and speaking of "The book of husbandry" by Sir Anthony Fitzherbert (1470-1538), he includes information on beekeeping. Here he gives instructions on hiving a swarm. The English is spelled differently but most of the words are the same.
122 Of bees.
Of bees is lyttell charge but good attendaunce ; at the tyme that they shall cast the swarme, it is conuenient, that the hyue be set in a garden, or an orchyarde, where as they maye be kepte from the northe wynde, and the mouthe of the hyue towarde the sonne. And in June and July they do most commonlye caste, and they wolde haue some lowe trees nyghe vnto them before the hyue that the swarme maye lyght vpon ; and whan the swarme is knytte, take a hyue, and splente it within with thre or foure splentes, that the bees maye knytte theyr combes therto ; and annoynte the splentes, and the sydes of the hyue, with a lyttell honye. And if thou haue no honye, take swete creame, and than set a stole or a forme nyghe vnto the swarme, and laye a clene washen shete vppon the stole, and thanne holde the smalle ende of the hyue downewarde and shake the bees in-to the hyue, and shortely sette it vppon the stole, and turne vppe the corners of the shete ouer the hyue, and to leue one place open, that the bees may come in and out : but thou mayst not fight nor stryue with theym for noo cause ; and to laye nettyls vppon the bowes, where as they were knytte, to dryue them from that place ; and soo watche them all that daye, that they go not away ; and at nyght, whan al be goone vp into the hyue, take it away and set it where it shall stande, and take awaye thy shete, and haue claye tempered to laye aboute it vppon the borde or stone, where it shall stande, that noo wynde comme in, but the borde is better and warmer.
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translated, if you can't read it
Of bees is little charge but good attendance ; at the time that they shall cast the swarm, it is convenient, that the hive be set in a garden, or an orchard, whereas they may be kept from the north wind, and the mouth of the hive toward the sun. And in June and July they do most commonly cast, and they would have some low trees nigh unto them before the hive that the swarm may light upon ; and when the swarm is knitted, take a hive, and splint it within with three or four splints, that the bees may knitted their combs thereto ; and anoint the splints, and the sides of the hive, with a little honey. And if you have no honey, take sweet cream, and then set a stool or a form nigh unto the swarm, and lay a clean washed sheet upon the stole, and then hold the small end of the hive downward and shake the bees into the hive, and shortly set it upon the stool, and turn up the corners of the sheet over the hive, and to leave one place open, that the bees may come in and out : but you may not fight nor strike with them for no cause ; and to lay nettles upon the bows, where as they were knitted, to drive them from that place ; and so watch them all that day, that they go not away ; and at night, when all be gone up into the hive, take it away and set it where it shall stand, and take away your sheet, and have clay tempered to lay about it upon the board or stone, where it shall stand, that no wind come in, but the board is better and warmer.
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