ADam our first Father was pla­ced in a Champion ground (af­ter he was Created, and fashi­oned of the Earth, of the field of Damascus) to serve his Creator; and to the end, that all his actions might redound to the glory of his Soveraign Lord, not to toil in it with pain, and grief, which shortly after were laid up­on [Page 2] him, and his posterity. This is the reason why the old Writers have call'd the Husband-mans Trade, the life of Liberty, and Innocency; for in truth, of all Arts, which respect either the profit, or health of man, Husbandry is the chief; for besides the nourishment it affordeth, it also hath a kind of con­tinual Trade, with the Earth; the common Nurse of all men, strength­ning and maintaining the powers of our bodies, and causing us to live more healthfully, and a longer time, and in­creasing abundantly our Posterities; as may be instanced in the story of Noah (writ by Diodorus Siculus) who with his Family coming out of the Ark upon the top of the Mount Cordicus, de­scended into the plain at the foot of the Mountain, in which, Noah erected a Pillar; and upon this occasion, ever after it was called, The place of Noah's coming forth of the Ark, and was in­habited by him and his Family; re­peopling [Page 3] the World in such fruitful manner, as that Ninus in Noah's life time, was able, and did leavy an Army of Seventeen hundred thousand foot­men, Two hundred thousand horse­men; besides Ten thousand and six hundred Charriots, or thereabouts. Much to the same purpose Berosus wri­teth, That in the space of 100 years, these Husband-men did increase so abundantly. That Noah One hundred years after the Flood (even when Pha­leck was born) was constrained to send Sem into Asia, Cham into Egypt, and Africk, and Japhet (whom men call Atlas Maurus, because he dyed in Mauritania) into Europe, all of them to perform the duty of husbanding the Earth, their natural Nurse, and to su­stain those their great multitudes of people, which Scithia could no longer contain; Moreover, the plentifulness and number of such as have led the hus­band-mans life, and exercised Husband­ry, [Page 4] hath been always greater, and their works more excellent than any others whatsoever. Cicero tells us, that there is no life, or manner of living more free, and more worthy a virtuous man, than the Husband-mans life; and howsoever it be, that every man in all things en­quireth after his own commodity, and frameth himself to come as near to per­fection and excellency as possibly he can; Yet the well-instructed and mo­dest housholder contenteth himself with that, whatsoever it be, that cometh of the hand and grace of God, and accoun­teth for great bountifulness and libera­lity such portion as falleth unto him. So then we are to hold our selves con­tent with such estate and condition, as the place shall afford where we must dwell and settle our habitation; and if it be not such as some curious man in his desire, or one that is hard to please, might require and look for, then we should strain our selves to mend it by [Page 5] our industry, and the means set down by many famous writers on this subject. And now having roved thus far; I come to the owner of the Farm, who I wish and desire may be a man of great knowledge, well acquainted, and given to matters of Husbandry; for whoso is ignorant of them, having had but small practice therein; as also he which doth take his chiefest delight in other things, and spendeth his time other­wayes, must of necessity commit him­self to the mercy and discretion of a Farmer, which will mock him to his face, and will impair his Grounds and House also, heaping thereto a world of quarrels and suits, which he will raise; or else he must trust to some other ac­complisher of the business, either in go­verning, or waiting and attending, and he asking councel of other the Farmers there-abouts; they will make him be­lieve things not to be so good by half as they are; and indeed we read for cer­tain [Page 6] in the Roman Histories, that the Earth was never so fruitful, as when it was allured and won by the industry of the famous Roman Citizens, and deli­vered out of the tyranous handling of gross-headed Peasants, whom we see before our eyes, (notwithstanding that they are altogether ignorant) to grow rich at our costs and charges, and to the great spoil of the Ground which they husband and till; there is nothing com­parable to the over-looking eye of a prudent and discreet Owner, and one that is accustomed to Husbandry, who looketh after, and contenteth himself with such estate as may stand with his profit, let him learn well to know & un­derstand the natures and choice of men, cattle and grounds, and let not that work happen, which he himself knows not how to do if he should stand in need, or else to give directions in, and com­mand unto others; at least let him understand the times and seasons when, [Page 7] as also the manner how things were ac­customed to be done; For the owner of a Farm that understandeth not, shall never know well what to command, and doth nothing but trouble and vex the workmen; and it is the manner of men to mock at such as command and will such things to be done, as are nothing to the purpose, but must afterwards be undone again, or else abide without any profit. Let the Owner of the Farm make his abode upon his own Inheri­tance; let him have a back Gate, that he may withdraw himself from home, and secretly return again when he plea­seth, and this will keep his People con­tinually in doing of their offices and charge; let him not go to see the town unless it be upon his earnest affairs; and let him commit his Suits to be followed [which without great loss he cannot let pass] by some faithful Attourney, to whom he shall intrust nothing but the only counterpain of his evidence; and [Page 8] being in the Town, let him not go to see any man therein, except it be in Winter, or at such time as his Harvest is in, and his Seed-time dispatcht; to the end that by one and the same means he may attend upon his Causes in con­troversie, and go about the getting in of his Debts. I wish further, that he carry himself pleasant and courteous to his folk, not commanding them any thing in his choller; for boisterous and rough language will prevail as litle with men, as with stiff-necked Jades: let him speak familiarly unto them, let him laugh and jest with them sometimes; and also either give them occasion, or else suffer them to laugh and be merry; for their uncessant pains are something mitigated, when they are vouchsafed some gentle and courteous intreatance of their Master towards them; Not­witstanding I wish him not to be too familiar with them, for the avoiding of contempt; neither would I have him to [Page 9] acquaint them with his purposes, except it be sometime to ask their councel in a matter; and let him not spare somtimes to seem to do after their advice, though he had determined the same course be­fore; For they will work with more cheerfulness, when they think that the matter is carryed according to their in­vention: Let him patiently and quietly bear the tedious and troublesom natures of his neighbours, whom he knoweth to envy and repine at him, never giving them any just occasion of displeasure, but to pleasure them to the ut most that he can, and seem to be at one with them as if he never had understood any thing to move him to the contrary, and thus he may purchase peace and rest.

