bees-Markham-art - 1/2/10 ਀ഊA translation by Baroness Morgan of Anglesey of the section on bees and beekeeping in Gervase Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry - For the Well Ordering of all beasts, and fowls and for the general cure of their diseases". ਀ഊNOTE: See also the files: bees-msg, Beekeeping-AS-art, honey-msg, sugar-msg, mead-msg, Mead-Mkng-Tps-art, meadery-list-msg, beeswax-msg, candles-msg. ਀ഊ************************************************************************ ਀一伀吀䤀䌀䔀 ⴀഊ ਀吀栀椀猀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 眀愀猀 猀甀戀洀椀琀琀攀搀 琀漀 洀攀 戀礀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀漀爀 椀渀挀氀甀猀椀漀渀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 猀攀琀 漀昀 昀椀氀攀猀Ⰰ 挀愀氀氀攀搀 匀琀攀昀愀渀✀猀 䘀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀ ഊ ਀吀栀攀猀攀 昀椀氀攀猀 愀爀攀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀氀攀 漀渀 琀栀攀 䤀渀琀攀爀渀攀琀 愀琀㨀 栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ ਀䌀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀漀渀琀攀渀琀猀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀 爀攀洀愀椀渀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀⸀ഊ ਀圀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 眀椀氀氀 氀椀欀攀氀礀 最椀瘀攀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀椀猀 眀漀爀欀 琀漀 戀攀 爀攀瀀爀椀渀琀攀搀 椀渀 匀䌀䄀 琀礀瀀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 挀栀攀挀欀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 昀椀爀猀琀 漀爀 挀栀攀挀欀 昀漀爀 愀渀礀 瀀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀猀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 愀琀 琀栀攀 攀渀搀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 昀椀氀攀⸀ഊ ਀吀栀愀渀欀 礀漀甀ⰀഊMark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous ਀猀琀攀昀愀渀 愀琀 昀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀漀爀最ഊ************************************************************************ ਀ഊWhat follows is a "translation" (the original is in what I assume is Old English) of the section on bees and beekeeping from an animal husbandry book published in 1614. I have found the information to be most interesting especially the part about finding wild hives. There were some words I was not 100% sure about so there may be passages that are a little choppy. I tried to make sense of them based on the context. I am currently working on another translation of the bee section of another animal husbandry book written in 1577 by Conrad Heresbach that I hope to have completed in the next few months. I hope all beekeepers and anyone interested in bees, honey or medieval life will enjoy. ਀ഊBaroness Morgan of Anglesey ਀䴀椀搀爀攀愀氀洀ഊ ਀ⴀⴀⴀഊ ਀䌀栀攀愀瀀 愀渀搀 䜀漀漀搀 䠀甀猀戀愀渀搀爀礀 ⴀ 䘀漀爀 琀栀攀 圀攀氀氀 伀爀搀攀爀椀渀最 漀昀 愀氀氀 戀攀愀猀琀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 昀漀眀氀猀 愀渀搀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 最攀渀攀爀愀氀 挀甀爀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀椀爀 搀椀猀攀愀猀攀猀ഊ ਀䜀攀爀瘀愀猀攀 䴀愀爀欀栀愀洀ഊ ਀䰀漀渀搀漀渀 ㄀㘀㄀㐀ഊ ਀䌀漀渀琀愀椀渀椀渀最 琀栀攀 渀愀琀甀爀攀猀Ⰰ 戀爀攀攀搀椀渀最Ⰰ 挀栀漀椀挀攀Ⰰ 甀猀攀Ⰰ 昀攀攀搀椀渀最 愀渀搀 挀甀爀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀攀愀猀攀猀 漀昀 愀氀氀 洀愀渀渀攀爀 漀昀 挀愀琀琀氀攀Ⰰ 愀猀猀Ⰰ 栀漀爀猀攀Ⰰ 漀砀Ⰰ 挀漀眀Ⰰ 猀栀攀攀瀀Ⰰ 最漀愀琀猀Ⰰ 猀眀椀渀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀愀洀攀ⴀ挀漀渀攀猀⸀ഊ ਀䄀氀猀漀Ⰰ 愀瀀瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 爀甀氀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 挀爀愀洀洀椀渀最 愀渀搀 昀愀琀琀椀渀最 漀昀 愀氀氀 猀漀爀琀猀 漀昀 瀀漀甀氀琀爀礀 愀渀搀 昀漀眀氀猀Ⰰ 戀漀琀栀 琀愀洀攀 愀渀搀 眀椀氀搀Ⰰ 攀琀挀⸀ഊ ਀䄀渀搀 搀椀瘀攀爀猀攀 最漀漀搀 愀渀搀 眀攀氀氀 愀瀀瀀爀漀瘀攀搀 洀攀搀椀挀椀渀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 挀甀爀攀 漀昀 愀氀氀 琀栀攀 搀椀猀攀愀猀攀猀 漀昀 栀愀眀欀猀 漀昀 眀栀愀琀 欀椀渀搀 猀漀 攀瘀攀爀⸀ഊ ਀吀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 甀猀攀 愀渀搀 瀀爀漀昀椀琀 漀昀 戀攀攀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 洀愀欀椀渀最 漀昀 昀椀猀栀 瀀漀渀搀猀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 琀愀欀椀渀最 漀昀 愀氀氀 猀漀爀琀猀 漀昀 昀椀猀栀⸀ഊ ਀䜀愀琀栀攀爀攀搀 