CHAP. I. The Excellency of Bees .

BEes are the most excellent of all Insects whatsoever , and expresse both worth and wonder in all their waies : They only afford delightful food , and pleasant nourishment for man , whereas the best in other kindes serve only for Physick , or the pleasure of the eye , or the delight of the ear , or the cloathing of the body : the most part whereof is by these also some way or other abundantly supplyed ; so that natures power is no lesse 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 hee 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 wisdome hath thus ordered it , that wee might understand that Prudence consists not in the greatnesse of the body , but in the minde , which hath no need of magnitude , but as it is lesse , 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 Gods smallest springs prove at length main Oceans , his least beginnings grow into great works , great wonders .

Who can imagine that so many pleights and joints , connexions , and concatenations , should bee orderly disposed in so small a fabrick ? That in a body so little , the joints should move so actively , the wings stirre so nimbly , the sting penetrate so deeply , the senses utter forth themselves so sharply , Nay , the lungs , ( though scarcely visible ) to breath so powerfully , Chrysost. Comment in Epist. Paull 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 wee then marvail 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 . Veines and Arteries in these so little bodies , which a little distance from us can scarcely bee seen with our eyes : And what shall wee 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 wisdome , and invention , so teaching that greatnesse Tertul. adversus Marcion . lib. 1. is to bee found in meannesse ( as the Apostle saith ) strength in infirmities . Imitate if thou canst the Bees buildings , the Ants hills , or lodgings , the Spiders nets , the Silk-worms webbs .

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 Silk-worm ?

And though the greatest thing the Vulgar praise her for , is her laborious industry , yet indeed the least thing that may bee praised in her , is her industry .

For , If old times admire Calicrates For Ivory Emme●s , 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 wee then th' all wise omnipotenc● , Which doth within so narrow space disp●nce So stiffe a sting , so stout and valiant ●eart ▪ So loud a voice , so prudent wit , and art : Their well rul'd state , my soul so much admires That durst I lose the reignt of my desires , I gladly could digresse from my design , To sing a while their sacred discipline .

CHAP. II. Of the Name .

IN Hebrew a Bee is called , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Debora , 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 Hony , whereof the Bee is the Chymical 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 leggs , but after her Metamorphosis ( of which afterwards ) shee comes forth a six-legged creature , but because this Etymology answers not Analogy , as other compounds , it is supposed by others to bee 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 hee ) because it affords us many things : Wax , for curing of dolours , wounds , Ulcers ; for lights , Ceare-cloath , and many other things ; and for Hony it would require a daies work to declare the benefit and worth thereof . And though these bee great benefits , yet there are more excellent and remarkable to bee observed from this Creature : For every Common-wealth , every Kingdome 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 , wee readily write after them , and practise them . For it signifies also , saith ●ee , to command or rule , because it is the same supream 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 hee imitate the King of Bees , who so deports and carries himself , that hee is beloved , provided for , and protected by all the Bees ; and yet in the mean time so farre from offering injury or wrong to any , that he hath no sting to hurt any ( so Goropius ) but which i●truer and better , hee 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 Hony , 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 desence 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. Glasse , immoveable , contrary to Aristotle , who saith , all Insects move their eyes , as four-footed beasts their ears ; not sunk within their heads ( as Mouffetus ) but somewhat prominent , no eye-brows : 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 joynts , one close to the head , the other towards the middle , so that shee can put them forth at full length , when shee 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 , shee suddenly senteth any tangible object , The Drones eyes are farre larger , being almost two thirds of their head , with two moveable wreathed horns , growing out together between the eyes , but extending like a fork .

For gathering her provision , shee 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 side-waies , 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 shee 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 leggs of their adversaries : And therefore Mr. Butler was somewhat deceived , who accounteth this pinching of other Insects ( for against them only do they ▪ use them ) to bee rather a chiding , than a fighting , a warning , than a punishment ; being indeed a deadly and mortal instrument of revenge ; so that after a battel you shall see them lye sprauling , hopping away , and crauling in great multitudes , either drawing on the ground one , or more of their leggs , 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 dye .

They ●unne at first limp●ng 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 leggs , than hurt in all other parts ; and besides , their leggs 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 pleights , 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 entred into skin or flesh , is holden so fast , that they cannot draw it out again ; and when they would bee gone , leave therefore a part of their entrals 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 fore-part .

A Bee hath four drye pelluced skinny wings ( and so have all Insects 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 , least 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 ringes , or pleights , of Cardan . de subtil lib. 9. which this reason is given : the beginning of motion must bee in some part , which if it were hard , could not be moved , but with the leggs , as Crabbs , but if it were all soft , it could much lesse be moved , because there is nothing firm ; and therefore there is a necessity of these ringes , 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 joyned to their entrals , which ordinarily lie bid ( as Aristotle ) least they should bee spoiled , but they readily exert , and put them out on all occasions rather ( as I said ) co offend men , and beasts , than their own kinde : 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 joynts , hairy ; and as it were , two toes at the extreamity of either foot : her hindmost feet are longest , that shee may put them forward to her formost , which receive from her tongue the Bee-bread , and wax , and working it on the thighes of the hindmost , shee stands in the mean time on the middle-most ; and though shee can , and doth ordinarily stand and go on all her feet , yet the two foremost have with her the use of hands , therewith shee stroaks 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 bee , 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 kinde 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 stomack , as Mouffet delivers ) the mouth of it reacheth , or openeth into the stomach .

In this they carry hony , which with their heat , they defeca●e ; purge , and concoct , whereby it lasts longer than all Aerial Hony , 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 mossinesse of their whole bodies , as hee 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 Cham●leon , a vile ( and in many Countries a Vulgar ) Creature , is very exact , particular , Julius Caesar Scaliger com . 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 bee known to some , yet it is a secret to many , wherefore , whosoever writes , seeing hee wites to all , must do this common courtesie to all .

I question not , but that many will account mee too full , nay , tedious many times in this discourse ; but I cannot shut a long foot into a little shooe , 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 flye , yet her fruit is the chief of sweet things ; and shee is full of wisdome ▪ 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 satisfie the patient Reader . Too much curiosity may drown us with Aristotle in the bottome of the Sea , or burn us with Pliny on Mount V●s●vius .