Batman vppon Bartholome his booke De proprietatibus rerum, newly corrected, enlarged and amended: with such additions as are requisite, vnto euery seuerall booke: taken foorth of the most approued authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. Profitable for all estates, as well for the benefite of the mind as the bodie. 1582.

De Fauo. cap. 55.

THE honnie combe is called Fatius, and hath that name of Fauendo, nourishing and succouring, for honnye medled with waxe is called Fauus. For in Cells made of Waxe by a wonder∣full craft or skill Bees gather honnye, and keepe and succour the lycour there∣with. And so the honnie combe is called Fauus as it were Fouus or Fouens nou∣rishing, comforting, and succouring, for y^e honnie combe comforteth and succou∣reth y^e honie therwithin Or else it hath this name F••uus, of Fauus, for it is full sauourable and lyking to the tast, and to eate. Therefore Isidore sayeth, that Fauus commeth of this word of Greeke Fagui, for honnie is more eaten then dronke, Fagiu in Greeke, is to vnder∣stand. 〈…〉〈…〉: But some men doe cast Fa∣uus, honny wrong out of y^e waxe, & pur∣ged at best, in the which the tast ••in••eth much sweetnesse. A certain beast is cal∣led Melota, and hath that name for it lo∣ueth and desireth honnye: and so this name Melus and Melota also, commeth of this name. Mel. honnie, as Huguti∣on sayth. Also the Beare loueth honnie most of anye thing. And he breaketh trees, and climbeth on trées for loue of honnie combes, and not without peryll, as Aristotle sayth, libro. 18. For some∣time among honnie déepe in the hiue. breedeth certeine small Wormes, as it were Spiders, and doe spin and weaue and make webbes, and haue the mastry of all the Hiue, and therefore the hon∣nye rotteth and is corrupte. Also theyr honnye is good when it is taken out of new waxe, for honnie that long abideth in olde waxe, waxeth redde, and the cor∣ruption of honnie is lyke to the corrup∣tion of wine in flakets, & shall therefore be taken in time. And honnye is good when it so lyke golde, as he sayth. Also hée sayth, that Bees doe sit on the hiue and sucke the superfluitie that is in the honnie combes. And if they did not so, the honnye should bée corrupt that is in the combes, and Spiders should be gen∣dered. They sit on the combes, and doe kéepe bustly that s••o••s Spiders haue no mastry, and eate them if they find them, and should els all die.