauty of the Saints, would never appear were there no night. XXIX. Bees troubled a while at the hive will be very angry, and by and by very numerous, and so unresistible, for their fury and their numbers increase together; perhaps but a few at first assault you, but being much opposed, they call out many partakers, and in a little time a few will prove a multitude: as rivers grow greater and greater, the further they are off from their springs, the more they enlarge their channels until they empty themselves into the Ocean. Storms we know arise out of little gusts. The first risings of sin are to be looked unto, because there is most danger in them, and we have least care over them: corruption till it be overpowered by grace, swelleth bigger and bigger, so that like rust it will by little and little eat out all the Dr. Sibbi, The Souls conflict. grace of the soul. There is no staying when we are once down the hill, until we come to the bottom. When the heart begins once to be kindled, it is easy to smother the smoke of passion, which otherwise will fume up into the head, and gather into so thick a cloud, as we shall lose the sight of ourselves, and what is best to be done. Crush therefore the first insurrections before they come to break into open rebellions; little risings neglected cover the soul, before we are aware, stifle them in their birth, stop the beginning, and so soon as they begin to rise, let us begin to examine who raised them, and whither they are about to carry us. XXX. The Bee never stings, but pays the price of it with her life. chrysost▪ come. in Epist▪ ●rim●m a● The●s▪ c. 5. By this God instructs us, that we should not wrong our neighbours, for we ourselves shall if not first yet wo●st suffer, and they perhaps receive little or no prejudice, but we shall be as sure as the Bees to die for it. And yet the son of Syrach praiseth that creature, saying▪ The Bee is small among fowls, and her fruit hath the beginning of sweetness. But this gives her no security to escape death, if she sting● the must p●rish; And if her many excellencies will not exempt or free her from destruction if she doth ill, much less shall we. We are most savage beasts, we first wrong our neighbours, who never injuried us; Nay we are far worse in this respect then Bees; For if you suffer them to live in their hives, and by molesting and vexing of them put them not upon a necessity of defence, they will never hurt, never injure, never sting, but go their ways and follow their business. But thou who art a reasonable man, dignified with so much honour and gl●●y imitates the beasts, and that towards those that are of the same rank with thee; wrongest, hurtest, devourest thy brother; what saith Paul, 1 Cor▪ 6. 7. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do you not suffer yourselves to be defrauded, nay you do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. You see then you wrong yourselves, when you wrong others, and that you receive a courtesy when you are injuried. XXXI. Bees will not continue in a stinking or impure hive, and therefore Ejusdem. come. in Epist Pa●li ad Ephes c. 4. 1. 4. they that delight in them prepare the stools where they set them with perfumes, sweet smelling ●oughs, and fragrant flowers, and other delightful things, whereon the Bees when they go forth of the hive may light, least ill favours should force them to forsake their stations. And thus deals the holy Spirit, our soul is the hive, accommodated and furnished with sweet spiritual gifts and graces, but if there be bitterness and anger and wrath, he will forsake such hives. And therefore the blessed and wise husbandman (namely, St. Paul) doth endeavour to trim and prepare our hives (our souls) and that without knife or any other iron instrument; And calls us a spiritual Bee-fold, which yet he first purgeth with prayers, with Ephes. 4. 30, 31. labours and all other things necessary hereunto. XXXII. Bees with their swift and nimble wings fly from flower to Eju●dem Com. in Psal. 115. 1. 1●. flower, and draw out the latent native sweetness with a harmless unprejudicial robbery, that therewith at length they may provide and afford sweet honey for the sons of men: So the Ministers of the Gospel are solicitously careful with the light wings of meditation, to light on the pleasant and delightful gardens of the Scriptures, that they may pleasingly instill and drop in the sweet honey of faith into the hearts of their hearers. XXXIII. Bees prepare their food in Summer, they borrow not, they beg not, but exercising their natural endowments, are diligent in labour, and that without force or compulsion, and never give over while the weather and season serveth. And although they be weak and small creatures, yet with their nimble wings fly through the valleys, and over the mountains, the woods and forests, though some miles remote and distant from their habitations, gathering of every profitable tree and flower, and not only the elder but the younger also. And are images herein of and patterns to thirsty householders, who diligently labour themselves and excite and encourage all theirs from their youth to provide for future; secondly, their great prudence appears in understanding the seasons for their gathering, providing in the Summer against winter, for if weather would give leave, they should in vain seek for honey in the winter; thirdly, so great is their sedulity and diligence, that they are not altogether idle in the night, but then trim their hives by biting off the staring and offensive straws, eating down their rotten combs where there be any, pulling forth their dead spit which they carry forth in the day, hatching their young, and probably feeding of them: fourthly, their justice, they rob not those that are laden, but each gathers for herself and all the rest, for they are political: fifthly, their astrology in foreseeing change of weather, when they will not venture far from their hives: sixthly, this is also praiseworthy and imitable, that they carry forth their de●d to burial, and not only the Pismire as Franzius Franzius▪ ani●●l tract. 4. c. 14. affirms. XXXIV. Wasps are bold and saucy, whatsoever fruits, flesh, plums sweet meats you have, they will impudently intrude, and if they ●e not prevented carry away a portion. And such are troublesome and vain thoughts, crowding into our best and most religious services. Abraham must drive away the birds from the Gen. 1●. 11. sacrifices, and we must continually watch against vain and evil thoughts, which will always come before they be sent for, but let them find entertainment accordingly. XXXV. If nature te●ch Bees, not only to gather honey out of sweet flowers, but out of supposed bitter; shall not grace teach us to draw even out of the bitterest condition something to better our souls. XXXVI. Bees are affected with a deep degree of love to their Leader, with whom (having nothing) they esteem themselves happy; but without her (in the greatest plenty and fullness) are full of perplexity and trouble. If she goeth forth of the ●ive, they (leaving house, children, goods) follow after, and stay where she abides; If she being weary and faint fall by the way, they will encompass her, stay with her (and returning no more to their forsaken full-stored hives) starve with her, rather than leave and desert her. This ardent love and affection planted in them by nature, eats up and devours all other desires, and over-eager delights in any contentments as worthless and empty. So that the Sun-flower doth not more naturally turn towards the Sun, and the iron to the Loadstone, and the Loadstone to the Pole star, than the domestic honey▪ Bees embrace and affect the Queen▪ Bee. And a believing soul is as much nay more deeply and dear enamoured of her beloved, advancing Jesus Christ highest in his thoughts, and prising him far above the pleasures and profits and glories of the whole world; he so sets his eye and longing upon him, as to hold himself for ever lost without his love, and for the gaining of it if need were would he pass through a piece of hell. Thus are the current of his best affections and all the powers of his humbled soul bend and directed towards him. He vows and gives up the flower and prime of all his abilities, loves, joys, endeavours, performances in any kind to his highest Majesty. He consecrates all the powers and possibilities of body and soul to do him the best and utmost service he can any ways devise, and still grieves and walks more humbly, because he can do no better service. XXXVII. Bees work all in common, feed in common, breed up their young in common: Each provides for his fellow as for herself, every one is affected and sympathizeth in a common danger, as if it were her own alone. In a word, each doth fight with undaunted resolution, in the defence and preservation of her fellow as if it were her own particular injury. How many bastard-Christians are there that sympathise not with their brethren, whose hearts are neither enlarged with lightsomness, nor yet eclipsed with grief, as they hear of the prosperity or oppression Mr. B●●●●n, Instruct for comf. afflict. consci. of God's people. Pitiless and hardhearted Cannibals, who all this while so many noble limbs of that blessed body of the reformed Churches have lain in tears and blood, did never take to heart, to any purpose, or trouble themselves at all with their grievous troubles, but have sottishly and securely lain at ease in Zion, not helping the people of God so much as with a hearty fellow-feeling, wrestling with God in prayer, set days to seek the return of God's face and favour, men they are of the world which have their portion in this life, who feel nothing but worldly losses, know nothing but earthly sorrows, relish nothing but things of sense. If they be stung with a dear year, they howl and take on immoderately: but let joseph be afflicted, God's people in disgrace, the daughter of Zion weep bitterly, and have none to comfort her, these merciless men are no whit moved, they have not a tear, a groan or sigh to spend in such a woeful case. XXXVIII. Wasps are very dangerous enemies to Bees, being bold and strong, they will first prey on dead Bees, which they divide and carry by halves to their nests; but they quickly proceed further and venture into the hives, and rob the combs, and will after come with such numbers that they will destroy the whole stock, unless they be timely prevented, which must be done not so much by observing and killing them near their hives, but finding out their nests, and destroying them altogether. For the subduing of ourselves it is good to follow sin to the first hold and Castle, which is corrupt nature, the streams will lead us to the springhead: indeed the most apparent discovery of sin is in the outward carriage, we shall see it in the fruit before in the root; as we see grace in the expression before in the affection, but yet we shall never hate nor subdue sin throughly, till we consider and fight against it in the poisoned root from whence it ariseth. It is a good way upon any particular breach of our outward peace, presently to have recourse to that which breeds Dr. Sibbs, The Souls conflict. and foments all our disquiet: Lord, what do I complain of this my unruly passion, I carry a nature about me subject to break out continually on any occasion. Lord strike at the root, and dry up the fountain in me, for otherwise, though the streams were stopped, and the branches cut off, and the sparkles quenched, yet there would be a perpetual supply, as long as the poisonful root remains. XXXIX. Many Bees (especially when the gathering season is over, and the state of flowers decayed, about August will be curiously prying into their fellow's hives: at first a few give the onset, and if they be let alone unresisted, or weakly opposed, than they double and treble their forces, fetching at their return more of their company, and violently make a prey of all. But if these scouts and ring leaders, as they press in be beaten out, roughly entertained and stoutly opposed and fought withal, they will then by degrees desist, and at last quite give over. Vain and wicked thoughts, if men give way unto them without checking the motions of them, will press (as busily as flies in Summer) into the heart, but a good heart will not own them, nor allow himself in them, but stands at staves end with them, casts them off as hot water doth the scum, or as the stomach doth that which is noisome unto it. They find not in it that entertainment which they have in carnal hearts, where the scum seethes in, which are stews of unclean thoughts, shambles of cruel and bloody thoughts, exchanges and shops of vain thoughts, a very forge and min● of false politic and undermining thoughts, yea often a little hell of confused and black imaginations. XL. See you that narrow mouthed glass which is set near to the Dr. Hall, Occasional M●di●a●. hive, mark how busily the wasps and flies resort to it, being drawn thither by the smell of that sweet liquor wherewith it is baited; see how eagerly they creep into the mouth of it; and fall down suddenly from that slippery steepiness into that watery trap from which they never rise; there, after some labour and weariness they drown and die; you do not see many of the labouring Bees look that way; they pass directly to their hives, without any great notice taken of such a pleasing bait. Idle and ill disposed persons▪ are drawn away with every temptation, they have both leisure and will to entertain every sweet allurement to sin; and wantonly prosecute their own wicked lusts, till they fall into irrecoverable damnation: whereas the diligent and laborious Christian, that follows hard and conscionably the works of an honest calling, is free from the danger of these deadly enticements, and lays up honey of comfort against the winter of evil: happy is that man who can see and enjoy the success of his labour, but how ever, this we are sure, if our labour cannot purchase the good we would, it shall prevent the evil we would avoid. XLI. A Bee stinging a dead body takes no hurt, but stinging a live Dr. Physe●●▪ The mean in mourning. body loseth both sting and life together. In like manner, death so long as it stung mortal men only, which were dead in sin was never a white the worse, but when it stung Christ once who is life itself▪ by and by it lost both sting and strength. Therefore as the Brazen Serpent was so far from hurting the Israelites, that chose it healed them; after the same sort death is so far from hurting any true Israelite, that on the other side, if affliction as a fiery Serpent sting us, or any thing else hurt us, it is helped and redressed by death. XLII. That honey is sweet, it is not a conceit only, but the natural quality of it is so; yet out of a taste of the sweetness, to think we cannot take too much of it is a misconceit paid home with loathsome bitterness; though our fancy be ready to conceive a greater blessing in outward good things then indeed there is, yet we must not deny them to be blessings. XLIII. Bees when they are abroad at their work, if the clouds overcast, the air grow dark, there be any prelude of a storm which they are very sensible and apprehensive of, speedily and in haste, thick and threesold repair to their hives for shelter and security. And believers never pray so heartily, deny themselves so throughly cling so fast to God, as when a storm is towards, or when they are overtaken by a tempest of persecution. XLIV. Bees are not querulous complaining or discontented creatures, for when they have with many a sore day's labour and heavy burden filled their hive, and thereby furnished themselves against a winter's want: yet if they be driven and robbed of all, have left neither meat nor materials to put in any, yet will, if the weather serve, speedily and cheerfully renew their labours, and with double diligence seek out for a future supply. And shall believers think much to suffer the spoiling of their goods, all that they have traveled and sweated for, and when they have by many a dear days labour got a little somewhat together, then to be spoilt of all in a moment, seeing they know they have in heaven a better and more endureing Heb. 10. 