continually on any occasion Lord strike at the roote and dry up the fountaine in me for otherwise though the streames were stopt and the branches cut off and the sparkles quenched yet there would be a perpetuall supply as long as the poyson-full roote remaines XXXIX Many Bees especially when the gathering season is over and the state of flowers decayed about August will be curiously prying into their fellowes hives at first a few give the onset and if they be let alone unresisted or weakly opposed then they double and treble their forces fetching at their returne more of their companie and violently make a prey of all But if these scouts and ring leaders as they presse in be beaten out roughly intertained and stâ—utly opposed and fought withall they will then by degrees desist and at last quite give over Vaine and wicked thoughts if men give way unto them without checking the motions of them will pâ—esse as busily as flies in Summer into the heart but a good heart will not owne them nor allow himselfe in them but stands at staves end with them casts them off as hot water doth the scumme or as the stomack doth that which is noysome unto it They find not in it that intertainment which they have in carnall hearts where the scumme seeths in which are stewes of uncleane thoughts shambles of cruell and bloody thoughts exchanges and shops of vaine thoughts a very forge and minâ— of false politick and undermining thoughts yea often a little hell of confused and black imaginations XL. See you that narrow mouthed glasse which is set neare to the hive marke how busily the waspes and flies resort to it being drawne thither by the smell of that sweet liquor wherewith it is baited see how eagerly they creepe into the mouth of it and fall downe suddenly from that slippery steepinesse into that watry trap from which they never rise there after some labour and wearinesse they drowne and die you doe not see many of the labouring Bees looke that way they passe directly to their hives without any great notice taken of such a pleasing baite Idle and ill disposed persons are drawne away with every temptation they have both leasure and will to entertaine every sweet allurement to sin and wantonly prosecute their owne wicked lusts till they fall into irrecoverable damnation whereas the diligent and laborious Christian that followes hard and conscionably the workes of an honest calling is free from the danger of these deadly enticements and layes up honey of comfort against the winter of evill happie is that man who can see and enjoy the successe of his labour but how ever this we are sure if our labour cannot purchase the good we would it shall prevent the evill we would avoyde XLI A Bee stinging a dead body takes no hurt but stinging a live body loseth both sting and life together In like manner death so long as it stung mortall men only which were dead in sinne was never a white the worse but when it stung Christ once who is life it selfe by and by it lost both sting and strength Therefore as the Brazen Serpent was so farre from hurting the Israelites that contrariwise it healed them after the same sort death is so farre from hurting any true Israelite that on the other side if affliction as a fiery Serpent sting us or any thing else hurt us it is helped and redressed by death XLII That honey is sweete it is not a conceit only but the naturall qualitie of it is so yet out of a tast of the sweetnesse to thinke we cannot take too much of it is a misconceit paid home with loathsome bitternesse though our fancy be readie to conceive a greater blessing in outward good things then indeed there is yet we must not deny them to be blessings XLIII Bees when they are abroad at their worke if the clouds overcast the ayre grow darke there be any prelude of a storme which they are very sensible and apprehensive of speedily and in hast thick and threesold repaire to their hives for shelter and security And beleevers never pray so heartily deny themselves so throughly cling so fast to God as when a storme is towards or when they are overtaken by a tempest of persecution XLIV Bees are not querulous complaining or discontented creatures for when they have with many a sore dayes labour and heavie burden filled their hive and thereby furnished themselves against a winters want yet if they be driven and robbed of all have left neither meate nor materialls to put in any yet will if the weather serve speedily and chearefully renew their labours and with double diligence seeke out for a future supply And shall beleevers thinke much to suffer the spoyling of their goods all that they have travelled and sweat for and when they have by many a deare dayes labour got a little somwhat together then to be spoyled of all in a moment seeing they know they have in heaven a better and more endureing substance XLV When the worme dyes which is a more imperfect creature then it revives againe but is quite another from what it was before in every part and member before it was unable to act for it's owne preservation or the good of others could not move out of it's place in a word doe nothing but eate what was brought unto it but