The Preface into the inſtruction
of Bees.
Lthough (gentle Reader) I haue not giuen thee anye labour of myne owne, but rather haue collected the ſayings and writings of manye aunciente authours, yet I truſt they ſhall be well accepted of thee without offence. For as he that ſetteth forth vnto the view & reading of all men ſuch knowledge, as by his lōg ſtudy & experience he hath gotten, is worthy to haue his due reward of commendation: euen ſo he is not to be diſcōmended, who painfully reuoluing the bookes and volumes of many and diuers ancient writers, reduceth thē into one little Treatiſe, for the commoditie and profyte of the ſimple and vnlearned ſorte, for whoſe onely ſakes I haue trauelled in the tranſlation of this worthy matter, touching the right vſage and handling of Bees: a thing very rare, and ſeldome ſeene in the Engliſhe tongue, and yet verie profitable for a common wealth, and commonlye vſed among the poore huſbandmen, though not in euery poynt as they ought to be, yet according to theyr knowledge and experience. But I, to the intente that a further learning mighte be added to their ſkill, haue ſo trauelled therein, that I truſt their knowledge ſhal be increaſed, ſuch as haue no knowledge at all, may be inſtructed without any other teaching. I haue ioyned this little Tretiſe vnto my booke of Gardening, for that moſt men do ioyne thē both togither, as whē they place their Bees in their Gardens, whereas they may with leſſe paine and eaſilier, gather of the ſweete ſmelling flowers, their Honie, and Waxe. And for all
