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Subject:
From:
Peter Loring Borst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 31 Jul 2015 09:08:43 -0400
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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.  

* * *

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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