Nature hath not onlye committed hir lawes to bookes, the which men may lerne by, but hath especially set forth conditions and properties, as for an example of the lyke, by the bées, whose kings for doubt of reuenging, haue by the prouidence of nature no stings. Whereby is to be vnderstanded, that the kings ruling in power, thorough the lacke of their stings maye be by that meanes the slower to hurt, and offer reuengemente. Yet some affirme the kings to haue stings, but they suppose them not to vse their stings. And of this _Plinie_ maketh a doubt whether the king be armed as the other bées, or lacketh a sting. Which _Columella_ putteth out of doubt, writing of the king that he hath no sting, vnlesse any perhappes thinketh that big head as it were, whiche the king carrieth in his belly, to be his sting, with the which at no time they vse to sting or hurt anye. This king only do Bées reuerence, and honor him in such sort, that any of them is obedient and very ready at his bidding, to do whatsoeuer he assigneth them vnto. Also this obedience and seruice whiche they vse to their king, they do not the same for feare of punishment, but onely of a loue which they owe vnto him. Yet they punish one another in such sorte, that after their stings be lost, they dye forthwith. _Aristotle_ writeth of two maner of kings, the one as he affirmeth to be red, which he iudgeth the better, the other king black of colour, which he confesseth to be lesser of body, yet howsoeuer the kings be, they are notwithstanding far bigger of body, than the honny bées, & haue a brighter and goodlier head then the other Bées, yet shorter wings. So that their king created among them, goeth not any time forth of the hiue, without the whole swarm folow him. The king flying forth of the hiue at anye time, the other folow him, in such sort, that eche couet to flie next him, & ioyeth to be séen of the king in office, and whersoeuer the king settleth him or resteth, there be other Bées placed like strong holds or castels about him. About the king also be placed certaine rulers, which wayte vpon him by a dayly aucthoritie, If anye happeneth, as writeth _Plinie_, to breake of the kings right wing, then from the king will not the swarme after departe, as the like was rehearsed afore. Besides these, the Bées haue a maruelous order among them, if their king happen to die, for then they shal bitterly mourne for their king deade, and for the lacke of another, as such whiche cannot be guided and ruled without a king among them, and of this they be in continuall mourning. So that for the time, they carry no foode into theyr Hyues, nor flye not forth, but with a sadde bewailyng and humming, after theyr King, they heape thicke togyther aboute the deade body, and vnlesse another King increaseth by little and lyttle among them, they dye for hunger. Theyr king laboureth not, but as the other flye foorthe, hee in the meane tyme as an exhorter moueth and encourageth forwarde euerye