I. Preparatory to the Dressing therefore, let your Herby Ingredients be exquisitely cull’d, and cleans’d of all worm-eaten, slimy, canker’d, dry, spotted, or any ways vitiated Leaves.  And then that they be rather discreetly sprinkl’d, than over-much sob’d with Spring-Water, especially Lettuce, which Dr. [57]_Muffet_ thinks impairs their Vertue; but this, I suppose he means of the Cabbage-kind, whose heads are sufficiently protected by the outer Leaves which cover it.  After washing, let them remain a while in the Cullender, to drain the superfluous moisture:  And lastly, swing them altogether gently in a clean course Napkin; and so they will be in perfect condition to receive the Intinctus following.

II.  That the Oyl, an Ingredient so indispensibly and highly necessary, as to have obtain’d the name of Cibarium (and with us of Sallet-Oyl) be very clean, not high-colour’d, nor yellow; but with an Eye rather of a pallid Olive green, without Smell, or the least touch of rancid, or indeed of any other sensible Taste or Scent at all; but smooth, light, and pleasant upon the Tongue; such as the genuine Omphacine, and native Luca Olives afford, fit to allay the tartness of Vinegar, and other Acids, yet gently to warm and humectate where it passes.  Some who have an aversion to Oyl, substitute fresh Butter in its stead; but ’tis so exceedingly clogging to the Stomach, as by no means to be allow’d.

III. Thirdly, That the Vinegar and other liquid Acids, perfectly clear, neither sowre, Vapid or spent; be of the best Wine Vinegar, whether Distill’d, or otherwise Aromatiz’d, and impregnated with the Infusion of Clove-gillyflowers, Elder, Roses, Rosemary, Nasturtium, &c. inrich’d with the Vertues of the Plant.

A Verjuice not unfit for Sallet, is made by a Grape of that Name, or the green immature Clusters of most other Grapes, press’d and put into a small Vessel to ferment.

IV. Fourthly, That the Salt (aliorum Condimentorum Condimentum, as Plutarch calls it) detersive, penetrating, quickning (and so great a resister of Putrefaction, and universal use, as to have sometimes merited Divine Epithets) be of the brightest Bay grey-Salt; moderately dried, and contus’d, as being the least Corrosive:  But of this, as of Sugar also, which some mingle with the Salt (as warming without heating) if perfectly refin’d, there would be no great difficulty; provided none, save Ladies, were of the Mess; whilst the perfection of Sallets, and that which gives them the name, consists in the grateful Saline Acid-point, temper’d as is directed, and which we find to be most esteem’d by judicious Palates:  Some, in the mean time, have been so nice, and luxuriously curious as for the heightning,