A profitable instruction of the perfect ordering of Bees/First Treatise/Chapter 15
Of the Bees newe ſettled in a ſwarme togyther, and taken or recouered agayne. Cap. xv.
{{bl|WHen the Bees are nowe in a tumulte in the ayre, by throwing fine earth on high ouer the Bees, or ringing a baſen or kettle, they be with the ſhrill ſound made aſtonied, that they maye the ſooner ſettle downe neare to the keeper, whiche if the ſame happen to be on the branch of a tree, or on a graft or yong ſet, then with a very ſharpe ſawe, gently ſawe that off, and laye it on the grounde, and ſpeedily ſet Hiue on the ſame prepared for the purpoſe. For by that meanes (without doubte) will the whole ſwarme flye vp to the toppe and head of the Hiue. Yet it often happeneth, that they doe not wholy cleaue on a heape to the braunch of a tree, but to the ſticke or body of the tree, whych by that meanes muſte needes be cutte by a greater force, ſo that not able to be recouered by this meanes, the ſwarme muſte be quickly ſweepte off, either with the hand, or with a Goſe wing, that they may ſo fall togither into the hiue. If the ſwarme happen to be cluſtred togither on the top of a tree, ſo high, that they cannot be climed vnto, to take them downe, then after the ſhaking of them into Hiue (turned vppe) either with a pole or high forke, the hiue muſt ſpeedily be turned down to the earth. And if they be not thus taken or recouered, yet if the King ſhal be ſtill in the Hiue, then doth the ſwarme fly in againe, if he remayneth not, then wil none of the ſwarme abide in the hiue, but flye forthwith vnto the former place. Wherefore, that they may be moued to abide, you muſte then ſprinckle the hiue with ye greene Nettle, or rather the greene Fennell, or ſome ſuch ſweete herbe, annointed a little with Hony, and after ſet at the Euening in their proper place. For the hiue in the day time, after the recouering thus of the Bees, may not be ſtirred vntil Euening, that the Bees ſo quietly reſting all that night, may in the morning leiſurely go forth. But for three daies togither in a manner, muſte the keeper dayly looke, whether the ſwarme keepeth belowe in the Hiue, for if it doth, then are the Bees purpoſed to flye awaye. And if none of al theſe remedies, may yet moue the Bees to ſtay and tarry in the hiue then be-ſmoke the hiue with flare, and they will after enter in and abide in the hiue. Which ſo ſtaying in the hiues, ſet at the Euening in his proper place. Here learne a farther inſtruction, that if the ſwarme of Bees cannot be gathered and recouered togither all at one time then may you gather the ſwarme at two or more times togither, and alwaies put eche part gathered vnder the hiue. If it happeneth that you haue gotten the King, with a part of the ſwarme, then will all the others ſoone come to hiue (without further trauaile) of their owne accorde. If the Bees alſo be entred into the hollowe of a tree, then to the hole, whiche they vſe to go in and out at, as their proper doore, ſette a prepared hiue, and beneath their hole, neare to the roote and bottome of the hollow (as you can geſſe) boare abother bigge hole, that ye may wel put in a ſmoke of Brimſtone to them, whiche may ſo cauſe all the Bees to fly out at their hole into the Hiue, ſet ouer the mouth of it. For no better deuiſe or inuētion can be had in this matter, than by ſuch a ſmoake made. If the ſame hollowe tree be ſo thinne, that it may eaſily be ſawed aſunder, then with a ſharpe ſawe lette that hollowe parte be cutte aſunder, bothe aboue and beneath, and after couering it with a cleane ſhæte, carrie the ſwarme home, which at euening couer with a newe Hiue ſprinckled with water and honny mixed togither. For ſo they will tarrye the willinglier, being all ſhaken forth of the body of the tree, and couered with the Hiue. Beſides the hearbe Mugworte (whiche the Bees by a naturall hatred do abhorre) doth chaſe them with the onely ſmell from place to place.}}