34. substance. XLV. When the worm dies, which is a more imperfect creature, than it revives again, but is quite another from what it was before in every part and member: before it was unable to act for its own preservation, or the good of others, could not move out of its place; in a word, do nothing but eat what was brought unto it; but after a transformation and renovation, it is agile and active, laborious and profitable. And in the new birth, si licet parvis componere magna, there must be a mortification of the old man, and then an universal change and alteration in the whole man. For a new Spirit is universal, it Mr. Harris, Treatise of the new Covenant. goes through the whole man, leavens the whole lump, the new nature is common to all the powers, not like a little spring that takes beginning in some piece of ground, and ends in the same, but like the great Ocean that encompasseth the whole world. And as it is universal, so it is alterative too, it amends not the outside only, but the inward man also. It gives a man a new temper, it makes him that was fearful and timorous, become bold and courageous, him that was peevish and passionate, to be of a meek and quiet spirit, him that was dull and cold, to be zealous and fervent; it makes him with Onesimus profitable to himself and others. XLVI. Bees have a natural and inbred love to their Queen, which makes them in her absence long after her, nay unweariedly seek for her without any other content or satisfaction, but her presence and company, and finding her they will not be severed nor sundered, pull them away as oft as you will from her, yet still they will draw near and cling to her. Carry her whither you will, if they be sensible of it, you have their company also. How doth this condemn the want of love and affection of many subjects to their Governors, of many people to their God? whom a little pleasure or profit shall easily divide. But Dr. Prest●n, New Covenant. though it be thus with the most, yet there is a disposition in the Saints to long after the Lord, and it is not an empty choice that consists only in affection, or in the naked resolution of the mind, but it is such a choice as hath strong affections running together with it, a strong inclination carrying the soul to him; so that though he be hindered many times, and often in his life unruly lusts come, and make a separation between the Lord and him, yet he cannot abide to be long from him. It is the Lord that he loves, he cannot for his heart choose another Master, but it is he with whom he will dwell, live, and die. And if some have quite lost their natural affections to their God, no wonder then, if they are weak in their affections to their Governors, and bandy them as Tennis-balls of State, and smite them into every hazard. I believe it not to be the practice of knowing people or Christian Nations, among whom we look not to hear of a king killing position, except from the upstart Commentaries Reales por G●r●ilass● de la Vega lib. 1. de ca 2. part. c. 33. brood of perverted statising Loyalists. To pass therefore out of the old world, we will instance in the new, where among much affection and singular love and loyalty to their Princes, it is yet strange to hear of one dissembling Zimri and politic jehu, I mean Atahuallpa, who ambitiously opposed, and at last by his agents overthrew and flew his Sovereign Huasear. XLVII. No worldly pleasure hath any absolute delight in it, but as Dr. Hall, Meditate▪ and Vows. 2 cent▪ a Bee, having honey in the mouth, hath a sting in the tail. Why am I so foolish to rest my heart upon any of them? and not rather labour to aspire to that absolute God, in whom is nothing savouring of grief, nothing wanting to perfect happiness. XLVIII. The godly man lives hardly, and like the Bee toils here during the Summer of his year, holding himself short of his pleasures, as looking to provide for a hard winter, which when it comes he is able to wear out comfortably, whereas a wicked man doth prodigally lash out all his joys in the time of his prosperity and (like the Grasshopper) singing merrily all Summer is starved in winter. I will so enjoy the present that I will lay up more for hereafter. XLIX. It is not good to eat much honey, because it is flatuous and H●er Ca●●▪ p●●l●● in Pro verb 25. 17. windy, so he which is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed with glory; for as too much light dulls and dazzles the sight, so too great enquiry into the Majesty and secrets of God blinds the understanding; therefore saith Paul, Let no man Rom. 11. 3. more highly think than he ought to think, but to think soberly, and seek not out the things that are too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength. And as honey is Eccles. 3. 23. sweet while it is tasted, but if it be taken too much, it swells and kills, so the inquisition of the divine Majesty, and of heavenly secrets is delightful, but if it be too much it kills with error, or swells with pride. Knowledge pusses up, but charity 1 Cor 8. edifies. L. Bees are molested with many evils and enemies, some endanger them at or near their hives others assault and often surprise them in the fields, as the Hornet, Titmouse, Spider, but many mo●e miscarry by frosts and snows in winter, by cold storms chilling and tempestuous winds in the Spring, so that they are never secure (though they help themselves in their troubles, by the Lee-side of a hedge, encompassing a hill, and especially with the nimbleness of their wings) but in their hive, nor always there, except their keeper be more careful. How many are the miseries of the sons of men, Ben Adam, Been En●sh, if the son of Adam, presently the subject of sorrow. A wicked man sometimes in lesser distresses may find shelter in earthly comforts, but if the storm grow black and raging, these will prove an Egyptian ree●, which not only deceives but wounds us with the splinters; a deceitful brook than fails the thirsty passenger, when there is most need of refreshing; Jobs miserable comforters And he will be beaten out of all help from them, and be as a naked man in a storm, as an unarmed man in the field, or as a ship tossed on the Sea without an anchor, which presently dasheth upon rocks, or falls upon quicksands. But a believer when he is driven out of all comforts below, nay when God seems to be angry with him, can appeal from God angry to God appeased, he can wrestle and strive with God by Gods own strength, plead with God by his own arguments. Finally, when he is beaten out of all Dr. Sibbs, The soul's conflict. comfort, he hath (a hive) a God to run to; and therefore can with David in his greatest exigencies comfort and encourage himself in the Lord his God. In this he takes Sanctuary, that he is is in covenant with him, who sits at the stern and rules all, and hath committed the government of all things to his Son, our brother, our joseph, the second person in heaven. We may be sure no hurt shall be fall us, that he can hinder, and what cannot he hinder that hath the keys of hell and of death? unto whom we are so near, that be carries our names in his breast, and on his shoulder, as the high Priests did those of the twelve Tribes: though his Church seem a widow neglected, yet he will make the world know that she hath a husband will right her in his good time, for when men know us least, God will know us most, he knows our souls in adversity, and knows them so as to support and comfort them, and that from the Springhead of comfort, whereby the sweetest comforts are fercht. LI. There is nothing more dangerous than honey mixed with poison; T. S●●t, Ser, on Mat 10. 1●. and there is no man more perilous than a flattering fair tongued man, that speaketh out of a hollow heart. LII. As Bees of divers (supposed) noisome flowers, make one Dr. james, on 1 Cor 1●. ●●. sweet honey; so nature the best Schoolmistres of many contraries hath made one the most sweet and pleasant mixture in the body, and that therefore lest there should be any division in the body. LIII. We must be diligent in our calling, not like the sluggard, or Mr. Holbr●ke, on Gen. 4. ●2. the Drone in the hive, but like the labouring Bee, taking the time while time is, whilst the Sun shineth making hay: which condemneth such, that though they will not be altogether without a calling, nay more than that will sanctify it by the word and prayer evening and morning, yet will be negligent in it, either too late at it, lying in their beds, turning them with the sluggard (like the door on the hinges) folding their hands, and crying yet a little more sleep, or else tatlers in their business (omitting many days) with a show of walking in their calling, but in truth nothing less. LIV. There is in the regiment of Bees an intrusive and troublesome Mr. Milles, on Deut. 1. 16, 17. Drone, which eateth up the sweet honey, for which the poor painful creatures have laboured long before. And in the curious Beehive of this Commonwealth, there are four sorts of idle Drones, much like the four sects of Philosophers which sometimes flourished in Athens; The Academic, Epicure, Peripatetic, and the Stoic. The first, were greatly given to study and contemplation, and these are the idle gamesters who are all night in speculation, devising new tricks, and inventing strange conveyances by Cards and Dice, which next day they put in practice; God saith▪ in the sweat of thy face, thou shalt Gen. 3. 19 eat thy bread, and these idle Drones live by the sweat of other men's brows, only by playing. David with one smooth stone out of his bag discomfited the whole host of the Philistines; and this idle Gamester with a blind bone out of his juggling box, with the activity of a polypragmaticall ●inger, can in one hour undo many an hopeful heir. The second Philosopher is an Epicure, who daily gluts himself till the surfeiting reversions of fat trenchers are cast under the table to dogs. This was Baltazars' sin, who at his riotous banquet in excess of wine among his Princes, wives and Concubines, forgot the Lord so far, as Gods anger chalked his folly on the walls. In this fullness sinned churlish Nabal, in forgetfulness of poor David, and his tried followers. And in this fullness perished the gluttonous belly-god in the Gospel, who would rather choked with the crust, then hungerbitten Lazarus should have the crumbs. These were those beasts with whom the Apostle encountered at Ephesus after the manner of men. Their chief School-point was this; Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. Against these gourmandizeing Epicures God grieveth and denounceth a woe; Woe to them that eat the lambs of the slack, and calves out of the stall, drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves very costly, but no man saith he is sorry for the affliction of joseph. The third is the Peripatetic, who used to dispute walking, and in this order are Cunnycatchers, who like the Devil are always compassing the earth, and still going up and down seeking whom they may devour. These cunning Philosophers walk from Inn to Inn, from East to West, and with Satan can turn themselves into an Angel of light, full of good words, and with judas embrace a man with a courtly boone-congee, and at parting cut a man's throat, and empoverish many a plain dealing Country guest, with cozenage in copartnership. The fourth idle Drone or sect of Philosophers, is the Stoic, who used to keep their acts and disputations standing, and these I call your Minicall Comedians and Apish Actors, who with Thraso thunder out sesquipedalia verba, a heap of inkhorn terms, to the terror of a poor Collier, and with a ridiculous tu quoque, move many a fool to laugh at their own follies. LV. Drones have larger bodies than Bees, seem fairer creatures, fly oft in and out of the hives, with a great noise and humming sound, but yet ●il dignum tanto sonitu, they labour not, gather nothing, are all in appearance, nothing in work or worth. And many hypocrites by common gifts planted in their wills and affections, by excellent moral virtues of justice, temperance and patience, may many times exceed the godly in outward appearance; as dead bodies are greater and longer than living bodies, than the same bodies living, but yet want a soul to actuate and quicken them. LVI. Bees when they are new driven, or go forth in a swarm, if they be not desperately few, or the season quite gone, labour more diligently and improve their time more carefully than other hives that are well provided for, and therefore will be more early and late at their work then others; so by diligence redeeming the time. Thus do these unreasonable creatures teach reasonable men, by their continued care and providence, and laborious painstaking to increase their little; for if the iron be blunt than he must put to the more strength, saith the Preacher, and Maximum medi●●ris ingenij subsidium diligentia; Eccles. ●● 10 Sen. ●n cent●. It is most incredible what industry and diligence and exercise, and holy emulation are able to effect for the bettering and increasing of our spiritual gifts. There is no usury so lawful as Mr. Sanders●n, on 1 Cor. 12. 19 of spiritual talents, nor do I know any so profitable usury, or that multiplieth so fast as this doth, your use upon use that doubleth the principal (almost) in seven years is nothing to it. Oh then cast in thy talents into the bank, make thy returns as speedy, and as many as thou canst, lose not a Market or a Tide if it be possible, be instant in season and out of season, omit no opportunity to take in and put off all thou canst, so though thy beginnings be but small, thy latter end shall wonderfully increase, by this means thou shalt not only profit thyself in the increase of thy gifts unto thyself, but (which no other usury doth beside) thou shalt also profit others, by communicating of thy gifts unto them, which is the proper end for which they were bestowed. LVII. If the Pismire must be praised and imitated for her industry and diligence, in that she carefully provides her food in Summer, and her meat in harvest, when as yet neither man nor beast (as far as I know) is any whit the better, the fuller, the richer for all her labours: How much more worthy of praise and imitation is the industrious Bee, which in diligence is more abundant, in painstaking more earnest, in profit above measure? Let as many then as desire true praise and imitation, cast gifts into the common treasury of the Church, employ their good parts and spiritual graces, so as they be some way or other profitable and serviceable to their brethren, and fellow-servants in Church and Commonwealth. LVIII. Delays in any thing that is good are ill, and in the best things worst. Wax when it is chafed will take an impression, but if the seal be not speedily put to it, it returns to its former hardness; and the best affections of the best men, if they be not taken in the heat, abate and lessen and die. LIX. The Wasps after their aged mother is unable to fly abroad (having her wings worn with former labours) provide for her, and bring her food as long as they themselves subsist, really performing what is reported of the Stork: But how many worse than brutes are to be found in this last age without natural affection? if at all relieving their parents, yet after such a niggardly and sparing manner, that a man shall never come where their parents are, but hear them cry out like Rebecca, that they are weary of their lives, or like jonah, it is better for them to die then to live. Nay the world swarms with some men (or Monsters rather) such as Ezekiel speaks of and reproves, Ezek. 21. 