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

_Englefield_, where he now liveth. Thus have I given you a breif 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 pastry, banketting dishes, and fruit curiously wrought and prepared; 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 Physitians 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 beguil'd them, and a supper was made ready estimated at fifty thousand pence, every _Roman_ penny being seven pence half penny _English_ money; a vast sum 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 endeavours. _Homer_ had his _Zoilus_, and _Virgil_ his _Bavius_; the best Wits have had their detractors, and the greatest Artists have been maligned; the best on't is, such Works as these outlive their _Authors_ with an honurable respect of Posterity, whilst envious Criticks never survive their own happiness,