after a transformation and renovation it is agill and active laborious and profitable And in the new birth si licet parvis componere magna there must be a mortification of the old man and then an universall change and alteration in the whole man For a new Spirit is universall it goes through the whole man leavens the whole lumpe the new nature is common to all the powers not like a little spring that takes beginning in some peece of ground and ends in the same but like the great Ocean that encompasseth the whole world And as it is universall so it is alterative too it amends not the out-side only but the inward man also It gives a man a new temper it makes him that was fearfull and timerous become bold and couragious him that was peevish and passionate to be of a meeke and quiet spirit him that was dull and cold to be zealous and fervent it makes him with Onesimus profitable to himselfe and others XLVI Bees have a naturall and in-bred love to their Queene which makes them in her absence long after her nay unweariedly seeke for her without any other content or satisfaction but her presence and company and finding her they will not be severed nor sundered pull them away as oft as you will from her yet still they will draw neare and cling to her Carry her whither you will if they be sensible of it you have their company also How doth this condemne the want of love and affection of many subjects to their Governours of many people to their God whom 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 â—unne at first limpâ—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 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 â—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 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 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 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 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 defecaâ—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 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 Chamâ—leon a vile and in many Countries a Vulgar Creature is very exact particular 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 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 Vâ—sâ—vius CHAP. IV. Of the Kindes and Colours of Bees ARistotle reckons nine sorts of Bees and Scaliger commends this distribution wishing hee had been so exact in other creatures whereas here hee abounded more in words than things Albertus herein Aristotles Ape enumerates as many but in strange and barbarous
death of Cloudius that a swarm of Bees setled on the Capitol One speaking of the prodigies that did precede the battel of Canna saith that swarms of Bees lighted on their Ensignes Nec densae trepidis apumse involvere â—â—bâ—s Cessarum Aquilis Among the many Prodigies ominating Brutuâ—'s destruction swarms of Bees lighted in his Camp Swarms of Bees settled in the Camp of Diusus when hee fought prosperously at Arbala Ambrose sleeping in his swadling cloaths having his mouth open a swarm of Bees came and setled on his mouth which the father and mother walking by forbad the Maid that tended him to brush off where a while continuing at last they flew up into the air untill they could bee seen no more Plaâ—â— sleeping in his swadling cloaths the Bees brought hony to his lips foretelling the singular sweetness of his eloquence Hiero sometimes chief Magistrate of Sicilia the son of Hierâ—cliâ—uâ— a Noble-man who drew his original from Celus an ancient Tyrant of Sicily but his mothers stock was mean and contemptible for hee was born of a Maid-servant and therefore as a disparagement to his fathers race was cast forth whom the Bees wanting all humane help sed with hony which being known the father by the Aâ—gurs counsell received again and brought up as the Heir of the Kingdome Aelian citing Antenâ—r reports that the inhabitants of a certain City in Crâ—ta were forced to forsake their dwellings by certain Bees called Chosichoides which did miserably molest and sting them The Citizens of Marra two dayes journey from Antlich being besieged by Goâ—frey Duke of Bullen among other things which they threw over the walls to drive away their enemies cast over Hives full of Bees Luculâ—us Army besieging Themisâ—yra scituate on the banks of the River Thermodâ—oâ— and by Mines seeking to overthrow the wâ—lls the inhabitants opened them above and threw in Hives of Bees among them to their great trouble and vexation When Amuâ—ah the Great Turk besieged Alba Greca the Inhabitants besides other things cast Hives of Bees among the Turks whereby they were greatly annoyed A Captain of the Emperours being besieged by Giselbert the King of Lorrain restrained the enemies when they entred the place by casting hives of Bees for the horses being enraged with their stâ—nâ—s overthrew their Riders or were altother unserviceable Lupus Barriga warring with the Mâ—ors in Mauritania and besieging a Town called Tornâ—t the Inhabitants being at the last cast threw over the walls abundance of hives of Bees set on fire wherewith the Pâ—râ—â—ngâ—ls were so burnt and stung that they were forced to give over with the wounding