7. as set light by father and mother, such as, as soon condescend to relieve a vagrant by the high way side, as their own father or mother. LX. Samson had not found his honey, if he had not turned aside Dr. Ha●l. Con●empl. lib 10. to see his Lion▪ And we shall lose the comforts of God's benefits, if we do not renew our perils by meditation. The mercies of God are ill bestowed upon us, if we cannot step aside to view the monuments of his deliverance; dangers may be at once past and forgotten. LXI. As the Bee Master on occasion of want will feed his Bees, but never the Drones; so true charity relieves those poor men that will labour, but not at all, or rarely those last beggars that will take no pains. LXII. As Samson eat the honeycomb out of a dead beast, and disdained not those sweets because he finds them uncleanly laid; so good may not be refused because the means are accidentally evil; honey is honey still though in a dead Lion. Those are less wise and more scrupulous than Samson which abhor the graces of God, because they find them in ill vessels. One cares not for the Preachers true doctrine, because his life is evil. Another will not take a good receipt from the hand of a Physician, because he is given to unlawful studies. A third will not receive deserved contribution from the hands of an Usurer. It is a weak neglect, not to take the honey because we hate the Lion; God's children have right to their father's blessings wheresoever they find them. LXIII. jonathan out of the honey drew the danger of death, and we draw evil out of good, and turn the grace of God into wantonness; our wealth and honours make us proud; our favours with great men to disdain our betters; and our powers to oppress the innocent; from the length of days we draw forth a multitude of sins; from beauty just, and from the abundance of God's mercy, presumptuous perseverance in sin; but as the▪ Bee sucks honey out of the Henbane, and Samson Dr. Willia●s▪ The best religion, Ps. 2. out of the eater drew meat, and out of the strong drew sweetness; so God which commanded the light to shine out of darkness, did from the death of Christ bring eternal life, to as many as believe in him, for he gave his Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. LXIV. Bees are the most harmless and laborious, the most orderly and profitable creatures that the world affords; and yet have more adversaries and enemies then (almost) any other creature, as in the enumeration of them in the former book hath been discovered: and herein are they Emblems of believers, who though they hurt none, profit all; yet are opposed and persecuted by many. Satan (first) like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour, and his Emissaries are still compassing sea and land, endeavouring their destruction. If Israel will needs go out of Egypt to serve his God, Pharaoh will be presently up in arms and pursue after him. This Serpent hath a brood of his own bowels, that like the Mole can creep under the earth, and transform themselves into Angels of light, to perform deeds of darkness; which made Esaiah cry out he was undone; David, woe is me; and why? for they dwelled among a people of polluted lives, and that abhorred peace, their throats were an open sepulchre, their tongues like razors hot as the coals of Juniper, the poison of asps under their lips, and their mouth full of cursing and bitterness. And beside these foreign foes that seem the further from us, there be homebred and domestical, and therefore more dangerous adversaries: First, corruption the old man, that daily sends forth whole swarms of lusts to destroy the new. And secondly, death the last enemy that is to be destroyed. LXV. It is a common but fabulous conceit, that Bees once losing their stings, lose their natural diligence and industry and become idle and lazy Drones. But it is really true of too many men, who sometimes with their faces to Sion-ward make profession of holiness and religion, but fear of the loss of fame, estate, honour, or life, makes them with Demas and Hymeneus embrace the world, and make shipwreck of saith and a good conscience. LXVI. Bees are acknowledged to be a Commonwealth, and manifest it, as in many particulars, so in th●●e that they watch and work, provide and labour, procreate and educate one for another; once, do all for the benefit and advantage of the whole body. I would our Commonwealth were comparable to a hive of Bees even in these things, than we would be content to watch and labour one for another; all, for the safety of the whole body. In a Ship no man's safety is in single care for himself, Dr. Page, Zebulons blessing. but in the common good of the company, so ought it to be in the Commonwealth also. Therefore no politic body can prosper or make a good Voyage where private respects make prize and Monopolies of public projects, where the little finger will wear a Diamond, though the stomach which feedeth all, wanteth meat to sustain the whole body. This St. Paul so earnestly dissuadeth, that he calleth the mutual love of Christians, the band of love, tying us together. LXVII. The robbing Bee and the Wasp, (though there be between them, if not an antipathy, yet certainly a desperate hatred and enmity) will without strife or difference concur together together to rob a hive of Bees, deserving ill of neither, but only through paucity and weakness obnoxious to their insolence and rapine. Do you wonder then if men wickedly disposed (though ill affected each to other) to compass their particular designs, with formalities of concord, comply and agree together, as Herod and Pilate were made friends to crucify Christ, to compass the destruction of another, by whose ruin they may greaten and enrich themselves. LXVIII. Bees in extremity of winter lie still in a deep (but not dead) sleep, stir not from their places, eat not, make no noise, but on the alteration of the weather, when the Sun shineth cheerly on them, than these sleepers awake and revive. Many men finding some change in themselves, because such lusts as have been formerly vigorous and lively are now dull and torpid, they thereupon comfort themselves, as if they were dead, whereas they are but covered and laid asleep for a time, and will awake and rise again. As Samson when he was tied with Dr. Preston, The New Creature. cords rose again, and was as strong as ever he was when the opportunity came, and it was told him the Philistines are upon thee Samson. So lusts are oft laid asleep till the opportunity comes, when all the threads of good purposes break, and they rise again in their strength, therefore if there be not a new creature brought within thy soul, thy lusts are but asleep, they will rise again. LXIX. 'Tis not the wax but the impression of the seal that fortifies Dr. H. King, Exp s. of the L. Prayer. a Conveyance, and makes the Deed. And temptation however in itself, it be less than the fact, yet considered in the Author that invites sin by these opportunities doth far outgo it. The infirmity of a sinner may sometimes find excuse or pity, but what shadow of excuse can shelter his malice, that drew him to the act? Man is a thing easily persuaded to error, Cereus in vitium fl●cti, like wax wrought to a softness juvenal▪ that will receive the figure of any vice. And yet we blame not his softness, but lament him whose credulity and easy temper betrays him to every temptation. If we lay the occasion of man's fault aright, we must lay it on the tempter. At his allurements did Adam's obedience relent, his persuasions heated him with the inordinate desire of knowledge; he chafed this wax, mollifying it with such art that it received his authentical seal of damnation, by which sin was made currant in the world. LXX. A man finds God in his word as he seeks him by prayer, and no otherwise; wax receives impression as it is prepared. LXXI. If Bees be once provoked they are fiery and furious, violent and virulent, though to their own ruin and destruction, implacable and unappeasable with opposition and resistance. And such is the impatient man, he hath his spirit set on fire of Mr. L●●kier, Useful instruct. hell, he hath a short possession, he is a mad man for so many years, that will not stick at any thing that the Devil and depraved nature bids him do; he will fly in the face of servants, children, wife, Magistrate, God, any one; his heart brings forth sin by troops. LXXII. Bees will not admit of strangers into their society, except they come with submission and resolution to live under their Leader, and assimilate themselves to their manners, without any after-commerce or fellowship with the hives from whence they departed. And God receives none under the tuition of his love and favour, but such as are wholly emaucipated from the world, and with full purpose of heart give up themselves to be guided by him, without having any further fellowship with their former works and companions of darkness: heaven is bestowed upon none but upon such who are thus both willing and capable; holiness makes capacity of happiness. LXXIII. Bees are contented with a simple food procured by their own industry, of which they feed sparingly, but work laboriously and diligently: Whereas the Drones work not at all, but liberally fill themselves, and that daily with the purest honey, and to sharpen their stomaches take many a vagary in the heat of the day, with a loud buzzing, as if they were acting somewhat to purpose, but it is only to empty their bodies, and quicken their appetite, whereby they often grow unwieldy, and after a while (though the Bees let them alone) cannot return back again into the hive. And are not many reasonable men defective in their imitation of the unreasonable Bees? who frequently eat to furfeting and drink to drunkenness, and exceed the limits of temperance in the use of the creatures, denying themselves no pleasing nor desirable thing, that so they might prevent such evils, as admitting these exorbitancies will bring inevitable mischief upon them: But Drone-like live idly and intemperately, not considering the Apostles exhortation; Be sober, be vigilant, saith he, for your adversary the Devil, as a Ephes. 5. 5. roaring Lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. As if he should have said, you are all in a warfaring condition in the Mr. H●ard, Souls misery. field with an adversary, and he no simple one, but a Lion, a roaring Lion; a diligent adversary, who is always going about seeking whom he may devour, drawing into sin, for he hath no way to devour men by, but that: therefore do you as Soldiers in the field with an enemy would do, they ply not their bellies, but use their meat and drink and sleep very sparingly, because though this be not enough to prevent the mischief that is intended them by their enemies, yet it is one very good means of their safety, for it preventeth a sudden surprisal, and enableth them to make resistance, and so would a moderate use of meat, drink, pleasure, etc. keep you waking and give you liberty to prepare for all encounters with the Devil. LXXIV. As the humming Bee having lost her sting in another, doth Mr. R. Greenh●m, Comfort for afflict▪ consci▪ still notwithstanding make a fearful and grievous noise by her often buzzing about us, but is nothing able to hurt us: so sin and death having lost their sting in Christ Jesus, do not cease at all, even in the height of the parching heat of our consciences to make a murmuring and with furious storms of temptations to terrify us and our consciences, albeit they can never sting us. LXXV. A man by discourse can never possibly persuade another of the sweetness of honey so fully as if himself did taste it. And it cannot be told how sweet a thing grace is, do but try, and Mr. Harris, Way to true happiness. you shall soon perceive a difference between it and all outward comforts, therefore come and taste, saith the Prophet, how good the Lord is. LXXVI. Bees though (many times) they have sufficiently stored and replenished their hives, yea sometimes to a superabundant redundancy; hindering for want of empty cells the future generation, and so suffer because of their plenty; yet will they not give over working; nay some, not leave robbing and that from the weaker and wanting hives. Have we not here a fair picture of a covetous man, who is never at rest, never satisfied and contented. LXXVII. The Bee a nice and dainty creature, builds her cells sometimes Dr. Hall, Contemplate. lib. 10. in an unfavoury carcase, and the carcase that promiseth nothing but stench and annoyance, now offers comfort and refreshing, and in a sort pays Samson for the wrong offered. Oh the wonderful goodness of our God, that can change terrors into pleasures, and can make the greatest evils beneficial. Is any man under his humiliation, under the hand of God grown more faithful and conscionable? there is honey out of the Lion. Is any man by his temptation or fall become more circumspect? there is honey also out of the Lion: There is no Samson to whom every Lion doth not yield honey: Every Christian is the better for his evils, yea Satan himself in his exercising of God's children advantageth them. LXXVIII. If robbing Bees charge a neighbour-hive, and find a resolute opposition, with the slaughter and destruction of the prime Leaders and forward invaders, the scattered residue and broken triarij will be timorous and fearful to reattempt, or if at all but faintly, and quickly found a final retreat. And he that Dr. Featly, The Check of Conscience. hath felt the sting of sin in his conscience, and been formerly confounded with the shame thereof, dreadeth and fleeth and seeketh by all means to shun those sins which have left so sad a remembrance behind them, for the smart of the wound of conscience for sin past, is a special means, through grace, to keep us from sin to come; for (as Lactantius writeth) Lactan. the ashes of a burnt Viper are a present remedy against the sting of the Viper, so the remains of sin in the conscience, viz. remorse and shame are a present remedy against sin; as we may see in David, I know mine own iniquity, and my sin is ever Psal. 51. 3. before me. LXXIX. Bees are very little creatures, and their sting is very small, not visible except it be very near, and yet this sting affects with grievous smarting pain. And if the sting of a Bee swell and rankle, and smart so much, what will the teeth of the Adder, or the tail of the Scorpion? if those little sins that are so small that we can scarce discern them to be sins, put the conscience to so much pain and anguish, what will great sins do? If whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgement; and whosoever shall say unto his brother, Racha, shall be in danger of the Counsel; And whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire: What punishment is he like to endure, who beareth malice in his heart against his brother, envieth his prosperity, undermineth his estate, woundeth his good name, nay spilleth his blood, this is a crimson sin, and mortal in a double sense; not only because it slayeth the soul, but also because it killeth the body. LXXX. Plutarch writeth that though Time be a most dry and bitter Platarch de animae ●●an●●il. herb, yet that not only the Apothecaries draw an wholesome oil out of it, but also that the Bees extract from thence sweet honey. This dry and bitter herb is affliction to the taste of most men: yet out of it men may draw both a wholesome oil to cure a wounded conscience, and honey also to delight the spiritual taste. Oil out of the nature of afflictions which are chastenings; and honey out of the cause God's love: As Revel. ● 19 many as I love I rebuke and chasten. LXXXI. If you do but take any piece of God's word, and do but D●. P●ed●n, New Covenant. stay upon it, as the Bee doth on the flower, and will not off till you have got somewhat out of it; if you be still digging in this mine, this will make you rich in knowledge, and if you be rich in knowledge, it will make you rich in grace. LXXXII. The word of God, saith the Prophet, is good, yea and pleasant too, to every one that walketh uprightly, as sweet as honey, yea sweeter than the purest honey to such; as David professeth of himself But even honey itself, though of itself good and Mr. Ga●●ker, on Psal 82. 6. pleasunt, and wholesome and medicinal, yet causeth pain and smart to an exulcerate part. And children therefore that at other times much desire and cry for it, yet will not endure to have it come near their lips, when they have sore mouths. It is man's love of his own corruption and impatience of cure, that maketh the word of God harsh and unpleasant unto any. LXXXIII. Look upon the silly Bees the best Emblems of obedient creatures, painful in their labour, dutiful in their life, their ●▪ Garey, on ●os 7. 5. king being sase, they are at unity: So long as their king is well, they follow their work, but being dead, they leave and ●●ath their honeycombs. Behold how nature hath stamped obedience by instinct to Bees to be subject to a superior in their kind; how much more should nature, reason, and grace, stamp obedience in the hearts of Christians, knowing that without a government, Kingdoms and States are thraldoms, Remota justitia August. de civical. dei. lib 4. c. 6. quid sunt regna nisi●magna latr●cinia, take away ●justice, and what are kingdoms but dens of thiefs, take away obedience to government, and that were miscere terris tartara, make earth and hell all one, but only in name. LXXXIV. Bees will not be forced to communion with others, except they voluntarily forsake their own hives in a swarm; for take them at other times, as when they lie out and sweep them into another hive, yet they will (at furthest) the day following all return back to their own and proper hive: it is with them as with a stream that hath made itself a channel wherein to run, it may indeed by a strong hand be turned out of its course, but yet it will be still bending towards its own way, and never leave working and winding till it be where it was before: so Mr. Harris. howsoever the upright person may be unsettled for a time and put besides his course, yet he strives and labours to be where he should be, and never finds himself well, till he be in his first path: like the Needle in the Compass, though it be joged aside for a season, yet it makes toward the North again, and is in a perpetual trepidation, till it be where it should: So the children of God, though they be subject to manifold declensions, manifold desertions, manifold stops and stays in their course to heaven, yet still set their faces thitherward, though the wind may sometimes violently oarry them besides the way, yet it doth not dismay them, nor do they find any rest or content in their souls, till they be in their right course again. LXXXV. Bees of all politic creatures most unanimously comply and combine together, live and love together, mutually protect and provide for one another, always agree among themselves, and act and work all for the public good and welfare of the whole body: they (as it were) throw down all enclosures, lay all in common, not selfish selfish, look not on their own things, but on the things of others, tendering their well-doing as their own; neither are they apt to give offence carelessly, nor to take it causelessly. And shall men, shall Christians be so unnatural as to inveigh one against another, to entrap one another, to desame, disgrace, and devour one another, tantaene animis coelestibus irae? as he said in another cause, this is all one as for one eye to pull out another, one hand to cut off another; know we not that perfection and safety depends in union? as on the other side, danger and destruction inevitably follows on distraction. Union like the wise woman Solomon speaks, buildeth up the house, but division as the foolish woman pulleth it down with her hands. LXXXVI. The Wasp loveth not the Apothecary's Galley-pot, but the sweets contained therein: If we love any for our pleasure, we love indeed our pleasure and not him, if we love him for our profit, we love our profit and not him, if we love him for any end of our own, we love ourselves not him: Thus the jews loved not Christ, but the loaves which he multiplied by miracle. LXXXVII. Some Naturalists observe, that the thickest and best honey is that which is squeezed last out of the comb, so usually the daintiest dish is served in at the last course; and Musicians reserve the sweetest strain for their close; the last speech of a dying friend leaves a deep impression in our hearts; and art imitating nature holds out the last note of the dying sound in the Organ or voice. LXXXVIII. The Israelites coming into a wood, where they saw the honey dropping, and found the meat as ready as their appetite, Dr. Hall, Contemplate. lib. 11. yet dare not touch the sustenance, and will rather endure famine and fainting, than an indiscreet curse: So the truly righteous, though great temporal advantages present themselves with the breach of God's Law, yet rather choose a contented poverty than riches with the appurtenances of everlasting sorrow. LXXXIX. As Sampsen taken honey out of the carcase of the Lion; Idem. The Impreze of God. so it becomes the Magistrates to pull the honey of the Church out of the jaws of all sacrilegious Lions. But if the cunning conveyances of sacrilege have made that impossible, since it lies not now entire in the combs, but is let down and digested by these ravenours. Let him whose glory it is not to be pater patriae, but pater ecclesiae, provide that those few pots we have may still seethe, and that if nothing will be added, nothing can be recovered, yet that nothing may be purloined from the Altars of God. XC. Thy lips, my Spouse, drop as the honeycomb; honey and Hug● Card. Postil. in Cant. c. 4. 