Page:The forme of cury (1780).djvu/31

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compositions, meer olios and gallimawfreys, that they seem removed as far as possible from the intention of contributing to health; indeed the messes are so redundant and complex, that in regard to herbs, in Nº 6, no less than ten are used, where we should now be content with two or three: and so the sallad, Nº 76, consists of no less than 14 ingredients. The physicians appear only to have taken care that nothing directly noxious was suffered to enter the forms. However, in the Editor's MS. Nº 11, there is a prescription for making a colys, I presume a cullis, or invigorating broth: for which see Dodsley's Old Plays, vol. II. 124. vol. V. 148. vol. VI. 355. and the several plays mentioned in a note to the first mentioned passage in the Edit. 1780.[1]

I observe further, in regard to this point, that the quantities of things are seldom specified,[2] but are too much left to the taste and judgement of the cook, who, if he should happen to be rash and inconsiderate, or of a bad and undistinguishing taste, was capable of doing much harm to guests, to invalids especially.

Though the cooks at Rome, as has been already noted, were amongst the lowest slaves, yet it was not so more anciently; Sarah and Rebecca cook, and so

  1. ↑ See also Lylie's Euphues, p. 282. Cavendish, Life of Wolsey, p. 151, where we have callis, malè; Cole's and Lyttleton's Dict. and Junii Etymolog. v. Collice.
  2. ↑ See however, Nº 191, and Editor's MS II. 7.

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