Let him make choice of a Farmer or Bayliff of indifferent years, such a one as hath the report of an honest man, and his Wife to be a thrifty Housewife, and his Children well nurtured; such a one as hath no Earth near unto your [Page 10] House, who is well experienced in mat­ters and businesses belonging to Hus­bandry; one that will use to rise first, and go to bed last, which will make no bargain when he is in drink; as also that he know how to govern, and amend all such Tools as he hath the handling of, or which his folk use; otherwise, if there should but need a Handle to a Spade, or Nail to a Horse or Tumbrel, there must presently be admitted into wages a Nail-Smith for the Cart, and a Shooe-Smith for the Horse: Let this Farmer or Bayliff, have always his eyes upon his People, and oversee his Cat­tle every night; and not only when they are in the house, but also when they return from labour, or from Pasture; let him view and look well upon their countenance, gate, state, and gesture; for to know if there be any diseased or languishing: and from this care he is not to exempt himself any one day, in respect of the Oxen, Kine, Swine, and [Page 11] Sheep; for oftentimes in the Mor­ning they go to their Pasture in good state and plight, and return sick home at Evening; Let him not go to bed be­fore he have appointed every one of his people what he is to do the next day in the Morning; Above all things let him be just and true to his trust; Let him not Swear, but shew such ex­ample to his people, as thereby he may induce them to esteem highly of him, to reverence and to honour him; Let him pay them their own justly, and not to pay them any thing before hand, if it be not in case of loss or fickness; Let your Farmer or Bayliff have all ne­cessaries as he shall request of you, whether it be for the maintenance of your house, or the repairing of any o­ther things that do belong unto you▪ watch him not so near, as that he may have cause to complain; for he may wrong you in some one thing or other that you would never think of; and [Page 12] mark, That to be too much exacting upon the Farmer, doth oftentimes make him either a meer negligent, or a plain Thief.

Now to the end that his people may not live idle, and that they may not loose one small Minute of time, he shall dispose of his work so, as that they may every one have his certain time, and he shall know at his fingers ends what thing is to be done every month and time of the year.

In the Moneth of January, chiefly to­wards the end, he shall cut down his VVood and timber, which he appoint­eth for building or other work, when the Moon is decreased; for the bright­ness of the Moon maketh the VVood more tender; and the VVood which shall be cut at such time, will endure a long time without rotting: He shall Dung the Fruit-Trees, not letting the Dung touch the Roots: He shall cut his Vines in fair weather: He shall cut [Page 13] and take away the superfluous Boughs of Fruit-Trees, the Moon decreasing, He shall furnish afresh or make new his Carts, Tombrels, Ploughs, and other his Instruments necessary for Hus­bandry.

In February in the new of the Moon, he shall transplant Vines of two or three years old, he shall make ready his Garden grounds to sowe and set therein all manner of Herbs, he shall repair the Hedges of his Gardens; he shall cleanse the Dove-house, Hen-house, and o­ther places where the Geese make their haunt; because that these Fowls in the end of this Month begin to be hot, and to tread; He shall make clean the Bee-Hives, and kill their Kings; he shall give the Earth her second Earing▪ for the sowing of Beans, Pease, Barley, Oats, Hemp, &c. he shall prune and cleanse the Trees of whatsoever is su­perflous.

[Page 14] In March in the beginning of it he shall sowe Line, Woad, Oats, Barley, Pease, Fitches, and other such like kind of pulse; He shall sowe his Nur­series with Kernels of Apples; He shall plant such Herbs as are set low and close by the ground, as Sage, La­vander, Rosemary, Strawberries, Gooseberry-bushes, Roses, &c. He he shall trim up his Gardens, as well for the Kitchin as for pleasure, and shall sowe therein whatsoever necessary Seeds.

In April about St. George's day, you shall set abroad your Citron and Orange-Trees, Mirtle-Trees; as also all such other Trees as you had kept within the house all Winter, from which he shall remove Earth from foot to foot, taking from them such Roots as are put forth towards the upermost parts of the Earth, as also all super­fluous Boughs, not suffering any one [...]ranch to exceed another, either [Page 15] in breadth or heighth; He shall cut the new Vine: for at this time it endureth best to be cut, he shall be careful to to feed his Pigeons; because at this time and the next moneth they find but little in the Fields; he shall sowe Bar­ley till the end of the Moneth, and till the 8 ^th. or 10 ^th. of May.

In May he shall water the Trees that are newly planted, he shall shear his Sheep, fill up his Wines and Cyders, gather store of Butter, and make Cheese, Geld his Calves, and begin to look to his Bees and Silk-worms; he shall weed his Corn, he shall uncover and free the Roots of his Vines from the Earth about them, to the end that the heat may not hurt them; He shall take away all the tender branches and green Boughs, which bear no fruit.