11. milk are under thy tongue. He commends the Spouse for her lips and her tongue: Now her lips are the Preachers and Doctors, and other Teachers of the Church, who ought to be a honeycomb to their people with the sweetness of love, and distilling with gentleness and affability. The lips of Moses Exod. 4. 10. were not an honeycomb, because they had more bitterness than sweetness, I am not eloquent. Also the Law of Moses had bitterness, for it required eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Again, Exod. 21. 24. though the lips of Moses were a honeycomb, yet not dropping, but dry and stony and mysterious, that is, in stony Tables, where in truth the secret of the divine Law was hidden, so that he made him to suck honey out of the Rock. But now the Deut 32. 13. lips of the Church drop as a honeycomb: A honeycomb is honey in the wax, that is, the divinity in the humanity. Or by honeycomb is understood the secret of divine wisdom, which is melted from the lips of the Church, whence it follows, Honey and milk are under thy tongue; by tongue is to be understood the same with the lips; by honey is signified the instruction of the perfect, but by milk the teaching of the simple. The Apostle had honey under his tongue when he said, As unto Babes in Christ I have fed you with milk. A honeycomb 1 Cor. 3 2, 3. dropping, not dilated and spread abroad: For the words of Doctors or Preachers ought to drop according to the capacity of the hearer, not to be poured out all at once. XCI. Bees are not only profitable for our bodies, but moral uses are by Divines made of them. The Queene-Bee only useth not her sting, hath a body greater than the rest, wings not answerable Polani Syn●ag. lib. 5. c. 25. to her body, works not, yet though throned in the top of the hive, makes a continued progress or walk over it, after a sort over-seeing, directing, exhorting others in their several stations and employments. So kings and great men ought to I ja. G●yn pa●te. ●●. Theo●emat. et pr●b●emat. theo og. have innocent hands readily extended for the good of all, valiantly defending, wilfully hurting none, with counsel and authority presiding and profiting whensoever there is need and occasion. XCII. The Bee, saith the son of Syrach, is little among winged creatures, she composeth her works admirably, and observes a wonderful polity and order in government: So some men that have little bodies, and less strength, yet have acute wits and working brains. XCIII. Bees gather of many flowers, but hurt none: so ought the Governors among God's people, have a care of all their subjects, but wrong and prejudice none. XCIV. Bees ordinarily delight not in dead carcases, nor gather of dead flowers: so ought heroical natures to abominate vices and vicious persons. XCV. Bees gather not all things of every thing; but Bee-bread of some flowers, honey of others, water elsewhere: so ought the Governors of kingdoms to exact and expect some services from Divines, others from Lawyers▪ others from the Nobility, others from Citizens, and others from men of inferior rank and quality. Now it is a singular part of judgement and prudence to observe what beseems each order, what every man can perform, and to draw all orders to a pleasing harmony. XCVI. Bees are diligent in their labours whensoever fair weather invites them, and not only on some set times or days, taking liberty to be idle on others. So ought the Governors of kingdoms always attend and procure the good of the Commonwealth, and of each particular person in the same, but without hypocrisy a●…d dissimulation. Friderick the third Emperor of Germany not without cause when he saw his Counsellors enter into the Court at Vienna▪ was wont to wish, that every man of them before they entered in, would put off two plagues of the Commonwealth, simulation and dissimulation. XCVII. Bees as some other Infects will fly so long about a Candle till they burn their wings, and lose their lives. And a wand'ring mind growing wanton with curious care about the flame of hidden secrets, oft befools, nay destroys itself. XCVIII. A wise soul in his thought-worke is as a Beehive, all the Mr. S●r●●he●, Christian Observations. powers are in labour, and continually going out and returning, no power idle, and none return empty, and all their observations as honey said up for use: it gathereth and digesteth in itself a substance and mass of purified knowledge, and that for affection and action, and all of them for the obedience of God and union with him. XCIX. Bees are not only laborious when they are in want, and their provision small, but when they are largely supplied, they are as earnestly bend on their gathering as if they had nothing. Believers are not to stint their endeavours, when they have attained to a competency of knowledge, but to go on still forward and grow, for though they have enough to make them thankful, yet never enough to make them remiss and negligent, they must still press forwards, like runners in a race, and look not how much they have run, but how much remains: let it always displease thee to continue as thou art, if thou meanest to arrive where thou art not. C. Bees have a common house, a common ear● of posterity, common labour, common food, common generation, a common use and fruition of all things, and therefore entirely and cordially love one another, if one be wronged they will all, though with the loss of their own lives, vindicate the injury and vanquish the adversary. And shall not professors of the same religion who are in so near a relation one to another▪ be tenderly affected one to another, and love one another? They have the Mr▪ Elion, Expos. on Coloss. c. ●. v. 15. same God for their father, the same Church for their mother, Christ their elder brother, are begotten of the same immortal seed, nourished with the same milk of the word, eat the same bread of the Sacraments, and look for the same blessed inheritance, and therefore must needs, by the teaching and work of the Spirit, love one another heartily and mutually. THE THIRD CENTURIE. I. THere is something of God in every creature, Dr. Sibbs, Bowels opened. Ser. 16. this makes the meditation of the creature to be useful▪ There is none, even the meanest (much more the Bee) but it hath a being, and thereby in a sort sets out the goodness of God: God likens himself to many, to show that there is something of him in these, and therefore to teach us to rise from them to him in whom all the excellencies that are scattered in them are united. In innocency we knew God, and in him we had knowledge of the creature, but now we are fain to help ourselves from the knowledge of the creature, to rise to the knowledge of God. II. Our eyes should like a Bee upon infinite variety of flowers, Mr. Bolton▪ Saints soul exalt. humila. from every creature it looks upon collect much sweet matter of heavenly meditation, for the magnifying of the Creator, his wisdom, power, etc. III. Bees provoked near the hive, will be very troublesome, and according to their power dangerous; striveing, striking, or contending further exasperates, but yielding or giving place pacifies them. And if we aim at peace with men in case of controversy with another, let us apply ourselves to a cool language, speak softly, speak wisely, speak silently and in secret: this will cool the great heat of another, and disarm him of his excessive indignation; hard to hard will never yield, but lay hard to soft, and you may break even a slint upon a bed or cushion which cannot be done by laying one flint upon another; So let a man's heart be never so hard and obdurate if we use soft words to him, give him mild speeches, he cannot but be mollified and melted towards us; In so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head, which shall melt and soften him. IV. Bees though the; be engaged in a hot and mortal skirmish with other Infects, yet ordinarily use not their stings, but wre●k their spite with biting and breaking of their enemy's legs, but when they are transported with rage, and blinded with passion, than they sting, but always with their own certain ruin and destruction: And not less prejudicial is the fire or passion of zeal to professors and the Church of God, where it wants knowledge to direct it. What Iscorates spoke sometimes 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉. of valour or strength, is as true of zeal, viz. that zeal and resolution with wisdom doth much good, but without it, it doth much mischief to ourselves and others, like Granades and other fireworks, which if they be not well looked to and ordered they break and do more hurt to them that cast them, then to the enemy. No man can be ignorant of the direful effects Dr. Fea●y, The true Zealor. of blind zeal, when an unskilful Phaeton takes upon him to drive the chariot of the Sun, he sets the whole world in a combustion. What a mettled horse is without a bridle, or a hot spurred rider without an eye, or a ship in a high wind and swelling sail without a rudder, that is zeal without knowledge, which is like the eye in the Rider to choose the way, or like the bridle in the hand to moderate the pace, or like the Rudder in the ship to steer safely the course thereof. St Bernard Bernard in Cant. Ser. 22. hits full on this point, Discretion without zeal is slow-paced, and zeal without discretion is heady, let therefore zeal spurte on discretion, and discretion reign in zeal. V. Be of the same hive live together with the greatest love and agreement that can be conceived, never contending, never quarrelling: whereas sheep of the same fold when they are wanton will dash one against another, and almost break one another's heads; yea men that live in the same house, of the same family, will jar and jangle; yea children that tumbled in the same belly, for very trifles sometimes will fall out and sight one with another. Nay true Christians (with shame and grief be it published) though they will not persecute the cause of religion, yet will molest and disquiet their fellows, through passion, pride, self-love, and other corruptions drawing them thereunto. VI Wax must be chafed and tempered between your fingers Mr. Harris, Treatise of the new Covenant. if you mean to set an impression upon it, and if you continue not to temper it, it will be hard again nevertheless. And so it is with our hearts, therefore use the means of grace constantly, do it day by day, estrange not yourselves from God by intermission of holy duties. VII. Hardness is not intrinsecall to wax, but there is a natural tendency to softness: Let it be hardened through cold, yet bring it to the fire, or let the Sun smile a while upon it, with its beams and warmth, and it will relent, and if the heat be strong return to its liquid nature. But now it is far otherwise with a stone, for let the Sun shine never so hot upon it, lay it by the fire it melts not, it yields not, nay it is rather made the harder. The wicked man hath the hardness of a stone, let him enjoy never so many mercies, he is not a whit moved the more to amend his life, let God speak to him, let him smile upon him, all's one to him; nay he grows every day under the best means more hard and impenitent. Contrarily, the faithful Christian, how ever by sin he may for a time contract hardness, yet bring him to the Word and Ordinances a while, let God shine upon him with the light of his countenance, and he will resolve presently and recover his former tenderness. VIII. Bees are frequently endangered by Spiders who wove their cobwebs near the flowers where they use to gather, and also just over their passage out of their hives, and so at their going forth, but especially at their return home laden and weary, make a prey of them. And earthly things prove snares to many, because of their daily presence. In the way wherein I walked, Psal. 141. Mr. Hoard, Souls misery. have they privily laid a snare for me, saith the Psalmist, and in the way and places wherein we are daily walking and travelling do these baits lie, they are the things which we continually look upon, hear of, handle, taste, feel, and therefore as those snares which are laid for a bird in the place where it is frequently hopping up and down, do much endanger it, so those necessary evils which therefore we live among, and make continual use of, because they are necessary, do the more strongly allure us unto danger, because they are always before us. IX. Whensoever any people did forget to lean upon God's Mr. E. Reynolds explicat. of the 110 Psalm. Word, and betook themselves to humane confederacies, to correspondence with idolatrous people, to facility in superslitious compliances, and the like fleshly counsels, they find them always to be but very lies, like Waxe● feasts made specious of purpose to delude ignorant comers, things of so thin and unsolide a consistence, as ever were broken with the weight of those that did lean upon them. X. Lust's ever bring inconstancy with them, and make the soul Idem. like weary and distempered bodies, never well in any posture or condition; wicked men fly like Bees from one flower to another, from one vanity to another, and can never find enough to satiate the endless intemperancy of unnatural desires, only the Gospel being spiritual●y apprehended, hath treasures enough for the soul to rest on, and to seek no further. XI. A Bee when she hath once stung can sting no more, yet will testify an angry disposition by loud buzzings and frequent strikings at the face of the party (stung before) sometimes to his trouble and perhaps to his fear, also being already sensible of his present smart, and suspecting further danger. So many froward men when they have to their utmost injuried others, and intended more; but when their causes are tried and prove desperate in right, they will yet still create perverse matters to molest their neighbours, and the more they sink in the main of their intendment, the more impetuously will they seek to perplex and trouble them. XII. All relations and conditions have a mixture of some Wormwood Mr. Rey●er, Precepts so● Christian practise. wood or Gall with them, they are not all honey; but like Bees they have a sting of grief and trouble. A man may have bitterness with his sweetest comforts; so had Abraham with his good wife Sarah, she was twice taken from him. XIII. There is a magnetical attractive force in the Queen Be, so that what the Loadstone is to the iron, is she to the rest of the Bees, and therefore wheresoever she is will they be also. And Dr. Sibbs, Bowels opened. no less attractive and powerful is Christ's love in us, our hearts are heavy and downwards of themselves, but his love draws us upwards and makes us heavenly minded, it makes us desire further and further communion with him, still there is a magnetical attractive force in Christ's love wheresoever it is, it draws the heart and affections after it. XIV. Wasps and Hornets feed on flesh, carrion, dead Bees, flies, almost any thing; but the Bee is a neat a●d curious feeder, she sucks and extracts the quintessence of flowers, which she chimically distils in the Limbeck of her belly; and thus prepared lays it up for future food. So the Christian soul in this respect is a Bee that will not feed on worldly carrion or sinful pleasure, but on Christ and spiritual things. The soul of a carnal and natural man useth to feed upon dust, carrion, earth, and earthly things, when the soul of a true Christian that hath the taste of grace, feeds neatly, it will not feed on that which is base and earthy, but upon heaven and spiritual things. The perpetual everlasting intercourse between Christ and a Christian, is his main happiness here, and his eternal happiness in heaven. XV. Temptations to sin come about us like Bees (buzzing into Mr. Herd, Souls misery. our minds evil thoughts, and preparing to sting by drawing us into consent) but it is in the name and by the power of the Lord that we do destroy them; and therefore the Apostle saith expressly; The God of peace shall tread down Satan under Rome 16. 