of their General and many others Cozenours and Cheaters were thus anciently punished they divested the guilty person of his cloaths and then anointed him with hony all over his body and set him in the Sun with his hands and feet fast bound that by many reiterated stingings and the Suns heat they might receive a death worthy of their life In Sivil a City of Spain if a woman bears her husband shee is carried on an Ass through the City naked from the gâ—dle-sted upwards and being first anointed with hony besides other despights and injuries suffers not a little misery from the Bees Waspes and Flies that molest and sting her Marcus an old man in the reign of Constantine overthrew an Idol Temple at Arethusa and was taken under Iulian the Apostate and first scourged on his naked body and after other punishments in the last place put in a basket being all over anointed with hony and so set abroad whom the Bees thinking hee had robbed them stung therefore to death Hermonay the son of Amymer and Lysodicâ— being a childe and coming to the Hives to rob the Bees was killed with their stings Onesilus the brother of Gorgus King of Salamiâ— in the Isle of Cyprus fighting against Artybius a Persian General was slain and his head cut off and hanged over the gates of Amathusium a City in the same Island which hee had sometimes before besieged into which when it was empty a swarm of Bees entred and filled it with combs this is reported at a Prodigy and doth not prejudice the cleanliness of Bees for consulting the Oracle they advised to take down the head and bury it Livonia is replenished with stately Woods and those furnished with industrious Bees which sometimes being numerous are put to hard shifts for habitations Mr. Barkley an English Merchant did in one of these Woods eat hony out of a mans skull wherein a swarm of Bees were and bred as it hanged It is reprorted that in the Sepulchre of Hippocrates the Prince of Physitians for a long time a swarm of Bees lived and wrought hony in it and that this happened extraordinarily is concluded because that Nurses anointing childrens mouths near the grave with the hony easily cured them Dâ—onisius the son of Hermocrates swimming over a River upon his horse his horse was mired and could not bee pulled out by any means hee leaped off his back and goâ— safely to the baâ—k and so forsook the horse as no longer his But the horse followed after and neighed whereupon he returned and when hâ—…old on his Maâ—â—o mount up a swarm of Bees encompassâ—d his hand which hung on his Manâ— a presage of his future command and Empire The Trâ—phâ—nion Oracle was thus found out When as a year or two together there was no rain some were sent from every City to Delphos to implore help To whom desiring a remedy for the drought Apollâ— commanded them to go to Labadea and seek a remedy for their evill of Trophonius Going therefore to Labadea but not able to finde the Oracle Sâ—on one of the Ambassadors an old man when he had espied a swarm of Bees resolved to follow them withersoever they went When therefore hee saw them flying to a Cave hee entred in and understood that place was the Oracle which they sought for Comates feeding the flock of his rich Master in Sicily was sometimes accustomed to offer somewhat of his flock to the Muses which when his Master knew hee reproved him very sharply whom Comates intreats not to bee angry for by the Muses help there should be a large remuneration Go to saith his Master let us make trial whether the Muses will feed thee and inclosed him in a hollow tree and there left him to perish with famine And at the years end returning found his servant alive and well and many Hony-combs about him for the Bees by a hole had entred into the tree and maintained him The Bee master being absent one came and stole the combes out of the Hive who afterwards returning found his Bees plundered and while he stood still a while to examine and corsider concerning the author of iâ— The Bees came home from work and finding their house robbed and him standing by did fal upon him and cruelly sting him To
father or mother LX. Sampson had not found his honey if he had not turned aside to see his Lion And we shall lose the comforts of Gods benefits if we doe not renue our perills by meditation The mercies of God are ill bestowed upon us if we cannot step aside to view the monuments of his deliverance dangers may be at once past and forgotten LXI As the Bee Master on occasion of want will feed his Bees but never the Drones so true charitie relieves those poore men that will labour but not at all or rarely those laste beggars that will take no paines LXII As Sampson eat the honey-comb out of a dead beast and disdained not those sweets because he finds them uncleanly laid so good may not be refused because the meanes are accidentally evill honey is honey still though in a dead Lion Those are lesse wise and more scrupulous then Sampson which abhorre the graces of God because they find them in ill vessels One cares not for the Preachers true doctrine because his life is evill Another will not take a good receit from the hand of a Physitian because he is given to unlawfull