In June he shall make ready his Threshing flore, and cause it to be throughly cleansed of Straw, Dirt and Dust, he shall cut down his Meadows, [Page 16] make and In his Hay, and crop his Vines.

In July he shall cut down his Wheat, Rie, Barley, and all other Grains that are ripe and ready to cut; he shall gather from Apple-Trees and Pear-Trees the faulty Apples and Pears, and such as do overcharge the Trees, he shall pull his Line and Hemp, and graft in the bud.

In August he shall gather such Fruits as he meaneth to preserve; he shall take away the Leaves from about such Grapes as are slow and backward, to the end they may receive the more heat from the Sun; he shall prepare his Vessels for Wine and Cyder, and other things necessary therefore.

In September he shall give his Fal­lows the last Earth; he shall sowe his Wheat, Mashline; Rie, and such like like Corn; cut down late Meadow-grounds, to have the after-crop; He shall gather Stubble for Fuel, and for [Page 17] the Oven all the Year; He shall gather the leaves of Wood, grind them and make them into Balls, and so dry them in the Sun.

In October he shall make his Wines and Cyders, and tun them into Vessels, make Honey and Wax, and drive the old Bees; he shall bestow his Orange, Citron, Mirtle-Trees and others in some covered place, to avoid the dan­ger of the vehement Cold.

In November he shall Couch his Wines and Cyders in his Cellar; He shall ga­ther Acrons to feed Swine; He shall gather such Garden-Fruit as will keep; he shall lay bare the Roots of Arti­chocks, and cover them again very well, that the Frost may not perish them.

In December he shall oftentimes visit his Field, and let out the water, which may stand in them after great Rain; He shall cause water to run through the old Meadows, and dung them if need [Page 18] be; He shall make provision of Dung, to mannure he Fallows that are broke up and Til'd; he shall cover with Dung the Roots of Trees and Herbs, which he intendeth to keep until the Spring, he shall Lop Willows, Poplars, Saplin and other Trees, to the end that their Boughs may more speedily put forth and grow so soon as Winter shall be past; he shall cut down his VVood, as well for Building as for fire; he shall also busie himself in making many In­struments and necessary things of wood requisite for houshold store, and for repairing his Teams, Yokes, Ploughs, and all other Instruments for the fit­ting and garnishing of Cattel, going to Cart or Plough, to the end that all may be in good order, when they are to go to labour; he shall also make pro­vision of Spades, Shovels, Pick-axes, Hatchets, Saws, and other Furniture, fit for a Countrey-House-store.

[Page 19] The condition and state of the House-Wife or Dairy-woman, is of no less care and diligence then the Office of her Husband; understood always that the Woman is acquitted of Field-matters, in as much as she is tied to matters within the house, as the Husband is tied to what concerneth him, even all the business of the Field; and according to our Custom of England, Countrey women look unto the things necessary and requisite about Kine, Calves, Hogs, Pigs, Pigeons, Geese, Ducks, Peacocks, Hens, Feasants, and other sorts of Beasts and Fowls, as well for the feeding of them, as for the milking and making of Butter and Cheese, and keeping of all things neat and clean about the house, getting and providing the labouring men their Vi­ctuals in due season; and furthermore they have the charge of the Oven and Cellar, and the handling and ordering of Hemp and Flax, &c. as also the [Page 20] care of looking to the clipping of Sheep, of keeping their Fleeces, of Spining and Combing of Wooll to make Cloth for the Family; of ordering the Kitchin Garden, and keeping of Fruits, Herbs, Roots, and Seeds; and moreover of watching and attending the Bees; she must be obedient unto God, and to her Husband, given to store, and lay up and keep things sure under Lock and Key, painful, peaceable, not loving to stir from home, not conten­tious, full of words and tatling, nor drowzy headed; let her dispose of all things under her charge in such sort, as that every thing may have his certain place, to the end that when they be to be used, they may easily be found and delivered; let her always have her eye upon her Maids, and be first at work, and last from it.

THE good House-wife must not make less ac­count of the Silk-worm then of the Honey-bee; for besides the pleasure which she may conceive of the sight of the marvelous industry of this little Creature in making and [Page 82] spinning of Silk, she may also reap an incredible profit of so excellent a work, which honoureth and maketh men glorious, attired with the pomp of this workmanship and piece of cun­ning skill; in so much as we see Kings, Princes, Knights, Gentlemen, and other personages clothed and apparell­ed with the travel of these pretty Creatures; and which is more, the Silk serveth not only for the apparel­ing of men, but also for a singular re­medy to comfort the Heart that is sick, to rejoyce and recreate all the heavy and troubled spirits, as we may well perceive by that famous confecti­on, called of the Physitians Alkermes; which being for the most part com­pounded of the decoction and infusion of Silk in the Juice of Kermes, being taken inwardly, is a Sovereign re­medy in faintings and swouning; wherefore the good House-wife shall make great account of these Creatures, [Page 83] to the end that she may reap profit of the sale of the Silk, which she shall gather from them yearly; which pro­fitable practice is well known amongst the good Wives of forreign Coun­tries, from whence we have such great quantities of Silk brought into Eng­land

And for the making of her best com­modity hereof she must choose out a convenient place for the keeping of them, and it must be rather high then low, in a good Air, without moist­ness, and so provided of Windows, as that the Sun may come in at them Morning and Evening, if it seem good to those that have the charge of them. The Windows must be such as will shut close, either glased or paper-windows, to the end that when it raineth or bloweth, in cold weather or in moist, they may be kept very close and fast shut; for who so faileth to go­vern, and provide for them in this [Page 84] manner, without doubt these pretty Creatures (being tender at all times) cannot escape but die, when cold weather cometh. There must like­wise be Nets hanged before the VVin­dows, to the end that when the Paper-windows are opened, the Sparrows, Swallows, and such like hurtful Birds, may not get in to feed upon these VVorms: Neither Cock nor Hen must come in here; for they would so ravenously feed upon them, as that they would be ready to burst. The walls and floor must be very clean, and free from holes or crevises, by which Rats, Mice, or other like Vermin may enter and get in to kill and spoil these little things, either night or day. In it there must be Tables or Shelves for them to abide upon, and they must be kept upon Sheets of Paper, the edges turn'd up, that they may not creep away.