琀漀最攀琀栀攀爀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 最攀渀攀爀愀氀 最漀漀搀 愀渀搀 瀀爀漀昀椀琀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 眀栀漀氀攀 爀攀愀氀洀Ⰰ 戀礀 攀砀愀挀琀 愀渀搀 愀猀猀甀爀攀搀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀 昀爀漀洀 䔀渀最氀椀猀栀 瀀爀愀挀琀椀挀攀猀Ⰰ 戀漀琀栀 挀攀爀琀愀椀渀Ⰰ 攀愀猀礀 愀渀搀 挀栀攀愀瀀㬀  搀椀昀昀攀爀椀渀最 昀爀漀洀 愀氀氀 昀漀爀洀攀爀 愀渀搀 昀漀爀攀椀最渀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀洀攀渀琀猀Ⰰ 眀栀椀挀栀 攀椀琀栀攀爀 愀最爀攀攀搀 渀漀琀 眀椀琀栀 漀甀爀 挀氀椀洀攀Ⰰ 漀爀 眀攀爀攀 琀漀漀 栀愀爀搀 琀漀 挀漀洀攀 戀礀 漀爀 瘀攀爀礀 挀漀猀琀氀礀Ⰰ 琀漀 氀椀琀琀氀攀 瀀甀爀瀀漀猀攀 愀氀氀 眀栀椀挀栀 栀攀爀攀椀渀 愀爀攀 愀瘀漀椀搀攀搀⸀ഊ ਀ഊOrdering of Bees ਀ഊChapter 1. Of the nature, ordering and preservation of Bees ਀ഊOf all the creatures which are behoveful for the use of man, there is none more necessary, wholesome, or more profitable than the Bee, nor any less troublesome or less chargeable. To speak then first of the nature of Bees; it is a creature, gentle, loving and familiar about the man which has the ordering of them, so he come neat, sweet and cleanly amongst them: otherwise, if he has strong and ill smelling favors about them they are curst and malicious, and will sting spitefully, they are exceeding industrious and much given to labor. They have a kind of government amongst themselves; as it were a well ordered common wealth. Everyone obeying and following their King or Commander, whose voice (if you lay your ear to the hive) you shall distinguish from the rest, being louder and greater, and beating with amore solemn measure. They delight to live amongst the sweet herbs and flowers that may be; especially, fennel and walgilly flowers and therefore their best dwellings are in gardens; and in these gardens, or near adjoining thereunto, would be diverse fruit trees growing, chiefly plum trees, or peach trees, in which , when they cast, they may knit, without taking any far flight, or wandering to find out their rest: this garden also would be well fenced, than no swine nor other call to may come therein, as well for over throwing their hives, as also for offending them with other ill favors. They are also very tender, and may by no means endure any cold whence you must have a great respect to have their houses exceeding warm, close, and tight, both to keep out frosts and snows, also the wet and rain; which if it once enter into the hive it is a present destruction. ਀ഊTo speak then of the Bee hive, you shall know there be diverse opinions touching the same, according to the customs and natures of Countries; for in the Champaine Countries, where there is very little store of woods, they make their hives of long rye straw, the rolls being sewn together with Briars; and their hives are large and deep and even proportioned like a sugar-loaf, and a cross bar within, with flat splints of wood, both above and under the middle part: in other Champaine Countries, where they want rye straw, they make them of wheat straw, as in the West Countries, and their hives are of a good compass, but very low and flat, which is naught; for a hive is ever better for his largeness, and keeps out rain best when it is sharpest. In the wood countries they make them of cloven hassles watteled about broad splints of ash, and so formed as before I said, like a sugar loaf. And their hives are of all other the best, so they be large and smooth within; for the straw hive is subject to breed mice, and nothing destroys bees sooner than they, yet you must be governed by your ability, and such things as the soul affords. ਀ഊNow for the wood hive, which is the best, you shall thus trim and prepare it for your bees: you shall first make a stiff mortar of lime and cow-dung, mixed together, and then having cross barred the hive within, dawb the outside of the hive with the mortar, at least three