studies A third will not receive deserved contribution from the hands of an Usurer It is a weake neglect not to take the honey because we hate the Lion Gods children have right to their fathers blessings wheresoever they find them LXIII Ionathan out of the honey drew the danger of death and we draw evill out of good and turne the grace of God into wantonnesse our wealth and honours make us proud our favours with great men to disdaine our betters and our powers to oppresse the innocent from the length of dayes we draw forth a multitude of sinnes from beautie iust and from the abundance of Gods mercie presumptuous perseverance in sinne but as the Bee suckes honey out of the Henbane and Sampson out of the eater drew meate and out of the strong drew sweetnesse so God which commanded the light to shine out of darknesse did from the death of Christ bring eternall life to as many as beleeve in him for he gave his Sonne that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life LXIV Bees are the most harmlesse and laborious the most orderly and profitable creatures that the world affords and yet have more adversaries and enemies then almost any other creature as in the enumeration of them in the former booke hath been discovered and herein are they Emblemes of beleevers who though they hurt none profit all yet are opposed and persecuted by many Satan first like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devoure and his Emissaries are still compassing sea and land endeavouring their destruction If Israel will needs goe out of Egypt to serve his God Pharaoh will be presently up in armes and pursue after him This Serpent hath a brood of his owne bowells that like the Mole can creepe under the earth and transforme themselves into Angels of light to performe deeds of darknesse which made Esaiah cry out he was undone David woe is me and why for they dwelt among a people of polluted lives and that abhorred peace their throates were an open sepulcher their tongues like razors hot as the coales of Juniper the poyson of aspes under their lippes and their mouth full of cursing and bitternesse And beside these forraigne foes that seeme the further from us there be home-bred and domesticall and therefore more dangerous adversaries First corruption the old man that daily sends forth whole swarmes of lusts to destroy the new And secondly death the last enemie that is to be destroyed LXV It is a common but fabulous conceit that Bees once losing their stings lose their naturall diligence and industrie and become idle and lasie Drones But it is really true of too many men who sometimes with their faces to Sion-ward make profession of holinesse and religion but feare of the losse of fame estate honour or life makes them with Demas and Hymeneus embrace the world and make shipwracke of saith and a good conscience LXVI Bees are acknowledged to be a Common-wealth and manifest it as in many particulars so in thâ—â—e that they watch and worke provide and labour procreate and educate one for another once doe all for the benefit and advantage of the whole body I would our Common-wealth were comparable to a hive of Bees even in these things then we would be content to watch and labour one for another all for the safety of the whole body In a Ship no mans safety is in single care for himselfe but in the common good of the company so ought it to be in the Common-wealth also Therefore no politick body can prosper or make a good Voyage where private respects make prize and Monopolies of publique projects where the little finger will weare a Diamond though the stomack which feedeth all wanteth meate to sustaine the whole body This St. Paul so earnestly dissâ—adeth that he calleth the mutuall love of Christians the band of love tying us together LXVII The robbing Bee and the Waspe though there be between them if not an antipathie yet certainly a desperate hatred and enmitie will without strife or difference concurre together together to rob a hive of Bees deserving ill of neither but only through paucitie and weaknesse obnoxious to their insolence and rapine Doe you wonder then if men wickedly disposed though ill affected each to other to compasse their particular designes with formalities of concord comply and agree together as Herod and Pilate were made friends to crucifie Christ to compasse the destruction of another by whose ruine they may greaten and enrich themselves LXVIII Bees in extremitie of winter lie still in a deepe but not dead sleepe stirre not from their places eate not make no noise but on the alteration of the weather when the Sunne shineth chearely on them then these sleepers awake and revive Many men finding some change in themselves because such lusts as have been formerly vigorous and lively are now dull and torpid they thereupon comfort themselves as if they were dead whereas they are but covered and laid asleepe for a time and will awake and rise againe As Sampson when he was tyed with cords rose againe and was as strong as ever he was when the opportunitie came and it was told him the Philistines are upon thee Sampson So lusts are oft laid asleepe till the opportunitie comes when all the threds of good purposes breake and they rise againe in their strength therefore if there be not a new creature brought within thy soule thy lusts are but asleepe they will rise againe LXIX 'T is not the waxe but the impression of the seale that fortifies a Conveyance and makes the Deed. And temptation however in it selfe it be lesse then the fact yet considered in the Author that invites sin by these opportunities doth farre out-goe it The infirmitie of a sinner may sometimes
