The accomplisht cook: or, The art & mystery of cookery

there being such variety of Forms, the Artists may use which of them they please. It is impossible for any _Author_ to please all People, no more than the best Cook can fancy their Palats whose Mouths are always out of taste. As for those who make it their business to hide their Candle under a Bushel, to do only good to themselves, and not to others, such as will curse me for revealing the Secrets of this Art, I value the discharge of my own Conscience, in doing Good, above all their malice; protesting to the whole world, that I have not _concealed any material Secret_ of above my _fifty and five years Experience_; my Father _being a Cook_ under whom in my Child-hood I was bred up in this Art. To conclude, the diligent Peruser of this _Volume_ gains that in a small time (as to the _Theory_) which an _Apprenticeship_ with some _Masters_ could never have taught them. I have no more to do, but to desire of God a blessing upon these my Endeavours; and remain. _Yours in the most ingenious ways of Friendship_, ROBERT MAY. Sholeby in Leicestershire, _Sept. 30. 1664_. _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 breif account of some passages of his Life, as also the eminent Persons (renowned for their House-keeping) whom he hath served through the whole series of his Life; for as the growth of Children argue the strength of the Parents, so doth the judgment and abilities of the Artist conduce to the making and goodness of the Work: now that such great knowledge in this commendable Art was not gained but by long experience, practise, and converse with the most able men in their times, the _Reader_ in this breif Narrative may be informed by what steps and degrees he ascended to the same. He was born in the year of our Lord 1588.