POTATOE. 83 



and fruit, though somewhat windie ; but 

 being rosted in the embers, they do lose 

 much of their windiness, especially being 

 eaten sopped in wine. Of these rootes may 

 be made conserues no less toothsome, whole- 

 some, and daintie, than of the flesh of quinces. 

 And likewise these comfortable and delicate 

 meates, called in shops Morselli Placentulae, 

 and diuers other such like. These rootes may 

 serue as a ground or foundation whereon 

 the cunning confectioner or sugar-baker may 

 worke and frame many comfortable, delicate 

 conserues and restoratiue sweet-meates. They 

 are vsed to be eaten rosted in the ashes ; 

 some, when they be so rosted, infuse them 

 and sop them in wine : and others, to give 

 them the greater grace in eating, do boile 

 them with prunes, and so eate them. And 

 likewise, others dress them being first 

 rosted) with oile, vinegar, and salt, euery man 

 according to his owne taste and liking : not- 

 withstanding, howeuer they be dressed, they 

 comfort, nourish, and strengthen the bodie, 

 &c." 



This was evidently the sweet potatoe, which 

 was supposed to possess an invigorating pro- 

 perty. Kissing comfits were made of them 

 in Shakspeare's time. FalstafF says, in the 



G 2 