find excuse or pitie but what shadow of excuse can shelter his malice that drew him to the act Man is a thing easily perswaded to error Cereus in vitium flâ—cti like waxe wrought to a softnesse that will receive the figure of any vice And yet we blame not his softnesse but lament him whose credulity and easie temper betrayes him to every temptation If we lay the occasion of mans fault aright we must lay it on the tempter At his allurements did Adams obedience relent his perswasions heated him with the inordinate desire of knowledge he chaft this waxe mollifying it with such art that it received his authenticall seale of damnation by which sinne was made currant in the world LXX A man findes God in his word as he seekes him by prayer and no otherwise wax receives impression as it is prepared LXXI If Bees be once provoked they are fiery and furious violent and virulent though to their owne ruine and destruction implacable and unappeasable with opposition and resistance And such is the impatient man he hath his spirit set on fire of hell he hath a short possession he is a mad man for so many yeares that will not stick at any thing that the Devill and depraved nature bids him doe he will flie in the face of servants children wife Magistrate God any one his heart brings forth sin by troopes LXXII Bees will not admit of strangers into their society except they come with submission and resolution to live under their Leader and assimilate themselves to their manners without any after-commerce or fellowship with the hives from whence they departed And God receives none under the tuition of his love and favour but such as are wholly emaucipated from the world and with full purpose of heart give up themselves to be guided by him without having any further fellowship with their former workes and companions of darknesse heaven is bestowed upon none but upon such who are thus both willing and capable holinesse makes capacitie of happinesse LXXIII Bees are contented with a simple food procured by their owne industrie of which they feed sparingly but worke laboriously and diligently Whereas the Drones work not at all but liberally fill themselves and that daily with the purest honey and to sharpen their stomacks take many a vagary in the heate of the day with a loude buzzing as if they were acting somewhat to purpose but it is only to emptie their bodies and quicken their appetite whereby they often grow unweildy and after a while though the Bees let them alone cannot returne back againe into the hive And are not many reasonable men defective in their imitation of the unreasonable Bees who frequently eate to furfeting and drink to drunkennesse and exceede the limits of temperance in the use of the creatures denying themselves no pleasing nor desireable thing that so they might prevent such evills as admitting these exorbitancies will bring inevitable mischiefe upon them But Drone-like live idly and intemperately not considering the Apostles exhortation Be sober be vigilant saith he for your adversary the Devill as a roaring Lion goeth about seeking whom he may devoure As if he should have said you are all in a warfaring condition in the field with an adversary and he no simple one but a Lion a roaring Lion a diligent adversary who is alwayes going about seeking whom he may devoure drawing into sin for he hath no way to devoure men by but that therefore doe you as Souldiers in the field with an enemie would doe they plie not their bellies but use their meate and drinke and sleepe very sparingly because though this be not enough to prevent the mischiefe that is intended them by their enemies yet it is one very good meanes of their safety for it preventeth a sudden surprizal and enableth them to make resistance and so would a moderate use of meate drinke pleasure c. keepe you wakeing and give you libertie to prepare for all encounters with the Devill LXXIV As the humming Bee having lost her sting in another doth still notwithstanding make a fearfull and grievous noise by her often buzzing about us but is nothing able to hurt us so sin and death having lost their sting in Christ Jesus doe not cease at all even in the height of the parching heate of our consciences to make a murmuring and with furious stormes of temptations to terrifie us and our consciences albeit they can never sting us LXXV A man by discourse can never possibly perswade another of the sweetnesse of honey so fully as if himselfe did tast it And it cannot be told how sweet a thing grace is doe but trie and you shall soone perceive a difference between it and all outward comforts therefore come and tast saith the Prophet how good the Lord