20. your feet. If he be trodden down, it is God that doth it for us. XVI. Whosoever dallies or plays with the Bees at the hives mouth, doth it with his own peril, for although at first he be perhaps neglected or assaulted but with one or two, yet if he persists in his folly or foolhardiness, he shall quickly find more fists about his ears then his own, and not escape scot-free. Would we not be overcome and foiled by temptations, conjure them not up, daily not with them, but if they be risen, quickly lay them, stifle them in their birth and they will expose us to no further trouble or danger; Though flax (saith one) be never so catching, a spark of fire may fall in, and yet not inflame if it be espied and taken out suddenly ere it have time to insinuate its force into the combustible matter, and so evil motions if quenched at the first kinding, seldom break out into a flame of rebellion. But if we neglect them, bid them welcome, or parley with them, or please ourselves in them (though with no intent to commit sin) lust will incal●scere wax hot and conceive, and then the next thing we are like to hear of, will be the birth of some soul sin or other. XVII. There is a kind of life in the Worm (the first but imperfect birth of a Bee) but yet neither seeing nor hearing, nor locomotive faculty, though it stirs in its cell and receives the food that is brought to it, yet can it do nothing for its benefit or defence, or others pleasure or profit. And as life is thus shut up in this imperfect creature, till by a further birth and transmutation it receives a new and better life; so is the light in a natural man shut up before regeneration, all the light they have doth but glow in their breast, showing itself there (as a late reverend Divine) and making it evident that they have such Dr. Preston, Saints qualification. knowledge, but it is not a candle that enlightens all the room, that enlightens all the corners of the soul. Take the light of a Star in a dark night, and compare it with the light of the Sun, though never so little: Look in what measure it appears, it scatters the darkness from East to West: So there is a light in the minds of earnall men, which is but as a Star in a dark night, which doth not take away the darkness, but in the regenerate it is a sanctified light, like the light of the Sun, not shut within a narrow compass, but spreading itself unto all the parts of the soul: Or as if a Candle be brought into a dark room it lightens all the house, but if it be a spark of fire, it shows itself, and glows and does no more, it doth not enlighten the house. XVIII. Many things in the nature of Bees when we have most studiously enquired after them, can we not find out and certainly resolve and determine of, as concerning their manner of generation, the duration and continuance of the Queene-Bee, with their methods and orders in sending forth their first swarm, yet do we where we are unable to find out certain grounds conclude all to be done discreetly and orderly, wisely and wonderfully. And shall we not suspect and check our shallow conceit and judgement? when it carries us to question and reason about God's providence, about divers things below, and not scruple our wisdom, when we cannot see the causes of things, and God's course in disposing of them, when he deals diversely, and not as we would think in our reason, yea and ceasing from our wisdom to search into thing, more than we can comprehend. If in finite and small creatures we poor mortals are often nonplussed and at a stand, let us not be too busy to know the reason of his counsels and doings, but ascribe all to his infinite wisdom. XIX. God exhibits evident tokens of his goodness to all men, Dr. chaloner on Act. 14. 17. even then when they are afflicted with divers and sundry calamities, that when others like Drones do gather honey but from the hive; a true believer should gather it even from thistles; and when weaker vessels bear sail only in a calm, a true vessel of Christ should sail best to his wished port in a storm. XX. Almost of the shadow, saith Pliny (rather then substance) of a very small living creature, nature hath made an incomparable thing. The Bees never lose a day from labour, if the air Dr. I. King, Lectures on Io●●. will give them leave to work. And when the weather is louring and troublesome, they cleanse their hives, and carry out the filth; They keep watch and ward at the gates, as they do in Camps; The Drones they give houseroom unto, but (because they labour not) when they have no need of them they drive them from their dwellings. Go to the Bees. O sluggard, consider their ways, and be wise, they are but small among souls, yet doth their fruit exceed in sweetness▪ (saith the son of Syr●ch) and their labour in greatness. And go to the Bees you Magistrates of the earth, and learn from that little kingdom of theirs, to use the vigour and sharpness of Discipline against our unserviceable Drones, who like paralytic members in the body of man, loose and unbound in the joints of obedience, say to the head command us not, for we will not stir at thine appointment. XXI. Many courteous natures are as wax, sooner able to receive Mr. Green●am, Grave Counsels. the impression of an admonition, but less able to retain it. Again, a more heroical nature is as wax, not so soon admitting the print, but surely keeping the print being made. Many at the first receiving of an admonition most hardly, have after most profited by it; and others receiving an admonition very gently, have lost the fruits of it very negligently. XXII. Experience may make us blush to see how the Bees naturally foresee storms and tempefluous weather, and therefore either fly not abroad at all, or not far from their hives; that they may presently on the first alteration of the weather repair home in safety: but man alone either unsensibly doth not foresee, or unadvisedly will not avoid the perilous times to come. This folly of the Pharisees our Saviour reproved, saying, When it is evening ye say fair weather, for the sky is red; and Mat. 16. 2, 3. in the morning ye say, to day shall be a tempest, for the sky is red and louring. O hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, and can ye not discern the face of the times? XXIII. God never suffereth evil, but for some great and secret good, as Moses saith, He caused him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the hardest stone. Oh the infinite wisdom and St. john Hayward, David's tears. power of God out of the dry and ragged rock of our sins, he draweth the sweet sap of humility from us, and of mercy from himself to the sweet safety and felicity of our souls. XXIV. Riches cannot make men happy by their own nature, not only because they are unsatisfactory, deceitful, and inconsistent, but because in the indisposition in ourselves; they are like the eating of honey to assuage the boiling of a choleric stomach, a little pleasing to the taste, but much increasing both the pain and danger of the disease. XXV. When a Bee hath once lost her sting she may trouble a while with her buzzing and violent striking, but can do no further hurt; so afflictions and troubles, whose sting is pulled out in the Mr. Roberts on 130 Psalm. things that Christ suffered and was conqueror for the Elect. I say, the sting of harm is taken out of the crosses that God sendeth for the humbling of his Children or Church. And they are sent to fear them, not to destroy them, as the destructions that come on the ungodly with their sting in them. XXVI. Set your mind and thoughts on heavenly things, which are Mr. Ha●●is▪ Theory and pract. of prayer able to satisfy you; else like the Bee, you will fly from place to place, because earthly things do not satisfy you. XXVII. Most men will commend the Bee when they feed of her honey, and perhaps with some cost and trouble seek her preservation, but if she once cause a little smart with her sting, than they are quickly out of patience, and exclaim as much against her, and will be at no further pains and cost for her safety: So many men will be content to serve God, as long as they may withal advantage themselves, but to serve him and deny themselves, is a work which they have not learned. Ephraim loveth to tread ●os. 10. 11. out the corn, saith the Prophet; you know the mouth of the Ox was not to be muzzled that trod out the Corn, he had his work and reward together. XXVIII. When honey is expressed from the combs, if there be any corruption or dross in it, that will quickly being lightest ascend upmost, but the purest honey will sink (unseen) to the bottom. So when Satan disquiets the heart, that which is purest and should most comfort will sink, and be out of sight, but our sins and corruptions will ever be before our faces. XXIX. The industrious Bee is diligent to gather honey, and when she hath filled her hive is chased out of it and her life oft times by fire and smoke, that the profit may be ours: so that the pains and labour are only hers, but the advantage and profit is ours. And the pains of Christ's wounds were his, but the benefit ours, the holes in his hands and side were his, but the honey which issued out was ours: in one word, the price which he paid August. was his, but the inheritance which he purchased was ours, he alone without any demerit of his suffered our punishment, that we without merit of ours might obtain his grace. XXX. Bees diligently apply themselves to their work early and late, neglecting no occasion, they are exceeding intent upon it, much taken with it, and almost overwhelmed in their eager and delightful pains, and that all the time the season continueth, for storms and rainy weather may come, and then they will be necessitated to lie still, or winter will come, and then there is nothing to be gotten, and if they have not sufficiently beforehand provided and furnished themselves, they must needs starve and die. And shall not men do good and get good, while they have liberty and opportunity, even give themselves up unto it, and that with all their might. Many a Christian is kept from doing good, by restraint, by sickness, by worldliness, by business, by an unwilling and hard heart, howsoever by death, when the winter, when night comes, there is no more working. How doleful will the prison, sickness and death be, when conscience shall pinch us for our liberty, health, and life abused? We may therefore justly use the argument of the Epicure; Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it Eccles 9 with all speed, because there is no knowledge, wisdom, nor invention in the grave whither thou goest: but here is that which addeth D. Dike, Evang. hist. weight unto it, before we come unto the grave, we may come into this or that straight, that shall disable us almost as much as our grave. And therefore while we have any ability or opportunity in any kind to glorify God, let us not be negligent, but say with the Psalmist; As long as I have any breath I will praise the Lord. And with that Valiant Captain that defended his Ship with his left hand, when his right hand was cut off, and with his teeth when his left hand was gone. If we are disabled one way for doing good, let us try what we can do another, if by our tongues, our pens, our hands, our gestures. XXXI. Some young Queene-Bee in the departure of the last Colony, will steal forth with her that is designed Leader, because in her present state (by staying behind) she is sure to perish; In her going forth there is room for hope, and possibility of life, if she can attain the throne. Believers that have been formerly reduced unto extremities and impossibilities within themselves, looking upon God as omnipotent, and so able to save; as merciful, and in Christ reconcileable, and so likely to save if he be sought unto: resolve as the Lepers in the famine of Samaria, not to continue in the state they are in, nor yet to return to the City, to his wont haunts and way, where they shall be sure to perish, and in the latter is a possibility not to perish. Therefore take up a conclusive purpose to trust Christ, and if I must perish, yet he shall reject me, I will not reject myself, I will go unto him. XXXII. When Bees rob other hives, a special way to divert them, and cause them to desist and give over, is by making them work at home, by running a pen knife through the hive, and so (opening their combs) let out their honey, which they will seek presently to stop up again, and let their neighbours alone. Thus Hambal was wont to say, that the only way to fight against Rome was in Itake, and this Scipio happily experimented upon the Carthaginians. XXXIII. If our lips drop honey by the preaching of God's Word, Dr. Wall, Ser. on Cant. c. 8. 6. and the sweetness of his Doctrine, it is good and commendable; but if our hands drop Myrrh by the crucifying of sin, and the mortification of our earthly members to the obedience of Christ, and the perfect imitation of Christian holiness, it is most comfortable and heavenly. XXXIV. As the witty Bees when they go about to fill their combs R. Meredith on joh. ●6. ●3. with sweet honey, suck first upon the sweetest flowers of the fields and gardens, and then carry the sweet juice into their hives; so ought believers before they enter on their prayers to fix their cogitations upon the two sweet flowers of power and love, which they find in the name of the Father, and then carry the pure juice of them, into the inward hives of their souls and consciences, and so shall they make a most precious honey comb of all spiritual devotion. XXXV. Honey and oil are used by the Spirit of God for the two Emblems of p●●ce and plenty, as we may read in the song of Moses, saying He made him r●a●●n the high places of the earth, Deut. 32. 13. that he might eat the increase of the field, and he made him to suck honey out of the Rock, and oil out of the stinty Rock. XXXVI. I eat my honeycomb with my honey: hereby is understood Mr. Rollenson▪ Se●. on Cant. 5. that peace which ou● Saviour hath made betwixt our Saviour and us. The sin of Adam and I●ve in Paradise made the breach between God and mankind, the death of Christ made the atonement and reconciliation; When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. As than Samson in his Riddle said unto his companions; Out of the eater came meat, and out of the strong one came sweetness: which was meant of a dead Lion, in whose belly Bees had hived and made honey: so I may say of Christ, for he was the Lion of the tribe of judah, and from him being crucified for our sins, and slain for our redemption, we receive our honey and our honeycomb, that is to say, peace with God the Father. But for the honeycomb, why should Christ eat it? Wolves are very Zeph. 3. 3. hungry that will not leave the bones till the morrow: and so is Christ, though he be not a Wolf, yet he is a Lamb, that is both hungry and thirsty, till he have taken away the sins of the world: and therefore he eats his honeycomb with his honey: so greedy is he to cancel the hand-writing which was against us, so desirous of our peace and reconciliation. XXXVII. Believers must not fly low and close to the ground, like Bees against a storm, but raise their flight to a high pitch, even as high as the most high; as did Moses when he saw him who is invisible; for mens quavis ave levior cum deus pennas aptarit, Chrysost. praetervolat montes, saith chrysostom. The soul when God hath once furnished her with wings flies higher than any bird over the highest mountains, and so (as the same father saith Idem. hom. 16. in Epist. ad Hebr. elsewhere) as God is said to be in heaven, and yet is also bear on earth, so we that are here on earth are yet also in heaven. XXXVIII. As honey is not truly honey when it hath lost its sweetness, Dr. Kilbie, Ser. o● 1 Cor. 15. 