inches thick, down close onto the stone, so that not the least air may come in; then taking rye sheaf or wheat sheaf that is new threshed, and binding the ears together in one lump, put it over the hive, and so as it were thatch it all over, and fix it close to the hive with an old hoop or garth, and this will deep the hive inwardly as warm as may be; also before you lodge any bee in your hive, you shall perfume it with juniper and rub it all with fennel, hop and time flowers, and also all the stone upon which the hive shall stand. ਀ഊNow for the placing of your h hives, you shall take three long thick stakes, cut smooth and plain up the heads, and drive them into the earth triangular wise, so that they may be about two foot above the ground, then lay over them a broad smooth paving stone, which may extend every way over the stakes about half a foot, and upon that stone let your hive, being less in compass than the stone by more than six inches everyway, and see that the door of your hive stand directly upon the rising of the morning sun inclining a little unto the southward, and be sure to have your hives well sheltered from the north winds, and generally from all tempestuous weather for which purpose if you have sheds to draw over them in the winter, it is to much the better. And you shall place your hives in orderly rows one before another, keeping clean alleys between them every way, for as you may walk and view each by itself separately. ਀ഊNow for the casting of your bees, it is earlier or later in the year, according to the strength and goodness of the stock, or the warmth of the weather. The usual time for casting is from the beginning of May till the middle of July: and in all that time you must have a vigilant eye, or else some servant, to watch their rising, least they fly away, and knit in some obscure place far from knowledge. Yet if you please you may know which hives are ready to cast a night before they do cast by laying your ear after sunrise to the hive, and if you hear the Master Bee above all the rest in a higher and more solemn note, or if you see them lie forth upon the stone, and cannot get into the hive, then be sure that stock will cast within a few hours after. As soon as you perceive the swarm to rise, and are got up into the air (which will commonly be in the height and heat of the sun) you shall take a brass baton, pan or candlestick and make a tingling noise there upon, and they are so delighted with music that by the sound thereof, they will presently knit upon some branch or bough of a tree. Then when they are all upon one cluster, you shall take a new sweet hive well dressed, and rubbed with honey and fennel, and shake them all into the hive, then having spread a fair sheet upon the ground, set the hive thereon, and cover it all clean over close with the sheet, and so let stand till after sunset, at which time the bees being gathered up to the top of the hive (as their nature is) you shall se them upon the stone (having rubbed it well with fennel) and then dawd it close round with Lime and Dung mixed together, and only leave them a door or two to issue out, and in at. There be some stocks which will cast twice or thrice, and four times in a year, but it is not so good, for it will weaken the stock too much, there fore to keep you stocks in strength and goodness, it is good not to suffer any to cast above twice at most. Again, you shall with pieces of brick or other smooth stones, raise the stock in the night three or four inches from the stone, and then dawb it close again and the bees finding house room will fall to work within, and not cat at all, and then will that stock be worth two others: and in the