is LXXVI Bees though many times they have sufficiently stored and replenished their hives yea sometimes to a superabundant redundancy hindering for want of emptie cels the future generation and so suffer because of their plenty yet will they not give over working nay some not leave robbing and that from the weaker and wanting hives Have we not here a faire picture of a covetous man who is never at rest never satisfied and contented LXXVII The Bee a nice and dainty creature builds her cells sometimes in an unfavoury carkasse and the carkasse that promiseth nothing but stench and annoyance now offers comfort and refreshing and in a sort payes Sampson for the wrong offered Oh the wonderfull goodnesse of our God that can change terrors into pleasures and can make the greatest evills beneficiall Is any man under his humiliation under the hand of God growne more faithfull and conscionable there is honey out of the Lion Is any man by his temptation or fall become more circumspect there is honey also out of the Lion There is no Sampson to whom every Lion doth not yeeld honey Every Christian is the better for his evills yea Satan himselfe in his exercising of Gods children advantageth them LXXVIII If robbing Bees charge a neighbour-hive and finde a resolute opposition with the slaughter and destruction of the prime Leaders and forward invaders the scattered residue and broken triarij will be timerous and fearefull to reattempt or if at all but faintly and quickly found a finall retreate And he that hath felt the sting of sin in his conscience and been formerly confounded with the shame thereof dreadeth and fleeth and seeketh by all meanes to shunne those sinnes which have left so sad a remembrance behind them for the smart of the wound of conscience for sinne past is a speciall meanes through grace to keepe us from sinne to come for as Lactantius writeth the ashes of a burnt Viper are a present remedy against the sting of the Viper so the remaines of sinne in the conscience viz. remorse and shame are a present remedy against sinne as we may see in
others whether without the heart Without the head they are not sensible but live without the heart they are sensible but the heat quickly decayes and motion and life also Bees revive easily when they seem dead being brought to the Sun or fire the cause whereof is as before the diffusion of the vital spirits and the easie dilating of them by a little heat they stir therefore a good while after their heads are off and that they bee cut in peeces which as before is caused for that their vital spirits are more diffused throughout all their parts and less confined to organs than perfect creatures Augustins mentions the same with astonishment and wonder supposing that no reason can bee rendred for it but that it is a secret work of God left one soul should seem to bee divided into so many parts Aristotle saith that Insects are most like plants because they have many beginnings in their essence for as plants cut in peeces live so Insects for a time but plants more fully Bees when they flye lift themselves up thus they do when they arise from the Hive but they can flye forth-right without any visible elevation of themselves Aldrâ—mandus would give a reason for it because saith hee they want a taile and therefore continue not long in the aire But this by experience is found to bee otherwise and birds that have long tailes yet have a jumping motion in their flight as the Wagtaile When the Hives are full of Bees and well supplied with meat neither moths nor any other hurtful creature can much endanger them but when they are few and weak they easily miscarry by every adversary so that it is not a signe of a better sort of Bee as Aristotle delivers but onely of want of numbers or strength when they neglect their own preservation which sometimes they having formerly endeavoured and finding their labours frustrate they grow desperate and careless but though in number they bee but few and therefore their dangers many their provision little and therefore their fare poor and pinching yet will they not forsake their own Commonwealth to communicate of the wealth or strength of others but without repining rest contented yet by diligence endeavouring to improve their store and numbers But when they are so few that they cannot thrive alone they will with a general consent except their Generals to whom such a resolution is deadly sometimes joyn themselves to another Hive but alwayes with hazard often with destruction Bees delight to play abroad before the Hive flying in and out as thick as if they were fighting or swarming in breeding time once a day usually if it bee fair weather and ordinarily at a set time each Hive observing the same hour of the day if it bee fair and then they will expatiate and dance the Hay in circling motions and surrounding Vagaries and at other times when they have been long shut up with cold or closer weather the first fair day they will thus abroad both to recreate themselves and also to ease their bodies for they evacuate for the most part flying CHAP. VI. Bees Politicks Ethicks and Economicks ONe drop of water hath no power one spark