55. no more is the death of the righteous truly death, having lost its bitterness and fearfulness and terrors in the godly. XXXIX. The Spider is never the more commendable, because he Dr. Cleland on john 4. 6. weaves his web out of his own bowels: neither the Be despised, because she gathereth her honey out of divers flowers. The citing of humane Writs for illustrating points of Divinity, is not so common as commendable, if it be done without vanity and ostentation, making choice of the best Authors, for better understanding of the Text, and more clear declaration of the truth. XL The Bee for her honey pleaseth many, but for the sting displeaseth not a few; so mildness hath bend, where severity could not break. XLI. As one will know more of the sweetness of honey by one Dr. Bal●an, Qual. on Psal. 26. 5. taste of it, then by a hundred disputations and discourses of it, so to speak of spiritual joys to such as have not felt them is ridiculous, because they are known by apprehension not by discourse, and to them who have felt them, it is needless to discourse of them, for this doctrine is better known by one experience, then by a hundred rules. XLII. Mors is Morsus, death is but a biting, not a consuming Sen. and utter devouring, as he that biteth taketh some and leaveth some, so death getteth a morsel of flesh, as the Kite taketh Dr. King B. of London on Isai. 38. 1●. garbage from the dunghill, and the Dog's offal from the shambles, but the soul it meddleth not with. I cannot therefore better compare the grave then to the honeycomb, where is both honey and wax. The honey of the soul is taken out, the wax of the flesh remaineth behind, till the resurrection of just men. XLIII. The wax that is affixed to Letters patents, howsoever for substance it be the very same, that which is to be found every Dr. U●her on 1 Cor. 10. 17. where, yet being applied to this use, is of more worth to the Patentee, than all the wax in the Country beside: so standeth it with the outward Elements in the matter of the Sacrament; The bread and wine are not changed in substance from being the same with that which is served at ordinary Tables, but in respect of the sacred use whereunto they are consecrated, such a change is made that now they differ as much from common bread and wine as heaven from earth. XLIV. As Wasps making music about a galley-pot▪ show plainly that they came only for the honey that is in it: So the rich man Dr. Hall, Med. and Vows, Cent. 3. hath many friends; although in truth riches have them, and not the man. As the Ass that carried the Egyptian goddess had many bowed knees, yet not to the beast, but to the burden; For separate the riches from the person, and thou shalt see friendship leave the man, and follow that which was ever her object: while he may command and can either give or control, he hath attendance and proffer of love at all hands; but which of those da●es acknowledge him when he is going to prison for debt. XLV. As they who temper bitter cups for children, first rub the Mr. S●●●k, Com. on Mal. c. 3. v. 5. mouth with honey, that that heedless age when it shall perceive the sweetness, shall not feel and fear the bitterness: so deal witches and wizards▪ using good words, lawful means Chrysost. ad pop. A●●o. hom. 21. and prayer, but as Chrysost. for that cause hate and detest them the more, because they vi●ely abuse the name of God, professing themselves Christians they do the works of Heathens; for so the Devils confess the name of God, and yet were Devils still. XLVI. God's Law, saith David, is sweeter than boney and the honeycomb; Dr. L●ke, Expos. of fust Psal. the meaning whereof is, we must not be mercenary in his service, but the pleasure we take in it, must be the cause why we entertain it, therefore it is not without cause that God requires the heart, yet he will have it seasoned with love. Thou Deut. 6. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 5. shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart: and love it the fulfilling of the Law. XLVII. He that will have a good conscience, that shall give in good evidence for him, and pronounce a comfortable sentence on August. in Psal. 31. him, must believe well and live well, faith doth purify the heart, and a good life beareth the fruit that aboundeth to our reckoning, when we judge our own souls. But a man must not look to have this blessing of a good conscience suddenly, Vade ad formicam piger; some read it, Vade ad apem, Go to the Bee, O sluggard, she gathereth her food in summer, whereof she maketh use in winter. God's Bee, that is a man that will have such a good conscience, riseth early, hasteth to the Church, hears often, prays often, meditates often, and so doth acquire this absolving conscience, Colligentem in aestate videre potes, August. comedentem in hieme videre non potes. The outward means which he useth are visible, but the inward which when time serveth he reapeth are invisible. XLVIII. Bees are not like the Bramble that receive all good and yield none to others, to their dependants: but are like the figtree, the vine, the olive, they that belong to them, that care for them, are all the better, for ●●ey are enriched by them. If the Bees have any excellency, the Bee-master shall communicate with them. A good pattern for Kings and Governors, who should herein imitate the Bees; when a man seeth an excellent work, he guesseth that the workman was excellent, though he seeth him not: so the eminency of the Governor may be seen when he is not seen, it may be seen in the eminency of his people. XLIX. Bees sometimes sting, but ordinarily without any great or long prejudice. The danger is nothing in comparison of the biting of an Adder, which is even unto death, death speedy, death painful and woeful, and that as naturally and as inevitably as Opium procureth sleep, or Ellebore purgeth, or any poison killeth. So though every sin (unrepented) hath wrath and judgement following of it hard at the heels, yet some sins are more pernicious, Woe and alas, sorrow and strife, shame, poverty, and diseases are enough as Solomon notes to make drunkenness odious, but because (as he observed) drunkards are men past shame and grace, senseless of blows, and therefore much more of reasons and words, being bewitched and besotted with the love of wine, will easily oversee and over-leape these petty woes, therefore Solomon sets before their eyes, the diresull end and fruit, the black and poisonful tangle of this sin; In the end it stingeth like a Serpent, it biteth Dr. S Ward, Se●. on ●…●● ●●. ●9. like an Adder; if once a custom, ever a necessity. Wine takes away the heart, and spoils the brain, overthrows the faculties and organs of repentance and resolution. And it is just with God, that he that will put out his natural light, should have his spiritual extinguished, he that will deprive himself of reason, should lose also the guide and Pilot of reason, God's Spirit and grace. L. Bees (howsoever some conceit to the contrary) are much advanced and advantaged by the winter: there is thereby not only a preparing of the earth for a vigorous production of flowers: but a long rest and sleep doth strongly dispose and fit them both for breeding and also honey-gathering. Whereas we may observe, especially in dry seasons, though the weather be very fair, and there be some flowers, yet are they not very beneficial. And it is needful for Christians to find the presence Dr. Sibb●, Bowels opened. of Christ in the way of humiliation and debasement, causing us to afflict our own souls, as to seel his presence, joy and comfort. In this life we cannot be without this gracious dispensation. We may therefore comfort ourselves, that howsoever Christ leaves us, yet he will always leave somewhat behind him, as he left Myrrh after him upon the handle of the door, ●●pt. 5. 6. some Myrrh is left always behind upon the soul, which keeps it in a frame and state of grace and sweetness. Myrrh was one of the ingredients in the holy oil, as it is; and so this leaving of Myrrh behind him, signifies the oil of grace left upon the soul; that enabled the Church to do all those things which are spoken of Cant. 5. 6. LI. Mercy comes naturally from God like honey from the Bee; Mr. Swift, Ruin and repair of kingdoms. but justice like the sting, only when she is provoked. LII. Bees in their first being (while worms) are uncapable of any excellency, of any ability to profit themselves or others: yet they must for a time abide in it, and then they must die that they may be changed, and so become agile, able, useful creatures. As they which die cloth do not immediately change one contrary into another, but first turn a white into an azure, and that into a grain colour: And as those that work in wax, cannot frame any new impression in it, till the old be defaced: So the image of the Prince of this world the Devil must first be defaced, before the image of Christ can be form in us, we must die, before we can live. LIII. The Bee being to fly home to her hive, and fearing lest if Ambros▪ do Virginita●. quoted by▪ Dr. Playsere in his pathway to perfection. she should be taken by the way with a rough wind, she might perhaps be blown about in the air, counterpoiseth herself with a little stone, and so flies straight home * It is true only of the Candian Bees, if of any. Howsoever the Moral is not amiss. Act. 9 11, ● . This teacheth us what we ought to do, we must not be wavering and carried about with every blast of doctrine, like a reed shaden in the wind, but as the Bee is balanced with a little stone, so we must be built on the chief corner stone, and grounded upon a rock and established with grace, that howsoever the rain fall, or the floods arise, or the winds blow, or what times soever come, yet we may stand fast in the street which is called strait, always following Christ directly towards the mark. LIV. Honey is very sweet and pleasant to the ●ast, but eaten overmuch is bitter in the stomach, and the maker of it the Bee hath a sting in her tail. Such are the delights and pleasures of the world; therefore saith Martial an ancient Bishop, Quid ad Ma●●ia●. Epist, ●d Tolos. c. 18. nos delectatio mundi, what have we to do with the delights of the world? you may call it as you will, pleasure, pastime, mirth, joy, but in God's Dictionary it hath no such name; but is there called Adam's goodly Apple, which be●●g eaten deprived them of Paradise: Esau's red pottage, which being supped up, bereft him of his birthright: Jonathan's sweet honey which being but tasted, was like to cost him his life. It may delight thee for a while, but it shall torment thee for ever. As any solid body, though it have never so fair a colour as crimson, purple, azure, yet always the shadow is black; so any earthly thing, though it have never so fair a show, yet always the shadow of it is black, and the delight thou takest in it, shall prove to be grievous in the end, there is bitterness in this sweetness, a sting in this Bee. And therefore Philo calls the Philo. world, A sweet bitter thing: let us then account worldly delights not Naomie but Mara, because it is nothing so much Naomie, sweet and pleasant at the first, as it is Mara and Amara, bitter and loathsome at the last. LV. An heavenly mind turns earth into heaven, like a Bee that D● Dyke, Evang. hist. sucks honey out of (supposed) bitter herbs, and like unto fire that turns into fire that which is cast into it. As the good stomach doth turn even grosser meats into good nourishment, whereas an ill stomach would turn the finest meats into bad juice. LVI. Let a swarm remain at the place where it was hived a day or two, and then be removed to another standing; yet for two or three days after will they either sullenly keep in (except the weather be very fair) or if they fly abroad and gather, repair with their labours to the first place, hankering and flying about it most part of the day, some not at all returning back to the hive, but desperately dying there, and the rest for many day's lingering about their first mansion. And are there not many in the world, who having stood in the way of sinners, and sat in the chair of the scornful, cannot be moved or persuaded to alter their choice, but will do well (to be angry) to be evil. And if fear of hazard or hell, or love of benefit, a●●ures and withdraws them from the public practice, yet shall they not from the inward liking and approbation, so that when he altars his standing gives over the practice of his sins, seems to be divorced from them, because he hath a station, an abiding elsewhere, in his open carriage somewhat altered, yet he flies about his former standing, his thoughts and imaginations feed all day long upon his lusts, he relisheth speculative wickednesses, so that when he hath withdrawn himself from his sin, and given it over, he may have a months' mind after it, he may do with it still as the husband of Mich●l did, when by a strong power, she was taken from him, it would have hazza ded his life to have refused, yet saith the Text, he came weeping after her a far off, he longed after her still, and loved her still. So a man may part with his sin after such a manner, that still he goes weeping after it, he would have it again, he would fair enjoy it, if it were not for some greater danger, or some greater trouble that he exposeth himself unto: as you see in Phal●iel, it was not for want of love to his wife, that he parted with her, but it was out of a desire he had to save himself, to escape the danger of the King's wrath, imprisonment, and death, that would have followed upon it. LVII. Bees are creatures fitted with natural instruments for the getting of honey; they have long tongues to draw it out of the sockets of the flowers, and they have nimble wings to carry them from place to place, that so what is not in one field may be found in another, and they have quick sights to discern, but most active is their smell. And they have a little bottle within them to contain the honey, when they have extracted it, and (which is more than all) delightful willingness to employ all these abilities for the compassing of this end, and the thriveing in their labours by all the means and opportunities they have. But the fool hath a precious price in his hand, but knows not Dr. Stoughton, Righteous man's plea to true happiness. how to use it, he lets slip many golden opportunities, letting them run like water besides the Mill, driveing no trade of knowledge with them, making no use of them for that purpose, and so soon loseth all the benefit of these means he hath: it is admirable to think how under the droppings of the Pipe a man should be dry, how that under the continued means of grace, a man may continue in deep ignorance; it is terrible, I say, to think, that whereas delicious Manna, heavenly Nectar falls daily about our tents, as it were, that if a man would vouchsafe to step out of his door, and carry his Omer in his hand, he might fill it every day. But if men will not vouchsafe the gathering of it, never make use of the means of grace that God offereth, but will be as childish and as foolish as those that go to the Market, they go there for some business, but when they come there (like fools) they go see this gay thing, and the other gaudy thing and so forget utterly their errand, and go home again without it; they come to God's house to see and to be seen, to prate with this party, and gape on another, and so let all fall besides them, without minding what they hear, or to know and remember it; they may have excellent means, and yet thrive not, make no advantage of them: but he that will thrive and increase in knowledge, must make precious account of the means, laying up something out of every opportunity that he hath. LVIII. There can be no habit of some sins, as in parricide, and in Dr. ●. Iayl●●, The doctrine of repentance. the wilful murder of ourselves: all their malignity is spent in one act, and the event is best declared by one of them. The man dies in his sin, in that sin which excludes him from heaven. Every act of these sins is like the stinging of Bees. — Animamque in vulnere ponit. He cannot strike again, he can sin that sin over no more, and therefore it is a single act that dams in that cause, unless he repent truly and effectually. LIX. Bees sting seldom when they conflict with Infects, but when they contend with men or beasts they sting readily, their rage is as high as their supposed enemies power, so that it is evident (by an instinct of nature) they are not ignorant of their own danger, and yet to satisfy their spite, out of a bad custom, though natural, will undo themselves. Such is the violence of custom in sin, which is the Law of sin, that by it, a man is overruled against his will, he cannot leave sin if he would. For as an old disease hath not only afflicted the part of its proper Id●●n in ●●● residence, and by its abode made continual diminution of his strength, but made a path also, and a channel for the humours to run thither, which by continual