[Page 85] The careful House-wife as soon as Spring draweth near, and that she shall see that the Mulberry-tree beginneth to bud, shall bring forth her Eggs that she hath kept all VVinter, and set them where the warmth of the Sun may come to them; and if she see that the Mulberry-tree is slow to bud, there shall be fresh Dung laid to the Roots thereof, during the new Moon of March, thereby to bring it forward; for other­wise for lack of the leaves of the Mul­berry-tree; if it should happen the VVorms should be bred or hatcht, you must for their food have recourse to the Heart of the Thorn, Elme-leaves, the tender tops of Nettles, and others, all which will but keep them alive; and as concerning making choice of such VVorms as are to be breeders, you must take the seed, which being bathed in Wine, falleth to the bottom; and doth not float above; the time of breeding then is about the fifteenth [Page 86] or twentieth of April, from the fourth unto the tenth day of the Moon, but never in the decrease; for then they will bring forth their Silk at such time as they are strong, in such sort as that their ends and husks will be greater, harder, and more finely haired then any other that are bred at another time: For these that are bred in the decrease of the Moon are always feeble, and yield no profit; the way to make them hatch is, after that you have wa­tered and bathed them in the VVhite-wine, rather then warm water, to lay them near the fire till they are a little warm; then lay them betwixt two Pil­lows, made likewise something warm, and so as they hatch and come out of their Eggs, to take them gently away, and put them upon Mulberry-leaves, and to lay them upon Boards or Papers that have been rub'd over with VVormwood or with Sothernwood, or some such like Herb, and give [Page 87] them fresh Mulberry-leaves Evening and Morning, increasing them every day as the VVorms shall grow greater and greater, unto the fourth change; for then they will stand in need to be fed at noon also, because then they eat more then they were wont; but be cateful, that when they mew or change, you must give them sparingly; for then they are weak and feeble, and in any case let not the leaves be moist, wet or rotten, and if it should fall out, that they are wet when they are ga­thered, you must wipe them through­ly with clean linnen, and dry them a little at the fire if need be. They must be gathered of old Trees rather then young ones, and not to gather them in the Morning when they are wet with the Dew or other thing, un­til the Sun hath gone over them, and be sure to pick the bad from the good be­fore you give them to the VVorms. These little Creatures must not be [Page 88] touched with your hands, but as little as may be; for the more they are handled, the more they are hindred; because they are very exceeding tender and dainty, especially at such time as they cast their sloughs or claing; yet notwithstand­ing they must be kept clean and neat, and all their little Dung taken from them once in two or three days, the place where they are kept, must be perfumed sometimes with Frank­insence, Garlick or Onions; that you may minister matter of pleasure to these little Creatures, and if they are weak and sick, these smels refresh and re­cover them again. You shall take notice that they are wont to sleep, especially at such times as they cast and change: After they have cast and changed the fourth time, they eat better then ever they did, until such time as their bodies begin to shine, and that they make shew of the Silk that is in their bellies; which if it be to come white [Page 89] from them, their heads will look as if they were Silver; if Yellow, their heads bear the Colour of Gold, if Green or Orange Colour, their heads foretel the same. Thus they feeling them­selves well filled and fed, do seek out some resting place for the purpose to fasten themselves unto, and there or­derly to avoid their Silk, every one shutting up himself in his scale or husk, which they make or build up in three days at most.

When you perceive them begin to spin, and fasten themselves to the Paper or other thing that they are kept on, You must make them little Coffins of Poper, putting but one in each Pa­per, and so pin them up about the Room to the hangings or other things convenient; when they begin their work, they are so eager, as that they go mad till they be packed up in their little Clews and Bottoms, where they are so inclosed that a man would think [Page 90] they would be stifled they have finish­ed their work in two or three days more or less, as the weather is cold or hot at that time. When any begin to spin, mark the Paper-coffins, when you pin them up, with the day of the Month; for in six days you may wind off their Silk, though they lie thus in their husks, for the most part twenty days more or less, according to the softness or hardness of their Bottoms of Silk, and then (if you do not wind off their Silk before) they will eat their way out.