of fire is not strong but the gathering together of waters called Seas and the communion of many flames do make both raging and invincible elements And una Apis nulla Apis one Bee is no Bee but a multitude a swarm of Bees uniting their forces together is very profitable very comfortable very terrible profitable to their owners comfortable to themselves terrible to their enemies Bees are political creatures and destinate all their actions to one common end they have one common habitation one common work all work for all and one common care and love towards all their young and that under one Commander who is not an elected Governour for the vulgar often want judgement raising the worst and wickedest to the Throne nor hath hee his power by lot for the chances of lots are absurd and ridiculous conferring command often upon the meanest Nor is hee by hereditary succession placed in the Throne for often through pleasures and flatteries are they rude and ignorant of true vertue but by nature hath hee the Sovereignty over all excelling all in goodliness and goodness in mildness and majesty They have all the same common laws and with common care observe them all and have one common bond not to have any thing lawful for one which is not lawful for another but whatsoever is lawful is lawful for all And they have one common respect and reverence to their Commander by whose counsel their Commonwealth is governed a common house a common care of posterity common labour common food common generation a common use and fruition of all things A Bee like a man cannot live alone if shee be alone shee dies As in the Fable of Menenius Agrippa the whole body soon perished when the rest of the members to ease themselves wronged the belly so the whole Commonwealth of Bees will quickly bee dissolved if they labour each Bee for her self and neglect the publick Nay the Drones though they bee idle yet are usefull instruments for the good and preservation of the Commonwealth The Polity of Bees is admirable and imitable Plato and Cicero after a divers manner prescribed the form of a Common-wealth one how it ought to bee the other how it was of old but both lay down this as a maxime that a civil life should imitate nature which is the best instructer But what is Natures lesson the irrational creatures best express and chiefly Bees and therefore Plutarch sends his Trojane to Virgil that hee might borrow a civil life from the Bees For a civil man by natures rule is alwayes chiefe of the City as the Commander among the Bees And again hee saith Bees conserve community unto their last for no man ever saw a Bee degenerate into a Drone which some require of Civil Governours that the vigour of their age being past they should live idle at home Great spirits degenerate noâ— They express if not great reverence yet I am sure great love to their Commander without whom they will bee they will do nothing and with whom they will bee any thing go any whither stay any where bee content with any thing The Poet elegantly thus writes Besides not Egypt nor rich Lydiaâ—â—re â—â—re Nor Medes nor Parthianâ— do their King adore Whilst bee's alive in concord all obey But when bee dyes all leagues are broke and they Themselves destroy their gathered food at home And reâ—d the fabrick of their Honey-combe 'T is bee preserves their works him all admire And guard his person with a strong desire They carry him for him they bazzard death And think in War they nobly lose their breath Xantippus therefore the Lacedemonian being General of the Carthaginianâ— said Hee had rather serve under the Commander of the Bees than
lead an army of Ants. I say under the Commander of the Bees who useth not his sting that is exerciseth tyranny against none and orders nothing but that which is profitable for the Commonwealth when as they that lead an army of Pismires that is men who neither will nor know how to obey never perform any thing notable and praise-worthy so that aptly Himâ—â— describing the Greeks hastening to the Oration of Agameâ—non the General of the whole Army and as hee calls him the Pastor of the people compares them to Bees swiftly flying with their labours to the Hive where their Commander is constantly resident The Egyptians on this ground placed on the top of the Kings Scepter the bird Cuâ—â—phus which is a Stork with a River-horse underneath it implying that piety must suppress impiety clemency ferity And from hence the Tribunes of the Souldiers among the Romans carried their swords without edges intimating that the Generals of Armies ought not to kill the Souldiers but to correct them as the Commander of the Bees doth her subjects and perhaps on this ground the Egyptians by the Hieroglyphick of a Bee signified a King because it becomes a Commander of a people to mingle with the sting of justice the honey of clemency Memorable to this purpose was the practise of a certain King of Frâ—â—ce who having conquered the Insâ—brians and entred their City by a symbole or type thus exprest his clemency wearing a coat full of Images or pictures of Bees and this Motto written upon it Rex mucrone caret the King wants or useth not his sting Their