defluxion have digged an open passage, and prevailed beyond all the natural powers of resistance. So is an habitual vice, it hath debauched the understanding, and made it to believe foolish things, it hath abused the will, and made it like a diseased appetite, in love with filthy things. It is like an evil stomach, that makes a man eat unwholesome meat against his reason. That's a sad calamity when a man sees what is good, and yet cannot follow it, nay that he should desire it, and yet cannot lay hold upon it, for his faculties are bound in fetters, the habit hath taken away all those strengths of reason and religion, by which it was hindered, and all the objections by which it was disturbed, and all that tenderness, by which it was uneasy; and now the sin is chosen, and believed, and loved, it is pleasant and easy, usual and necessary; Scibam ut esse me diceret, facere non quibam miser, P●●atus in ●●●umo. I knew it well enough, how I should comport myself, but I was so wretched, that I could not do it. LX. Bees and Wasps, though they sting not in the extremity of winter, nor when they are benumbed with cold, yet are full of poison; so that it is not want of desire to do mischief, nor yet want of malice, but only want of abilities. And there be sons of Belial, that will fawn and humble themselves with a pretence of much affection; joab-like, Art in health my brother▪ yet believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; he waits but an opportunity or ability, and his sword shall be in thy sift rib, they were not void of malice before, but only wanted power. LXI. Bees and Flies are often entangled in the Spider's Cobweb, and miscarry; but Wasps being stronger creatures easily break through and escape: poor men ordinarily being taken in their crimes, endure the severity of the Law, but the wise and great ones hide their counsels ●●epe, or carry their actions cunningly, or if they be found out, yet as Auacharsis said, by their greatness they break through the Laws, and so escape. LXII. If the Wasps rob, and the Drones profusely spend too much, to the prejudice of the Commonwealth, the Bees than bestir themselves, and chase away some and chasten others. And it is Mr. Down, Subjection to the higher Powers. no less the Magistrates duty to procure the public good, Et videre ne quid respublica detrimenti capiat. To provide that the Commonwealth suffer no detriment or harm. If therefore any hinder the public good, or shall work any disadvantage or damage unto the State, the wrath of the Magistrate ought to turn against such a man. And as God when his Laws are broken, or himself any way dishonoured, waxeth angry with men: so these Gods on earth, when men by contemning their authority, and denying them due subjection, go about to disturb and set combussion in the State, have just cause to be angry, and to seek revenge upon them. LXIII. Drones, though meek creatures, yet (provoked by their fellows) will fight and grapple together. But Drones never voluntarily offend any, nor yet (provoked) turn again, all their fight is flight, either to go out of the hive, or to lie many together in a heap in a corner of the hive, that so their numbers (holding together by their feet) may in some sort secure them. And in vain were resistance where nature hath denied a sting. Wrath and desire of revenge in him that wanteth power, is vain and foolish, according to that of the Poet: Quid stulti proprium? non posse et velle nocere. It is the property Auson. of a fool wanting ability, to desire to do hurt. LXIV. The Bees combs are perpendicular from the top of the hive to the bottom, and so they are very long, but yet they have a breadth likewise, the depth of the cells on either side, which yet holds no proportion with the length: The repletion of the cells with various fillings, some with Bee-bread, some with honey, some with brood, some half full, others are empty, notes the variety of comforts and blessings, which in this life men enjoy, but some more and some less. There are vicissitudes and changes in the life of a Christian▪ a diversity of dispositions and dispensations, to which they are subject in this life. Sometimes with the Disciples on Mount Tabor ravished with joy, and by and by, when the cloud over-shadowes them, they are afraid. When the Lord lets us feel his mercies, we are alive, but if he hides his face, and sets our sins in order before us, we are sore Psal. 50. 21. troubled: but ordinarily we dwell more in the valley of Bacha then of Beracha, our mourning exceeds our mirth. The life W. Cowper, B. of Galloway. Heaven opened. therefore of a Christian may be compared to a web so mervellously mixed and woven of comforts and troubles by the hand of God, that the long threads thereof reaching from the day of our birth to the day of our death, are all of trouble, but the west interjected with manifold comforts. LXV. Wax left to itself grows hard, how much more the stony heart of man? God not ruling and working in his heart, it grows hard. LXVI. Amnon had a strong lust to his sister Tamar, but when he Mr. Collo●, Expos on first Epist. of john c. 2. v. 17. had fulfilled it, he hated her more than he loved her. So when we have fulfilled a lust, we are not satisfied with it, but say to it, arise, be gone; As a Bee having sucked something from one flower, goes to another, and then to a third; so we are soon weary of lusts, there is an emptiness in the creature, it is no way able to satisfy the desires of man's heart, but they are soon weary, and therefore desire variety. LXVII. Divers hives will conspire together to rob their harmless and innocent neighbours, but oftentimes when they have plundered and worried others, then do they vex one another, and war among themselves. It is impossible that any true peace should be among the wicked, whilst they want the solder that should glue them together, faith; it is therefore no wonder to see the Egyptians against the Egyptians. And they 〈…〉 shall fight every one against his brother, and against his neighbour, City against City, and Kingdom against Kingdom. And they 〈…〉 shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm, Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; for agreement in evil is not peace, but conspiracy, wicked men's combining themselves, may be a faction, no unity, no amity. LXVIII. As humility, like the Bee, gathers honey out of rank weeds, very sins moving to repentance: So pride, like the Spider, sucks poison out of the fairest flowers, the best graces, and is corrupted with insolence. LXIX. Bees are painful creatures, but they enjoy not all their labours, but readily contribute (out of their plenty) a portion to their keepers. Sic vos non vobis. Still supplying their owner's necessity out of their fruitful and useful store. And shall a man of more singular graces and faculties be idle, a burden to the world and himself. If happiness consisted in doing nothing God that meant Adam so happy, would never have set him about business, but as Paradise was his store-house, so also Mr. adam's, The ba●ten tree. his workhouse, his pleasure was his task, there is no state of man that can privilege a folded hand▪ our life is vita palveris non pulvinaris, Hands, means, and moneys, men make the protection of idleness, when as Adam commanded the whole earth, yet work expected him. LXX. Robbing Bees of divers hives will join hands, and league together without jarring or discord, though at another time their hostility is continual, their feud implacable, their difference is irreconcilable. Nay Wasps also, though there be a natural antipathy between them, yet to do a mischief to a neighbour hive, will comply and unite together with them. There is a combination of the ungodly, even so far as to the very participation of their estates; Cast in thy lot with us, we Prov. 1. 14. will all have one purse, they are entangled in mutual amity, like beds of Eels, nothing but thunder can break their knots. Is it much, saith Christ, that you love them that love you? Robbing Bees and Wasps do it, even Publicans do the same. LXXI. Bees are often sustocated and drowned in their own honey, that which with industry and labour they had gathered (the combs being melted with the heat of the Sun or casually broken) And the sins of many, which they had wearied themselves to act, often prove their ruin and destruction. Sodom might have stood for all the five Kings that bade her battle, if the unnatural fire of lust had not drawn down upon her unnatural Salvian de Guber. dei lib. 1. josephus' de bell. I●da●e●. fire, I mean the fire of hell (as Salvian speaketh) from heaven it was not. It was not Titus siege without, but the Zelots sedition within the walls that dispeopled jerusalem, strowing her streets with dead carcases, and dying her common Dr. Featly▪ Pandora her box. Sewers with blood. It was not the Assyrian horse and Chariots, but jeroboan: golden Calves, together with their sorceries, witchcrafts, and other sins unrepented of which destroyed Mat. 10. 36. Israel. The enemies of a man, saith our Saviour, are those of his own house. Plaucus Plautius hideing himself in Camerarius Med. hist. cent. 1. c. 20. the time of the proscription, was found out only by the smell of his sweet oils, wherewith he used luxuriously to anoint himself. LXXII. Bees (as almost all other Infects) are in their first estate and condition very rude and imperfect creatures, they have none of the senses, except feeling and tasting, they only eat to live, and live to eat, and again after a time they neither eat nor live, but die to live. But as soon as they have transmuted their shape, they come forth goodly and beautiful creatures. In the valley of tears it is not perfect day, no not with the best Christian under heaven, but it grows by degrees till it be perfect day with them, which is at the day of their dissolution. Like to the earthen pitchers of gideon's men, when they broke Judg. 7. 16. 20. their pitchers, the lamps gloriously shone forth and dazzled their eyes; thus it is with a Christian, when these earthen pitchers and carcases are broken, his light will shine forth gloriously, in the mean time we have light, we have lamps, but they are pitchers shining very dimly. LXXIII. The first death or transmutation of the Bees, is their profit and advantages, their excellency and glory, they die but yet to live more nobly. And death to the godly is not the death of the man, but the death of sin in the man: Mor● est sepultura Amb●. de bono morti●. c. 4. vitiorum. As the Worm which is bred in the tree (saith chrysostom) doth at last consume it, so death which is brought out by sin, doth at the length consume and destroy sin in the children of God. LXXIV. The Mother-Waspes and Hornets after they have wrought a while and procreated their kind, give over labouring and are maintained by the industry and piety of their offspring. But Bees never sue out a quietus est when they are old to discharge them from their labours, but as they are best acquainted by experience, what flowers are most advantageous and profitable, so are they more willing and able by practice to undergo the honey-gathering labour, thus doth exercise increase strength and diligence. Hypocrites with jehu may drive on a while furiously, with joash may hold out a great while, but at last they will give in, and be weary: but let a believer exercise himself in grace, and he will grow up in the Lord, and increase in spiritual strength. A tree the more holdfast it hath with his root in the earth, the more fruit it brings forth. They that walk daily in a Christian course increase strength, they walk from strength to strength, till they meet their God in Zion. LXXV. The honey in Sampsons' Lion is very fitly likened to the profit of afflictions; The assaults of affliction may be terrible like Sampsons' Lion, but they yield much sweetness to those that dare encounter and overcome them, who know how to over-live the witherings of their gowrds without discontent or peevishness, while they may yet converse with God. LXXVI. Nothing is created for itself, but so placed by the most wise providence, that it may confer somewhat to the public good, the poorest creature yields some good wherein it doth imitate the goodness of the maker, every thing is enabled with some gift for the universal benefit. Kine give us their milk, Sheep their wool, Bees their honey and wax, every one pays a tribute to man their usufructuary Lord. LXXVII. God's power was no less in creating a little Bee then a great Mr. St●●k, Common Mal. ●3. v. 11. Lion; as the Clock-makers skill is seen in a little Watch, as in a great Clock; so God's goodness is in the smallest and most ordinary matters, as in the greatest and most extraordinary. LXXVIII. Bees smelling a field of Cole-feede, though a mile remote from their hives, will directly fly thither, tempted with no other blossoms by the way, though much nearer; see them perhaps they may as they fly, but will not be diverted or withdrawn by them. And so many things are to be observed in our course in this world with our eye, which are not to be entertained into our delights and affections. LXXIX. Bees, while they are numerous and full, endure without regret or discontent the royal issue, but when by the emission of two or three Colonies, they find their numbers greatly impaired, their strength much weakened, then without delay they do either destroy or chase them out of their hives. Believers while they are in a natural estate, easily admitted the fellowship of any lust, were not much troubled nor vexed with Satan's wiles. But as soon as their enlightened eyes begin to see and discern their misery and danger from them, they labour to kill and mortify, to subdue and crucify every sinful passion, and all the hellish brood of lust. LXXX. These are Natures unwritten Laws, that every man the greater he is in place and power, the more slack he ought be to punish. Basil. And Seneca, the greater powers ought not to be hurtful, S●r. de Clem. if they be disposed according to Natures Law. The Bees have a Queen differing from the vulgar in greatness and brightness, but herein especially is she different from them, for they are according to their bodies the most quarrelsome and angry creatures that are, stinging those that offend them. But the Queen hath no sting (useth it not) for nature would not have her fierce or revengeful; Which ought to be a precedent to all Kings and Commanders in the world. Let them be ashamed not to take example from such small animals, for men's minds ought to be more moderate and composed because of the great hurt, that they otherwise occasion to them that they are displeased with. Oh that men, saith one, did lose their power with their anger, and could hurt (as the Bees sting) but once. M. Antonius, Surnamed the Philosopher, said, that there was nothing that did more become a Commander then clemency: and therefore as Claudian reports, Theodosius gave his son Honorius this counsel; Though we be overcome in every thing, yet in mildness and clemency to yield to none. Pyrrhus' king of Epirus for this is commended that being derided and reproached by certain young men in their cups, he let them go unpunished, when one pleaded it was in their wine. Tiberius as C. Tacitus witnesseth in the beginning of his Empire expressed the like patience, for he dissembled bitter and scurrilous writings, and would not have the Authors questioned, saying, in a free City their tongues ought to be free▪ A certain Poet called Magus, girded at Philemon in his public plays, afterwards being in philemon's power, he commanded his servant openly to cut off his head, but in private that he should touch his neck with a naked sword, and so unhurt to dismiss him, first giving him nuts, cockalls, and balls and other childish toys: wherein the Prince openly showed A. Aki●●: Emblema●. 48. that he had a sting but would not use it. And to speak evil of a Ruler is rather childish then manly. The same kingly virtue as in many other heroical actions, so in their letters, Theodosius Arcadius, Honorius, the Emperors notably approved. This was the sum of their Letters to Rufinus, if any reproached or disgraced them out of levity he should neglect it; if out of anger and madness, he should compassionate and pity it; if out of wrong and injury remit and pardon it. LXXXI. Solomon the wisest among the sons of men saith, Go to the Prov. 6. 