The accomplisht cook, or The art and mystery of cookery.: Wherein the whole art is revealed in a more easie and perfect method, then hath been publisht in any language. Expert and ready wayes for the dressing of all sorts of flesh, fowl, and fish; the raising of pastes; the best directions for all manner of kickshaws, and the most poinant sauces; with the tearms of carving and sewing. An exact account of all dishes for the season; with other a la mode curiosities. Together with the lively illustrations of such necessary figures as are referred to practice. / Approved by the fifty years experience and industry of Robert May, in his attendance on several persons of honour.

A short Narrative of some passages of the Authors Life.

FOr the better knowledge of the worth of this Book, though it be not usual, the Author being living, it will not be amiss to acquaint the Reader with a brief account of some passages of his Life, as also what eminent Persons (renowned for their good House-keeping) whom he hath served throughout the whole series of his Life; for as the growth of the children argueth the strength of the Parents, so doth the judgement and abili∣ties of the Artist conduce to the making and goodness of the Work: now that such great knowledge in this so commendable Art was not gained but by long experience, practice, and converse with the most ablest men in their times, the Reader in this brief Narrative may be informed by what steps and degrees he astended to the same.

He was born in the year of our Lord 1588. His Father being one of the ablest Cooks in his time, and his first Tutor in the knowledge or practice of Cookery; under whom having attained to some perfection in that Art, the old La∣dy Dormer sent him over into France, where he continu∣ed five years, being in the Family of a noble Peer, and first President of Paris; where he gained not onely the French Tongue, but also bettered his knowledge in Cookery: and returning again into England was bound Apprentice in London to Mr. Arthur Hollinsworth in Newgate Market, one of the ablest workmen in London, Cook to the Grocers Hall and Star Chamber. His Prenticeship being out, the Lady Dormer sent for him to be her Cook under his Father, (who then served that Honourable Lady) where were four

Cooks more, such noble Houses were then keept, the glo∣ry of that, and shame of this present age; then were those golden dayes wherein were practised the Triumphs and Trophies of Cookery, then was Hospitality esteemed, Neighbourhood preserved, the Poor cherished, and God honoured; then was Religion less talk't on and more pra∣ctised, then was Atheism and Schisme less in fashion; and then did men strive to be good rather then to seem so. Here he continued till the Lady Dormer died, and then went again to London and served the Lord Castle-haven, after that the Lord Lumley, that great lover and knower of Art, who wanted no knowledge in the decerning this mystery; next the Lord Mountague in Sussex; and at the beginning of these Wars the Countess of Kent, then Mr. Nevel of Chrissen-Temple in Essex, whose Ancestours the Smiths, of whom he is descended, were the greatest main∣tainers of Hospitality in all those parts; nor doth the pre∣sent Mr. Nevil degenerate from their laudable examples. Divers other persons of like esteem and quality hath he ser∣ved, as the Lord Rivers, Mr. John Ashburnham, of the Bed Chamber, Doctor Steed in Kent, Sir Thomas Stiles of Drury-Lane in London, Sir Marmaduke Constable in York∣shire, Sir Charles Lucas; and lastly the Right Honourable the Lady Eng! efield where he now liveth.

Thus have I given you a brief account of his Life, I shall next tell you in what high esteem this noble Art was with the ancient Romans, Plutarch reports that Lucullus his ordinary diet was fine dainty dishes, with works of pastery, Banquetting dishes, and fruit curiously wrought and pre∣pared; and that his Table might be furnished with choice of varieties, (as the noble Lord Lumley did) that he kept and nourished all manner of Fowl all the year long. To this purpose he telleth us a story how Pompey being sick, the Physicians willed him to eat a Thrush, and it being said there was none to be had, because it was then Summer; it

was answered, they might have them at Lucullus's house, who kept both Thrushes and all manner of Fowl all the year long. This Lucullus was for his Hospitality so esteemed in Rome, that there was no talk but of his noble House-keeping. The said Plutarch reports, how Cicero and Pompey inviting themselves to sup with him, they would not let him speak with his men to provide any thing more then ordinary; but he telling them he would sup in Apollo (a Chamber so named, and every Chamber proportioned their expences) he by this wile beguiled them, and a sup∣per was made ready estimated at fifty thousand pence, eve∣ry Roman penny being seven pence half penny English money; a vast summe for that Age, before the Indies had overflowed Europe. But I have too far digressed from the Author, of whom I might speak much more as in relation to his person and abilities, but who will cry out the Sun shines: this already said is enough to satisfie any but the malicious, who are the greatest enemies to all honest en∣deavours. Homer had his Zoilus, and Virgil his Bavius; the best Wits have had their detracters, and the greatest Artists have been maligned; the best on't is, such Works as these out-live their Authors with an honourable respect of posterity, whilest envious Critticks never survive their own happiness, their Lives going out like the snuff of a Candle.