Rost

In the mountaynes also, at certaine seasons, there flocketh innumerable the Bogong Moth. The people gather them in cavernes, and rost them in fire, whereby they become rich meate, full of oyle, and with a taste like unto nuts. So plenteous is this harvest, that many tribes do assemble together for mirth, for trafficke, and for solemn rites, even as we resort unto fayres and markets. These victuals, which to a stranger may seeme strange and loathsome, are to the dwellers of that land both sustenance and treasure. They shewe howe Nature, though harsh and barren, yet provideth for her children, if only they have knowledge to seeke her hidden store. In such wise do the ancient inhabitants teach their youth, that the desert is not void, but rather a banquet spread by the earth herselfe.

1595, George Peele, The Old Wives’ Tale, The Malone Society Reprints, 1908, lines 82-85, Well Masters if you will eate nothing take away: Come, what doo we to passe away the time? Lay a crab in the fire to rost for Lambes-wooll […]

Their corne they rost in the eare greene, and bruising it in a morter of wood with a Polt, lappe it in rowles in the leaves of their corne, and so boyle it for a daintie.

[…] and care must be had to rost him so leasurely, that he neither burn, nor continue raw: for when the skin seems crup, it is a sign all is rosted, and the Polenta is taken away.

I love no roſt, but a nut-brown toſte, and a crab layde in the fyre, / A lytle bread ſhall do me stead, much breade I not deſyre.

When Thraſo meets his friend, he ſweares by God, / Vnto his Chamber he ſhall welcome be: / Not that hee’le cloy him there with roſt or ſod, / Such vulgar diet with Cookes ſhops agree: / But hee’le preſent moſt kinde, exceeding franke / The beſt Tabacco, that he euer dranke.

He burneth part thereof in the fire: with part thereof he eateth fleſh: he roſteth roſt, and is ſatiſfied: yea hee warmeth himſelfe, and ſaith; Aha, I am warme, I haue ſeene the fire.

If Pluto’s treaſury be golden Mynes in the bowels of the earth, this is his Kitchin, ſeated in his cellars there, or his Coalehouſe rather, where hee ſtores his fuell for his roſts.

The secund covrse / Creme off almonds Rost coney plouers small byrds & custard

After ſupper we went to reſt, and they to fiſhing againe: more they gat and fell to eating a freſh, and retayned ſufficient readie roſt for all our break-faſts.