38 THE LORE OF THE HONEY-BEE 



sweet lierbs, such as thyme, marjoram, or hyssop ; 

 and this was to be followed by a second dressing 

 of honey and water, or milk and salt. But the 

 preparation of an old skep must have been a rather 

 disgusting affair. You were to put " two or three 

 handfuls of mault, or pease, or other corne in the 

 hive, and let a Hogge eat thereof. Meanwhile, 

 doe you so turne the Hive, that the fome or froth, 

 which the Hogge maketh in eating, may goe all 

 about the Hive. And then wipe the Hive Hghtlie 

 with a linnen cloth, and so will the Bees like this 

 Hive better than the new." 



When the swarm was up, and " busie in their 

 dance," you were to " play them a fit of mirth on 

 a Bason, Warming-pan, or Kettle, to make them 

 more speedily light." We are assured that the 

 swarm would fly faster, or slower, according to the 

 noise made. If the fit of mirth were in rapid 

 measure, the bees would fly fast and high ; but 

 with a soft leisurely music, they would go slowly, 

 and soon descend. This curious custom of " ring- 

 ing the bees " is undoubtedly of Roman origin ; 

 but whether it was introduced by Caesar's followers, 

 or those of Claudius in the first century, or whether 

 the old English bee-masters themselves derived it 

 from their classic reading, is hard to determine. 

 It is still to be heard in many country districts, 

 and its exponents seem to retain all the faith of 

 their forefathers in its efficacy. Probably, in 

 mediaeval times, when bee-gardens were much 