As concerning the choice of their Husks or Cods, the Orange-coloured are the best, and not the Yellow, and least of all the White or Green. When you go about to wind your Silk, you must have in readiness a Reel, and then after you have pulled off all the loose Silk, till you come to the hard bot­tom, find out an end, which you may do by drawing two or three ends toge­ther [Page 91] till they run single, and so do by the rest, and you may wind 10 or 15 Husks together, and your best way to wind is out of water a little warm, and wherein some Gum-Arabick hath been soaked. After this manner you may wind so much Silk off the Husks, that the Worms will drop out into the water, and the Gum'd water gives the Silk an excellent gloss; Take the Worms out of the water, and lay them on sheets of Paper to dry, keeping them safe from Rats, Mice, and other Vermin, and then make choice of the best for breeding, which are the grosest and blackest; for those are the strong­est, and afford better Eggs then any of the other; you must take more fe­male-then males, and for the knowing of the one from the other, the Eyes of those Creatures do sufficiently testi­fie thereof; for the females have thinner Eyes, and not so black as the males; but this is known best when the become [Page 92] Butter-flies, which will not be till the middle of July, or after; and then as soon as they come forth out of their Husks, they will couple, and lay their Eggs, one will lay about 200 Eggs, which will stick to the Paper as they are laid, and there should be kept with­out stirring all Winter, till brooding time come again, and you must be sure to keep them from the Winter-frosts.

As concerning the diseases where­unto these little Creatures be subject; when they have not been so carefully looked unto as they should, to be kept clean, when the cold Northern-wind, or the hot Southern-Sun hath molested them; as also when they have eated too much, then they become sick, wherefore keep them very cleanly, stop the Windows and holes by which the cold winds do enter and get in, and carry Coles of fire that smoke not, into their Rooms, setting thereup­on [Page 93] Frankinsence, (for they so love this smell, as that it presently cureth them) and also besprinkle them with a little Malmsey, or Aqua-vitae. And if they have been troubled with too great heat of the South Sun, then sprinkle on them some Rose-water; if they have over-eaten themselves the contrary dyet will cure them, as the keeping them two or three days with­out eating any thing; if there be any of them that ure spotted with duskish, blewish, or yellowish Colour, and there appear withall upon their Bel­lies a certain humour that doth wet them, they must be speedily taken from out of the company of the rest, and carried out, and in the Morning before the Sun rise, set the whole and sound in the air for some small time, and after put them in their places a­gain, and sprinkle them with good and strong Vineger, and rub their Rooms with Wormwood or Southernwood, [Page 94] and also to give them air, and let them feal the force of the Sun, provided that the Beams thereof do not touch them, and so fit the Windows, that the Morning air may season and send his breath throughout the whole house, And as for those that are sick, keep them upon Papers by themselves, and now and then sprinkle on them some Rose-water, or Aqua-vitae, and rub their Papers with Wormwood, as before.

The pleasure in the keeping, tend­ing and observing this little Creature, is not to be conceived, but by those that have had the government of them. As concerning their shapes, first their Eggs are laid all round together upon the Paper, and in such order that none are laid upon another, and they are about the bigness of a Turnip-seed, or small white Beads, which within a week after they are laid do turn Yel­low, and in a week more they are Brown, [Page 95] and the week after they are a Dun Co­lour, which Colour they hold all Win­ter till the latter end of April, at which time or beginning of May they will hatch and bring fourth young, as hath been shewed before. When they are hatcht they are black and no bigger then the end of a small Pin; when they they are about a fortnight old, their heads begin to be white, and a fort­night or three weeks after that, they cast a slough or skin, and the bodies begin to be white, and so at every time they cast, their Colour doth change, until such time as they begin to spin, and then you may perceive them to be clear, and shine of such Colour as the Silk will be that they spin.

From the time that they are hatcht to the time of their spinning, will be about seven weeks, and after that they never eat any more; for after the Silk is wonnd off, and the Worms come out of the bag, in a short time they [Page 96] come to be Butter-flies, as you have heard before, and then after they have coupled and laid their Eggs, there is no more care to be taken of them, for then they pine away and die.

IF the greatest part of the profit of a Farm depend upon the keep­ing of Cattle: I dare be bold to affirm, that the fruitfulest thing that can be kept about a Countrey-house, is Bees; indeed there is some pains and care to [Page 98] be taken in choosing, feeding, watch­ing, and keeping of them clean in their Hives; but withall, what so rare and singular commodity have we as the Wax, and the Honey which we enjoy by their admirable workmanship, both profitable and pleasant for the use of man; Let not it then seem strange, if I advise the Housholder to be careful to keep Bees about his Farm, and with­all teach him in a few words what should be the ordering and governing of them and their Hives, and what time and hour it is good to gather Ho­ney and VVax.

The Housholder therefore shall first make choice of some fit and secret place in his Garden of pleasure, for the keeping of his Bees, in the bot­tom of some Valley if possible, to the end they may rise on high to fly abroad to get their Food, and also when they be laden, they may descend the more easily downward with their load; but [Page 99] especially let the place be open to the South Sun, yet where they may be shaded sometimes, and that by some wall, ramport, or house-side, that they may be defended from winds and tem­pests, and so also that they may sly sundry and several ways, for to get di­versity of Pastures, and so return again to their little Cottages laden with their Composition of Honey.

And it is convenient to have them where there is good store of Thime, Organy, VVinter-savory, VVild-thime, Rosemary, Sage, Gilliflowers, Violets, VVhite-lillies, Roses, Saffron, Beans, Mellilot, and other sweet Herbs and Flowers, wherein there is no bit­terness, and also Fruit-trees, Peach-trees, Pear-trees, Apple-trees, Cherry-trees, and other such like.

