A profitable instruction of the perfect ordering of Bees/First Treatise/Chapter 11
What things Bees doe chiefly abhorre, or greatly hate. Cap. xj.
TO bees, is that (named the Eccho) vngratefull or much diſpleaſing, which as Plinie writeth, doth greatly fear them, through the ſtaunge ſounde rebounding againe, and the miſte alſo doth muche moleſt and trouble them, beſides the ſpinner through hir web hanging downe before the Hiue, and the ſluggiſhe butterflie (which Plinie nameth diſhonorable) that is two wayes peſtiſerous, as the one, when he ſpoyleth the ware, and dungeth within the Hiue, and the other, breading Magottes or little wormes within the combes. They greatly hate oyle, like as all the kindes of the other Bees doe, and a ſtinking ſauoure, which euidently appeareth by that kind of herbe named Mugworte, that they eſpecially hate, bycauſe the ſame is of a ſtrāge ſtincke to them. The hornettes alſo of the like ſorte creaſt, but bazer of kynde, they greatlye feare, for that to the Hornets the Hony Bees are a ſpeciall foode. Alſo they be meate to ſwallows to ſparrowes, and to all other ſmall byrdes.
The frogs beſides, they do greatly feare, which only lye in waite for them, both in Mariſhes, running ſprings, ſhallowe waters, and little ditches, and the like doe the Toades lye in wayte for the Bees, whiche deſtroye manye of them. And the ſheepe doe greatly trouble the Honnye Bees, if ſo be they happen to fall or lighte into the Wooll of theyr backes, out of whyche, they cannot eaſylye wynde or gette themſelues againe.
And if any happeneth to boyle or ſeathe Riuer Creauiſſes, or ſea Crabbes neare to the Hiues, and that the Bees feele the fauour therof, they die forthwith.