Ethicks and Economicks appear in many particulars They make frugality the basis of their subsistance and therefore as they laboriously gather store of honey they shut up the Cells still as they fill them and untill Winter come will not open them but live in the mean time of Bee-bread and such provision as they get abroad lest if they should prodigally waste while they may work they might after starve when they cannot work And in the pleasures of this life they are so moderate that perfect temperance seems to rest onely in them They are neat and cleanly creatures never suffering any filth or excrements long in the Hive emptying themselves alwayes abroad And if in the Winter while they are weak and not able to indure the colder aire filth bee contracted yet as soon as the Spring comes and they grow numerous and strong they diligently cleanse their Hives and carry out all Their cleanliness also thus appears That they will not suffer their dead to continue long in the Hive but carry them forth to burial Their chastity is admirable for whereas many other creatures couple together openly Waspes also and Humble bees and many sorts of wilde Bees scarce specifically differing from them yet whatsoever the Bees do in Venus service they act in secret and far remote from the eyes and knowledge of all men The Poets say That this is the reason of it Saturn the husband of Ops and father of Iupiter was wont to devoure his own children when they were brought forth the reason of it was because Saturn was named the god of time and all times passing and returning revolve again into themselves which gave occasion to this history when Iupiter was born his mother Ops fearing the cruelty of her husband to him concealed his birth and the Cretans for fear that Saturn should hear the childe cry â—ung their brazen pans and kettles which noise the Bees following came to the place where the Infant was and fed him there with honey Iupiter for so great a benefit bestowed on his Nurses for a reward this admirable gift that they should have young ones and continue their kinde without wasting themselves in Venery Others report that Iupiter being much in love with a faire Nymph called Melissa turned her into a Bee and for her sake bestowed this and other priviledges on the Bees And they are not less valiant than chaste though industry and diligence may do much with all other creatures yet little with these no not to palliate their fierceness let them bee exasperated near their Hives you may as easily binde a Lion with a single hair as by opposition and resistance compose and quiet them though the creature is but little yet virtus noâ— minima Is it not strange to behold such a little Insect to contend with the most mighty to see such vigour in a creature without bones or scales or hard defences and yet to bee offensive to nay prevalent over the most strong and powerfull creatures In valour therefore and magnanimity they surpâ—ss all creatures there is nothing so huge and mighty that they fear to set upon and when they have once begun they are invincible for nothing can make them yeeld but death so great hearts do they carry in so little bodies In private wrongs and injuries done to their persons for which cause men will soonest quarrel they are very patient but in defence of their Princess and Commonwealth they do most readily enter the field For them they hozzard death And think in War they nobly lose their breath Their War whatsoever some say to the contrary is onely forreign for though in the same Hive by a violent or accidental congression of two swarmes there bee sometimes a deadly contest and bickering yet still it is forreigne for they were never united under one Commander They never fight whatsoever some unexperienced Observers report for food nor fall out among themselves for meat but alike communicate of all they have though but little and when it is spent if it bee no gathering season starve altogether Their Geometry appears in the fabrick of their combes and their Astronomy in the knowledge of the weather for they fore-know and presage windes and storms and either keep themselves in their Hives or go not far perhaps fetch water and quickly return When they flye not far from the Hive but flye about it the weather being serene and fair it is an usual token of an approaching storm or tempest Aratus prompted him if not experience with this observation But above all one excellent skill they have which the most experienced females though they much desire it must yeeld themselves to want for they know certainly when they breed a male and when a female which appears by this that they lay their Cephen-seeds in a wide comb by themselves and the Nymph-seeds in the rest which are of a smaller size In their own Commonwealth they are most just not the least wrong or injury is offered among them but I cannot commend their justice towards strangers for all that they can catch is their own unless they may bee excused in this respect that the Bees of divers Hives are at deadly feud or rather as Kingdomes that are at difference one with another If Bees creatures without reason have such Prudence Providence Fortitude