The place must be closed in with a strong Hedge or good wall, for fear both of Beasts and Thieves; for Kine and Sheep do eat up their Flowers, [Page 100] and beat the Due off from the Flow­ers, which should load them; but of all tame Beasts there is none that doth so damnifie these little pretty wretches as Swine and Goats; for the Goats wast their Food, and jump against their houses, yea, and oftentimes beat them down; the Swine, besides the wasting of their Food, rubbing against their Hives, do overturn them, and the seats whereon they be set; Sheep in like manner loosing some of their locks of VVooll upon the Hedges, are the cause that the silly poor Bees now and then become entangled therein, when they labour to get their Food, and so leave their Carcasses for a pledge; Hens likewise have a glutronous appe­tite towards them, Snakes and other like venomous Beasts sometimes take up their Inns in their Hives; but to take away this casualty at once and for ever, you must plant Rue round about them in good quantity; for [Page 101] such Beasts cannot abide this Herb. Their place also must be far from the Dunghils, and all dirty or miry places which might hurt them with ill smells; for they are deadly enemies to all fil­thiuess and uncleanness; but let their places be as near as you can to some little Brook of water, naturally and of it self continually running, and this Rundle must have by the edges thereof Stones or Boughs of Trees for the Bees to light upon.

But whatsoever the place be, whe­ther in the Garden of pleasure or else where, it must not be hem'd in with very high walls on every side, unless you leave slits or holes in the walls a­about four foot from the ground, that the Bees may pass the easier in and out.

The place and standing for the Bees being thus appointed, the next thing is to provide for Hives; the best are those which are made of Boards, wide [Page 102] enough, but not very long; and they must be made so, that one or two of the Boards may be lifted up when the Honey is to be taken, or the Hives to be made clean; There are some Hives made of Sallow or Willow twigs; and some of Straw, but not so convenient as the former; they must be wide be­neath, and narrow above, drawn over and drest on the outside with Lime and Oxe-dung mingled together, that so they may continue the longer; they must be set upon Boards fitted for the purpose, and that near unto some wall or house-side, but not close to it, that so there may be a space left, for one to go about them and make them clean, or else upon some Vault of Stone or Brick to the height of three foot, and as much in breadth laid over with mor­ter on every side, and planed so, that that neither Rats, Mice, or other Vermin may clime thither to hurt them. The Hives shall be so set, [Page 103] as there may be a certain distance betwixt one and the other, that when need shall require to look unto any one, for the making of it clean, or any other thing. You may not shake or disturb the adjoyning Bees, who do greatly fear when they are touched, least their workmanship of Wax (which is very weak and easie to be spoiled) should be stirred or broken. The Hives must have some covering or shelter of Boards or other thing besides the shade of Leaves and Boughs, which may serve to preserve them against cold, Snow, Rain and heat, although heat do not so much hurt unto Bees as cold. There­fore behind the Bees as they stand, there must be some building, or at least a wall, which may be to them instead of a Sunny-bank against the North-wind, and keep the Hives in a mode­rate warmth, and mark it well that you put the fore-part of the Hive, where the Bees come forth, something [Page 104] more towards the East then the South; to the end that in the Morning the Bees for their earlier coming forth may have the Sun warm upon them for their better awakening. The holes by which they pass and repass, must be very lit­tle, that they may may not give place for the entrance of much cold, and they will be big enough, if so be there may but one Bee pass at a time; but according to the quantity of Bees in the Hive, you must have more or less holes, three holes will be sufficient for the fullest Hives. It would be con­venient that they be sheltered with Boards in Winter, made with Win­dows to open and shut, that you may close them up in Snowy or very cold weather.

I will say nothing here of the ingen­dring of Bees, whether it be by the coupling of Males and Females toge­ther, as we see in other kind of Crea­tures, or by the corruption and rotting [Page 105] of the Belly and Entrails of a young Bullock; (whereof Virgil speaketh) but I will describe them as they are already ingendred, as what be the pro­perties of such as are fit and like to make good Honey.

There are many sorts of Bees; for some are of a golden Colour, clear, shining and bright, others blackish, rough and hairy, some great, some small, some thick and round, and o­thers spare and long, some wild and some tame; but if you would buy or gather swarms to keep for their Ho­ney, look and take good heed that they have the Marks following, as that they be little ones, somewhat long, not hairy, golden coloured, shining and sparkling like Gold, spotted a­bove, gentle and loving. For the greater and longer that Bees are, the worse they are. And if they be cruel they are nothing worth; not­withstanding [Page 106] that their Choler and ma­lice is easily helped if they be well marked and fruitful, by seeing them oft; for in your oft going to them they become tame; but because one cannot perceive whether they have all these marks aforesaid, if he see them not: If you buy them, before you bargain you must open the Hives, and see if they be well replenished or not, and if you cannot look up high enough, you may guess what they are by consi­dering if there be good store at the mouth, and whether you hear a great noise and huzzing within; and if they be all retired to rest, if you blow into the Hive, you will presently perceive whether they be many or few, by the noise which they will make when they feel the breath. It is good to buy them as near unto your abode as you can, and not in other Countries far off; for the change of their Pasture Air and [Page 107] Countrey doth astonish and amaze them; besides also, the farther they are carried, the more they are pained in their Hives; but if they cannot be had but by seeking far for them, it will be best to carry them away in the Evening or before day, and rather in Spring then in Winter, and then to be born between two men, and when they are brought to the place of their abode, you must not open them till next day at night, to the end that af­ter they have rested all night, they may be the fitter to come forth peace­ably in the Morning; There is no such careful heed to be taken in the choo­sing of those which are given, nor of those which are taken out of the Fields or Woods; although I could advise the contrary, seeing the charges and pains are as great about the bad as the good; notwithstanding when one ta­keth them out of the Fields or [Page 108] VVoods, it is not possible to make such choise as he would, and therefore must be content with such as come next to hand. The manner used in some Countries to gather them is thus. VVhen you have found out any place where store of Bees do use and keep, (which is commonly in in Woods and Forrests where Herbs do abound, and Trees of sweet smell and near some small River or Fountain) you shall use diligence to find out the place of their abode, which you may easily learn by watching their return from water, whether it be near or far off, then afterwards in the beginning of the Spring, with Thime and Balm bruised, with other such like Herbs as Bees love, annoint and rub a Hive well, so that the smell and Juice there­of may remain behind; after that make the Hive clean, and sprinkle it with a little Honey, and having thus handled [Page 109] it, set it down in the Woods or Forrests, near unto the Springs where the Bees do most use, and af­ter they have once found it out, the Hive will quickly be full of Bees.