same manner, if you had the year before any small swarms, which are likely to cast this year: or if you have any early swarms this year, which are likely to cast at the latter end of the year, both which are often found to be the destruction of the stocks in either of these cases, you shall enlarge the hive as is before said, by raising it up from the stone, and it will not only keep them from casting, but make the stock better, and of much more profit, for that hive ever which is of the most weight is of the best price. ਀ഊNow when you have marked out those old stocks which you intend to sell (for the oldest is fittest for that purpose) you shall know that the best time to take them is at Michaelmas, before any frosts hinder their labor: and you shall take them ever from the stone in the dark of night, when the air is cold, and wither drown them in water, or smother them with Fushals, for to chase them from their hives, as some do, is naught, because all such bees are thus frightened from their hives do turn robbers and spoil other stocks, because that time of year will not suffer them to labor and get their own livings. ਀ഊNow if you have any weak swarms, which coming late in the year, cannot gather sufficient of winter provision: in this case you shall feed such stocks by daily smearing their stone before the place of their going in and out with honey and rose water mixed together, and so you shall continue to do all the strength of winter till the warmth of the spring and the sunshine bring for the flowers for them to labor upon. You shall also continually look that no mice, dares, clocks and such like vermin breed about your hives, for they are poisonous and will make bees forsake their hives. ਀ഊNow lastly, if any of your stocks happen to die in the winter (as amongst many, some must quaile) you shall not by any means stir the stock, but let it remain until spring, that you see your Bees begin to grow busy, then take up the dead stock, and trim it clean from all filth, but by no means stir or crush any of the combs, and besprinkle them, and besmear all the inside of the hive with honey, rosewater and the juice of fennel, mix together and dawb all the stone therewith. Also then set down the hive again, and dawb it as if it had never been stirred, and be well assured, that the first swarm which shall rise, either of you won or of any neighbors of your within the compass of a mile, it will knit in no place, but within that hive, and such a stock will be worth five others, because they find half their work finished at their first entrance into the hive, and this has been many times approved by those of the most approved experience. And thus much touching the bee and his nature. ਀ഊ------ ਀䌀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀 ㈀　　㔀 戀礀 䴀攀氀椀猀猀愀 一攀眀琀漀渀Ⰰ ㄀㈀㄀㌀ 一⸀ 䰀椀洀攀猀琀漀渀攀 匀琀⸀Ⰰ 䰀攀砀椀渀最琀漀渀Ⰰ 䬀夀 㐀　㔀　㔀⸀ 㰀戀愀爀漀渀攀猀猀洀漀爀最愀渀 愀琀 礀愀栀漀漀⸀挀漀洀㸀⸀ 倀攀爀洀椀猀猀椀漀渀 椀猀 最爀愀渀琀攀搀 昀漀爀 爀攀瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 匀䌀䄀ⴀ爀攀氀愀琀攀搀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀Ⰰ 瀀爀漀瘀椀搀攀搀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀栀漀爀 椀猀 挀爀攀搀椀琀攀搀 愀渀搀 爀攀挀攀椀瘀攀猀 愀 挀漀瀀礀⸀ഊ ਀䤀昀 琀栀椀猀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 椀猀 爀攀瀀爀椀渀琀攀搀 椀渀 愀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀攀 愀 渀漀琀椀挀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 瀀甀戀氀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 礀漀甀 昀漀甀渀搀 琀栀椀猀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 䘀氀漀爀椀氀攀最椀甀洀⸀ 䤀 眀漀甀氀搀 愀氀猀漀 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀攀 愀渀 攀洀愀椀氀 琀漀 洀礀猀攀氀昀Ⰰ 猀漀 琀栀愀琀 䤀 挀愀渀 琀爀愀挀欀 眀栀椀挀栀 愀爀琀椀挀氀攀猀 愀爀攀 戀攀椀渀最 爀攀瀀爀椀渀琀攀搀⸀ 吀栀愀渀欀猀⸀ ⴀ匀琀攀昀愀渀⸀ഊ ਀㰀琀栀攀 攀渀搀㸀ഊEdited by Mark S. Harris bees-Markham-art Page 4 of 4 ਀ഊ