6. Pismirt, etc. so thou shalt learn providence, in a fair day to provide a cloak for the tempest; in peace to foresee war, and in youth to lay up somewhat for old age. And mayst thou learn so much from the Pismire? And when thou walkest into thy Garden, and beholdest the industrious Bee, which with unwearied diligence fetcheth her food from a far, and that (not as the Pismire) for her alone behoof & supply, but for the necessities and superfluities also of the sons of men; Nay dost thou behold their admirable government, chaste procreation, motherly affections to their issue, stout defence of their hives and houses, with many other occurring passages from their birth to their death, which are in this Treatise more largely dilated, and canst thou learn nothing? surely if thou (whosoever thou art) seriously meditates on the particulars herein exhibited, thou canst not but acknowledge that God is Maximus in minimis, etc. LXXXII. As a true friend is the sweetest contentment in the world, so Dr. Hall, Med. and Vows, Cent. 3. in his qualities he well resembleth honey, the sweetest of all liquors. Nothing is more sweet to the taste, nothing more sharp and cleansing, when it meets with an exulcerate sore. For myself I know I must have faults, and therefore I care not for that friend that I shall never smart by For my friends, I know they cannot be faultless; and therefore as they shall find me sweet in their praises and encouragements, so sharp also in their censure. Either let them abide me no friend to their faults, or no friend to themselves. LXXXIII. An evil man is clay to God, Wax to the Devil; God may Idem in codem. ●●ns. stamp him into powder, or temper him anew; but none of his means can melt him. chose, a good man is God's wax, and Satan's clay: he relents at every look of God, but is not stirred at any temptation I had rather bow then break to God: but for Satan, or the world, I had rather be broken in pieces by their violence, then suffer myself to be bowed unto their obedience. LXXXIV. Bees observe a martial posture in all their carriages; some keep guard at the gates, others like scouts watch at a remoter distance: Some within the hive, as Soldiers in Garrison observe who goes in and out. So though that many follow their labours at home and abroad, yet others are warlikely employed lest they should suffer from an unknown or unsuspected adversary, for want of foresight and preparation. Thus Iphicrates an Athenian General encamped in time of peace, and among his friends: yet still entrenched his Army, ordered his outworks, set his watch, kept his corpse du guard, laid out his sentinels, and in a word, observed all Martial Discipline, as if he had been in the heat and height of war: and being asked by one of his familiars, what he feared, he answered to be surprised, and lest it should fall out that he should be constrained to say, I thought not on it. Oh that Believers were thus wise to think of their latter end, and always to mind when the appointed time of their change shall come, then would they be always prepared to entertain death, either secretly or openly. Jesus Christ our grand Captain, who valiantly triumphed over it, often inculcates this watchfulness upon his Disciples and Apostles, and in them on all believers; Be ye also ready, for in Mat. 24. 49. such an hour as you think not, the son of man cometh. And again, Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the Mat. 25. 13. hour, wherein the son of man cometh. And elsewhere, What I say unto you, I say unto all, watch. The Sybarites which were P. Cotton, Ser. de la M●rt. not enlightened with such a Sun, yet always observed this custom in their banquets, to have a deaths-head delivered from hand to hand by all the guests at the Table, to the end to admonish them not to be transported with intemperance, and to cause them to remember, that as they were nourished of the flesh of dead creatures, that they lived in dying, and died in living. And the Egyptians for the same reason carried in their processions a vessel of gold full of earth, which was as if a Herald should proclaim to all the assembly in the words of the Prophet, O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. LXXXV. The enemies of the Church are compared to Bees, fear not I● Tarnovius in Psal. Passion. their multitude nor their rage; they are Bees not Lions, they buzz, they make a noise, they have stings but they cannot do what they would, their power is less than their spite and malice, and they hurt not but with their own certain death and destruction. Believe then God in the midst of their machinations, and applaud thyself in their tumultuous projects, that all shall be frustrate and abortive. Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescunt. When God pleaseth he can but blow on self-conceited Nymrod's, mighty hunters, oppressing and tyrannical ●rid. Span●en dabia Ev●ngelica. enemies, and easily overthrow them, and crush them to the earth, and break in pieces all their counsels. If Pharaoh vex God's people, ask Who is the Lord? Flies, Lice, and Caterpillars shall be his challengers and Conquerors, and ask, Who is Pharaoh? LXXXVI. Honey was an usual food for little children among the jews, wherefore Isaiah saith of Christ, Butter and honey shall Isai. ●. 51. he eat. By honey some say was designed the Divinity of his Sa●●eren. tract. 3●. birth, and by butter his humanity, but foolishly and besides the mind of the Prophet, whose words are clear, and the sense open. As if he had said, Immanuel shall not only be a true God, but also a true man, that is, he shall feed of such meats as your children use to eat of, so that his education shall be common and ordinary, for sat and sweet meats are usually provided for infants, and especially honey among the Eastern people. So that by these words synecdochically at least is noted that his conception shall be miraculous, but not his education. The Prophet subjoins that there should be found in him progress or proficiency like unto other infants, namely, imbecility of knowledge to be limited and terminated till he was grown to ripeness of years, for than he should be endowed with an excellent judgement not only to distinguish good and evil, but to choose the good and refuse the evil. The compliment of all which is found, Luk 2. 52. Phil. 2. 7. To be equal with God on one side, and on the other that he humbled himself. All which the Prophet would here have noted, although in somewhat obscure words, with respect to the times and prophetical stile. Whence it is also evident that they do altogether wrest the words of the Prophet that insert to that, and take it finally, as if the child should therefore eat honey and butter, that he might know to refuse the evil and choose the good. In a word, Christ is said to eat the butter and honey, that is to be frugally educated with such meats as were naturally afforded, for there was nothing more common among the jews than Butter, for most of them kept cattle. And as plentiful was honey, which their woods and forests did sufficiently furnish them withal. LXXXVII. Figuratively the sudden and unavoidable destruction of the Rivet. Com. in Psal. 68 wicked is often in Scripture expressed by the melting of wax. In some places it is spoken of the mountains, to set forth God's Power and Majesty. First, Learn hence that God doth arm himself as it were in the defence of his people, but not as men are wont to do, because he is furnished with so great power, that with a nod he can confound his adversaries. Although therefore sometimes he seems to dissemble, or not to take notice of their danger, yet will he in due time appear in their behalf, nor needs he much preparation for their overthrow, for the mountains melt like wax before him, much more shall crawling worms. Secondly, let us be humbled before the powerful hand of God, and acknowledge our frailty, for we are in evaporating smoke, a vanishing shadow, a melting wax. And if we have any stability, let us acknowledge that we have it from God, who alone confirms, defends and preserves us, who otherwise would quickly come to nothing, who were at first made of nothing, and have our present support and subsistence in our God alone. LXXXVIII. The Queene-Bee never useth her sting; and is therein a monitor to Great men and Princes, to labour for a meek and merciful behaviour. Let Princes use their power for, not against their subjects. Non hos quaesitur munus in usus. Virgil Aenead. 4. Let them not hold too strict a hand over the oppressed people, let it not be said of their subjects, as it was said of the Roman soldiers under Severus, that they were more afraid of their Captain then of their enemies: if they dishearten them who shall comfort them, or stand for them? Yet many Princes use their people (though such as the world cannot parallel) as the Hawk in Hesiod. dealt with the melodious Nightingale, Hesiod. op. et dies l. 1. Sen. l. 1. de Clemen. Camden hist. reg. Elizab. they plume them, and then devour them. Seneca in his books of Clemency which Q. Elizabeth so highly esteemed that she gave them the next place to the holy Scriptures, saith, Let thy sword not only be put in thy sheath, but also tied fast in it; be sparing of the meanest and basest blood. It is for men of lower condition to fall into quarrels and stri●es; equals may exchange blows one with another without much danger. It standeth not with the Majesty of a Prince to engage himself in any quarrel or fight, because he hath no equal to contend with him: so far ought it to be from a Prince to brawl or wrangle, that the straining of his voice is unbefitting him upon any occasion whatsoever. LXXXIX. Bees are industrious in their season, for they well know that the neglect of it is their irrecoverable overthrow and destruction. And this life is the summer and harvest, wherein we must labour and watch against temptations. The deathbed or dying hour is a sharp combat; unless we have gathered into the hives of our souls the graces of faith and love, etc. Whereby we may live after death, and expect a certain recompense: He which doth not this shall experimentally find in his winter, the darkness of his mind, the Clouds of fear, the wind and frost of judgement. The Bees draw out of the cells the old and stinking Bee-bread, so must we in our lives mortify unprofitable and sinful lusts, whence great sins may arise and be fomented. The Bee being weak with long shutting up in the winter, on the first opportunity of a Sunne-shinie day, renews her strength by coming forth and flying abroad in the heat thereof. And we must learn to raise up our dull and drowsy spirits by the word of the Sun of righteousness. Let us therefore diligently bestir ourselves in the summer and fair weather of the means, whilst Christ the son of grace shineth, while God and his Ministers call upon us, otherwise another day many with Esau shall seek repentance with tears, and shall not find it. XC. The Commander hath a sting, but useth it not for revenge: Basil. hexamer. hom. 8. she rules not by written but by nature's Laws, teaching that they must be slow to punish who are exalted to the highest Powers: and whatsoever Bee follows not the Queen's example, presently reputes of her temereity, for she no sooner stings but pays the price of it with her life. Let Christians hear and learn, who have a command not to render evil for evil, but to overcome evil with goodness. XCI. To find honey is to taste the sweetness of a holy understanding, Greg. expos. M●●al in job. c. 22. which then is sufficiently eaten, when our understanding is kept under government or moderation, according to the measure of our sense; for he is satiated with honey and vomits it, who desires to dive into things he cannot conceive, and so looseth that whereby he might be nourished, and therefore weak understandings ought not to search into mysteries above their capacity and comprehension. XCII. We may read the writings of Poets and Philosophers, but Greg. Nazian. G●gnene. Ca●min. liber. ●. 3●. yet wisely, to cull out of them, whatsoever is profitable, as also with a discerning judgement to avoid whatsoever is hurtful; and so to imitate the witty Bees, who whatsoever flower they gather of, following nature as their guide, with a singular wisdom suck out only that which is profitable. XCIII. The doctrine of wisdom by Solomon is compared to honey Hieron. Com. in P●o. c. 24▪ 13. and the honeycomb, because that as honey sweetens meats, so the word all other learning, but yet there is this difference in the signification of both, for honey because it is already prepared to eat, signifies the more superficies of the Letter, but the honeycomb where the honey is not expressed from the wax, doth figuratively point forth the allegorical signification, that the Veil of the Letter being withdrawn, the sweetness of the spiritual sense, but with some delay and labour may be perceived. XCIV. Honey too liberally eaten kills; so the searching after the Idem Com. in Proverb. c. 25. v. 26. 27. knowledge of the Divinity is sweet, but he which desires to search further than the nature of man is capable; his glory will oppress and crush him; for as honey taken immoderately bursts the eater, so this enquiry the understanding that cannot comprehend it. XCV. Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Idem Com. in Proverb. c. 25. ●●. lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it? hast thou found the sweetness of the understanding of heavenly things, which is afforded and made known to the pains and labours of the spiritual fathers? As prudent Bees take heed thou desirest not to know more than thou oughtest to know (be wise unto sobriety) lest whilst thou seekest to understand the highest wisdom, beyond thy abilities, thou losest the knowledge of that which thou didst throughly understand. XCVI. Epiphanius likens that man that finds out in others works Epiphan● contr▪ Hares. l. 1. c. 3. any thing profitable, to the prudent Bee, which flies to and fro and lights on every flower, but gathers only that which is profitable for herself. Whereas imprudent persons receive that which is hurtful sooner than the good: Like the Scarabee that delights and lives in dung and stink, and makes it her content and food, whereas to the Be it is loathsome and offensive. XCVII. Cyprian reasoning against the Polytheisme of the Heathen, Cyprian tract. quart. de idolo●um vanita●●. faith, there is but one Lord God, for such Majesty will not endure a corrival. And this oneness of the Deity he clears from the earth. Was there ever a partnership in ruleing begun in faith and ended without blood? The Theban fraternity was quickly broken, as a token of the deadly hatred between them. One kingdom could not hold Romulus and Remus, whom one womb contained and nourished together. Pompey and Caesar, though ●eare allied, yet in their jealousy and emulation of Command broke asunder all relations. Nay the Commonwealth of Bees is so jealous of the Principality, that it suffers not the royal Infants to survive, but with an Ottoman cruelty murders all. XCVIII. The wise Bee gathers sweet and wholesome nourishment from those places and flowers which a vulgar judgement deems worthless and good for nothing; and a wise Christian from those passages of the Scriptures where the words seems Hila●. in Psal. 134. carnal discerns spiritual excellencies. For as an unskilful man coming into a field abounding with wholesome herbs, passeth by all as of no more use than grass, but a skilful Botanist doth otherwise. So doth a spiritual reader find spiritual advantage from every sentence; to the pure all things are profitable and pure, and if any place seems uncomely, it is only to those that are such in themselves. XCIX. Mice are very hurtful enemies to Bees, but not at all times alike. In Summer when the hives are full, and the Bees lusty and keep a constant guard and watch, they seldom meddle with them; but in the winter when they are (benumbed with cold) shut into the hives, and almost bereft of their lives, then do they without fear or hazard rob and plundder them. And Satan our constant adversary takes advantage of professors: when they keep a continual watch and course in prayer, they do not so oft miscarry, but in the night of their ignorance, in the sleep of their peace and security, when they can least espy him, doth he take advantage and by his wily, unseen stratagems overthrow many. C. The seeds of discord were scattered in every furrow of the De H●st▪ Occasional Med. creation, and came up in a numberless variety of antipathies. Bees are a continual prey to the Titmouse, often a morsel to the Spider: their habitations are digged through and plundered by Mice and many other enemies have they, whereby they daily suffer: yet no contest and hostility is so destructive and dangerous, as that which exercised with Bees, creatures of their own kind. What is this but an image of that woeful hostility which is exercised between us reasonable creatures, who are conjoined in one common humanity, if not religion. We fight with and destroy each other more than those creatures that want reason to temper their passions. No beast is so cruel to man as himself, where one man is slain by a beast, ten thousands are slain by man. What is that war which we study and practise, but the art of killing? What ever Turks and Pagans may do, O Lord, how long shall this brutish fury arm Christians against each other? Whilst even Devils are not at enmity with themselves, but accord in wickedness, why do we men so mortally oppose each other? Oh thou that art the God of peace, compose the unquiet hearts of men to an happy and universal concord, and at least refresh our souls with the multitude of peace. FINIS.