The good Housholder having provi­ded Hives and fit places, and also ha­ving bought or gathered good store of Swarms of Bees to replenish his Hives, shall be careful to afford them a more diligent and attentive kind of Govern­ment, and ordering then unto any kind of Cattel; Because the Bee is more discreet and industrious then any other kind of living Creature: For she hath a kind of wisdom coming near un­to the understanding of man; and therefore look then for a more careful manner of usage and carriage towards her from them that are her Governours and cannot abide them to be sluttish and negligent, nor to be nigardly or [Page 110] filthily intreated. It must therefore be his condition that shall have the charge of them, to consider their man­ners, and manner of living, and accor­dingly to frame himself thereunto in the best sort that may be. They have a King whom they obey as their Sove­reign in all things, accomplishing and fulfilling, whatsoever he shall give them in charge, whether it be to go forth, or to return home, or to stay within, and they attend him always in companies wheresoever he be, they comfort him, if at any time he be sick; and do keep about him if he cannot fly, not one of them is negligent and sloth­ful, but every one ready and quick to any kind of work; some gather and bring home what they get and suck from Flowers and sweet smelling Herbs and Leaves, unto those which stay with­in the Hive making Honey; others are busie in making Combs, and building [Page 111] of little Cabbins. Some make Honey, and others attend other matters and vo­cations; some lay their hands to the softning of Wax, and temper it so well, as that making thin Leaves thereof, they therewith build up and frame them Cels and Cloisters; others with great labour do sunder the gross and drossy substance, and make ready a place for every sort of Honey; some of them with their pains and dili­gence do keep clean the Hives; which notwithstanding are never defiled by any of their own Dung; for always in fly­ing abroad they void their excriments; some there are which ordinarily do no­thing but keep watch and ward, to the end that to the uttermost of their power they may withstand whatsoever thing may annoy or hurt them. They car­ry out such as die within their Hives; but then their King dies, they stir him nor from his place; but croud­ing [Page 112] one upon anothers back about him, they seem to lament and mourn, as they make shew by their noise and humming, and that so vehemently, as that if their Keeper do not look un­to it, and take him from under them, they will suffer themselves rather to die for hunger, then forsake him. To be brief, every one of them is so diligent at his work, as they cannot bear it, that any should be in their company that should not be occupied in doing of something; and this is the cause why they drive away the drone which will never work, neither is good to any thing else, but to wast and devour the Honey. They hate a­bove all things evil scents: They ne­ver fly against the light, nor unto any flesh, or blood, or fat; but content themselves with Leaves and Flowers only, which have a sweet smelling Juice; They take delight in pleasant [Page 113] Songs and Voices, whereon it cometh to pass, that if they be scattered abroad, they will be called together at the delightful ringing of some Bason or small Bells. To be brief, their fashion and manner of living is as it were won­derful in nature: But to give over all further describing of them, I will con­tent my self in delivering the conditi­ons and duties required about their or­dering and governing.

He therefore that hath the charge and over sight of the Bees, must be careful first of their Pastures (whereof we have made mention before) then he shall diligently look unto their Hives twice or thrice a Month, be­ginning at the Spring, and continuing till November; for there is not that time in the year, wherein they stand not in need of something, and if they be well ordered, they will continue ten years: They must be opened a­bout [Page 114] the Month of March, and the Honey-combs made clean with a very strong and solid Feather, when as they cannot be come by with the hand, that so whatsoever filth is gathered there in the time of Winter, may be cast out, and the Spiders Webs; which spoil all the Combs, may be taken away, Af­terwards he shall smoke them all with Oxe-dung burnt; for this Dung by a certain affinity is gratefull and well liked of Bees; but in the mean time before he handle the Hives, be sure that he hath not been drunk the day before, and that for the present he come not near them without being washed, made clean, and well appa­ralled; in like manner he must abstain from all meats that are of strong smell, as are all Salt-meats and Soused-meats, and all things being strong of scent, as Garlick or Onions, or such like things; and let him carry in his mouth some [Page 115] thing that hath a good smell; for by this means they will love him so well, as that he may handle their Hives at his pleasure, and the little pretty Birds will never hurt or annoy him. In the Spring when they begin to multi­ply, and increase, and to cast their Swarms, which so soon as they can fly, desire nothing more then to fly a­way, and not to abide with the old ones, and much less to become Sub­jects unto them, then it will be neces­sary to keep watch very diligently, and that from seven or eight a Clock in the Morning till two or three in the Afternoon, that so they may not fly unto some other place; wherefore if you can discern and spie out their Kings, it will be good to take their Wings from them, if they make shew of themselves oftentimes, and seem as though they would fly together with their company, as also to cast dust [Page 116] them or water; for by these means they will be kept from going away, so that then they will not go out of their own Yard, nor out of the limits of their own Kingdom; neither will they suffer their Troop to go far from them, or else it will be good after they are come forth, to astonish and occupy their minds with the sounding of Ba­sons, Brass-pans or Kettles, ringing forth softly; for by how much you sound the stronglier, by so much they mount the higher into the Air, and stray the farther off; but if it be a gentle and low sound, they in like manner do stay and keep themselves near at hand, and below; If you see them begin to knit and hasten themselves to the Bough of a Tree, or to any bush near the ground, sound your Pan or Bason more gently, and then having got a Hive well prepared (as before is shewed in taking of Bees in the Forrest or Wood) [Page 117] shake them all therein, and cover them so close with a sheet or other linnen cloth, that they may not get out again, and at night when they are all got up into the top of the Hive, (as by that time they will) remove your Hive, and set it upon the board or seat of Stone or Brick, where it shall continue, If they rest themselves in such a place as where you cannot come at them with your hand, then take a Pole and tye to the end of it a Hive, ordered as be­fore, and sprinkled with good Wine, and hold it near unto the Bees, and thus they will not fail to go into it. Another way, and which is the best in my opinion, is thus. When you see that the young Kings shall be come forth with their young Train, which within a day or two will all become to­gether at the mouth of the old stock, and shew by sufficient signs and tokens that they are desirous of some place [Page 118] of their own, and peculiar to themselves, then set a Hive ready drest before them, and they will go into it, and rest con­tented therewith, and abide therein.

