¶The firſte Treatiſe ſetteth foorthe the
ſtrange gouernmēt, propertie, and benefite
of the Bees, vvith the commoditie of their Ho-
ny and Waxe, whiche ſerue vnto many good vſes, aſwell
in outward as inwarde cauſes applied, gathered out of Pli-
nie, Albertus, Varro, Columella, Palladius,
Ariſtotle, Theophraſtus, Cardanus,
Guilielmus de Conchis, Agrip-
pa, and diuers other ſin-
gular Authours.
¶Why Bees are names to be creaſted or parted betweene, or as it were ringed, or rather pleighted. What work the ſwarme newe gathered in the Hiue, firſt taketh in hande, and whether they maye liue after their ſtings bee gone. Cap. firſt.
Linie nameth Bees Cleft beaſts, bicauſe of the diuiſion or parting betweene of the head & ſhoulders: and Ariſtotle nameth thē plighted or ringed, in that their bodies are diuided with plightes and rings. And moſt men know, that the Bees haue neyther ſinewes, bones, fleſhe, grittle, backe-bone, nor fat, but are only created of a certaine mixture, being a meane between theſe, and hauing a very few intrailes. And againe, no man needeth to doubte, but that the Bees be a kinde of beaſts, greatly to be ſet by for man vſe, & for mans prouiſion, are nouriſhed of the aire, paſſing throughe the diuided places, which they by great diligence and care preſerue from being ſtopped, for as ſoone as they be ſtopped, they ſhortly after die, like as the ſame we may learne, when anye happeneth to fall or light into Dyle, which ſtraight way after die, throughe the Dyle ſtopping then their powers. They haue and fly with foure wings, that they maye the better carrye in their bellies the ſtings of reuengement. For when two of thē ſtriue togither in flight, then do they hold and keep their ſtings