It is to be known when this young Host will come abroad, by the noise and humming which they will make in the Hive three days before that they purpose to come abroad, as if a Camp of Warlike men would rise up and re­move; And to know when they make this noise, he must lay his Ear at Even­ing to every Hive, that so he may hear the noise and humming when they make any. And yet indeed this noise and humming is sometimes a sign and token of some fight or strife raised be­twixt them, as where there are more Kings then one, which must be well prevented; otherwise by such civil Wars and deadly fights, all the whole Troop and Company will quickly be overthrown and brought to nothing; [Page 119] but this intended Combat is quickly taken up with a Bowl of boiled Wine set unto them, or else some Honied VVine or other such liquor; which by its sweetness is familiar to Bees for these will appease their fury; but yet if you perceive, that these fights and skirmishes are not thus ended, you must make hast to kill the Kings of the Bees, which are the cause of such se­ditions and tumults, These poor Crea­tures are so inraged with love towards their King, that for to defend him, they willingly cast and expose their own lives into open hazard against all his Enemies, which come to assail him, besides other incredible obey­sance, which they continually yield un­to him.

At this time of the Spring it like­wise sometimes cometh to pass, that by reason of the hardness of the winter past, or of some disease or sickness, [Page 120] there is great want and scarcity of Bees in old stocks, and this must be reme­died by putting a new Swarm into that hive, killing the young King, that so his Subjects may content themselves to live peaceably under the old; but if you have not a Swarm, then the next way is to put the Troops of two or three such diminished stocks into one, bedewing or sprinkling the same be­fore with some sweet Liquor, and after to shut them up in the same Hive, and set something within it for them to eat, until they be well wonted unto it, and so to keep them three days closed up, giving them a little fresh Air at some small and little holes.

If Rainy weather continue long, that the Bees cannot go out of their Hives to seek pastures, and to bring home food unto their young brood, you must not fail to help them with some provision of honey, untill such time [Page 121] as they shall be able to fly abroad to get their own living, and to work their Honey combs off, for otherwise you shall quickly make an end of them, as it oftentimes comes to pass. All the Summer they must gather Honey (whereof we will speak hereafter) and at the same time every ten days their Hives must be opened and smoked with Oxe-dung, and afterwards be cooled by watering the empty parts of the Hive, and likewise be made clean, and all Grubs taken out of them if any be therein. In some fair day a­bout the end of Autumn, you must make clean their Hives; but see that it be hot and calm weather; and all the Winter you must not open nor touch them; but keep them close within till the Sun-beams break forth again for their comfort, stopping with­out whatsoever clefts and holes you find, with Morter and Neats-dung [Page 122] mixed together, so that you leave none open, but only a way for them to pass in and out; and also though their Hives stand under Covert, yet cover them again with Hackles made of straw, or some such like thing, that as much as is possible they may be kept from cold and winds, which they fear and abhor more then any other thing, and you shall likewise provide, in case of a hard Winter, to make provision of Juice of sweet Balm, Honied-water, Sugered-water, Milk, or other Liquor, which may be convenient for them, in which Liquor you must steep pure and clean Wooll, whereupon the Bee sitting, may suck out the Juice or Li­quor that is therein.

In the Combs are found Drones like unto Bees, but greater, which (al­though they be unprofitable, because they gather no food or sustenance, but [Page 123] eat up that which others bring in) yet do serve for something, for they hatch the young brood, whereupon come the small Bees, and therefore you must not kill them at all, but keep a certain number; to the end that the Bees may not grow slothful and idle.

And to the end that they may not endure hunger in Winter, and that they may not eat up the Honey they have made, and which is best untaken from them, it will be good to give them some dry Figs stampt or tempered in water, or boiled Wine, and likewise some Raisons stamped and sprinkled with water, or else some Curranes stampt with good Wine; or else to cast then in at the door of the Hive some sweet Liquors with Siringes, as Milk, and especially Goats-milk, as the best of all the rest, to bear out the scarcity and poorness of the time until Spring.