In 1570, according to Stow, Jasper Andries and Jacob Janson, potters, who had settled in Norwich in 1567 (which see), “removed to London. They set forth in a petition to Queen Elizabeth that they were the first that brought in and exercised the said science in this realm, and were at great charges before they could find materials in this realm. They besseeched her, in recompense of their great cost and charges, that she would grant them house room in or without the liberties of London, by the water side.” In 1626 a patent was granted to Thomas Rous, alias Rius, and Abraham Cullen, for the manufacture of “Stone Potts, Stone Juggs, and Stone Bottells.” This patent I here give entire:—
“Whereas we are given to vnderstand by our loving subiecte, Thomas Rous als Rius and Abraham Cullyn, of London, Marchante, that heretofore and at this present, this our Kingdome of Englande and other our Dominions are and have beene served with stone potte, stone jugge, and stone bottles out of forreigne parte from beyond the seas, and they have likewise shewed vnto vs that by their industry and charge not onely the materialle, but also the arte and manufacture may be found out and pformed, never formerly vsed within this our Kingdome of England, by any which proffitable intencon they have already attempted and in some good measure have proceeded in, and hope to pfecte, whereby many poore and vnproffitable people may be sett on worke and put to labour and good ymployment for their maintenance, and reliefe, of which they will make further tryall at their owne charge for the good of our realmes, and in consideracon thereof they have humbly desired that we would be graciously pleased to grant vnto them our royall priviledge for ‘The Sole Making of the Stone Potte, Stone Jugge, and Stone Bottelle,’ within our Dominions for the tearme of fowerteene yeares, for a reward for their Invencon, and they have also voluntarily offered vnto vs for the same a yearely rente of five pounde towarde the increase of our revenue, soe long as they have benefitte by this our grant, neyther doe they desier by vertue of such priviledge to prohibite or hinder the importacon of these comodities by others from forreigne parte, but that they may still bring in the same from beyond the seas as they have formerly done.
“Knowe ye, that we graciously tendring and effecting the general good and benifitt of our kingdomes and our subiecte of the same, and to the end that as well the said Thomas Rous als Rius and Abraham Cullin may receave some convenient recompence and proffitte out of their owne labours and endeavours as reason requireth, as also that other our loving subiecte may be thereby encouraged, in the like laudable service and endeavours for the comon good of their country, and for other good consideracons vs herevnto moving of our especiall grace, certeyne knowledge, and meare mocon we have given and granted, and by these Presente for vs, our heires and successors, doe give and grant full and free lycence, priviledge, power, and authority, vnto the said Thomas Rous als Rius and Abraham Cullin, and eyther of them, their and eyther of their executors and administrators, and their and every or any of their deputies or assignes, having authority from them, or any of them in that behalfe, that they and every or any of them, and none others, shall and may from tyme to tyme, and at all tymes for and during the tearme of fowerteene yeares nexte ensueing the date hereof, within these our Realmes of England and Ireland, and the Dominions thereof, at their or any of their liberty and pleasuer, vse, exercise, practise, and put in vse the arte and feate of frameing, workeing, and makeing of all and all manner of potte, jugge, and bottelle, commonly called or knowne by the name or names of stone potte, stone jugge, and stone bottelle whatsoever, whereof the like hath not heretofore beene vsually made or wrought, within our said realmes and dominions, and also to make, erecte, and sett vpp in any ground, place, or places whatsoever within our said realmes and dominions, with the consent, agreement, and good likeing of the persons to whome the same shall belong, any fornace or fornaces whatsoever concerning the said feate or arte of frameing, workeing, and making of stone potte, stone jugge, and stone bottelle, and the same soe made to vtter and sell in grose, or by retayle, or otherwise to doe away or dispose of the same at their or any of their will and pleasuer, and to their or any of their beste comodity and proffitt, during the said tearme of fowerteene yeares; and therefore our will and pleasuer is, and we doe, by these Presente, for vs, our heires, and successors, straightly charge, prohibite, and forbidd all and every person and persons, as well our naturall borne subiecte as aliens, denizens, and strangers whatsoever (other then the said Thomous Rous als Rius and Abraham Cullin, and eyther of them, their and eyther of their executors, administrators, and assignes, and such as shall by them or any of them be sett on worke, licensed or authorised, that they or any of them doe not, during the tearme aforesaid, presume, attempte, or take in hande to make, frame, practise, vse, or exercise, within our said Realmes of England or Ireland, or the Dominions of the same, the said arte, feate, or way of makeing, frameing, or workeing of any manner of the said potte, jugge, or bottelle, comonly called or knowne by the name or names of stone potte, stone jugge, and stone bottelle whatsoever, not heretofore vsually made or wrought within our said realmes or dominions, and to be put in vse and practise by the said Thomas Rous als Rius and Abraham Cullin, or eyther of them, their or eyther of their executors, administrators, or assignes, or to counterfett the said arte or feate by them or any of them soe to be put in vse, & practise, nor to presume, attempt, or take in hand, to make, erecte, frame, or sett vpp any furnace or furnaces to that purpose, vpon payne of forfeyture of all and every such potte, jugge, and bottelle soe to be made, wrought or counterfetted, contrary to the true intente and meaneing of these psente, and also vpon payne of breakeing and defaceing of all and every the said furnace or furnaces to be made or erected contrary to the tenor hereof, and further vpon payne of our highe indignacon and displeasure, and such further penalties and imprisonmente as by any the statute or lawes of the said realmes or dominions, or any of them, can or may be inflicted vpon them, or any of them, for their contempt and disobedience in breakeing and contemning our comandement and prerogative royall.”
In 1635 a patent was granted to “David Ramsey, Esquier, one of the groomes of our pryvie chamber, Michael Arnold, and John Ayliffe, of the citty of Westminster, Brewers,” for a new method of heating boilers by means of sea coal, for brewers, soap-boilers, and others; which “invencion is alsoe very usefull for the Dryeinge of Bricke, all manner of Tyles, and all such sortes of Tyles as cannot be made in this kingdome but in the Heat of Sumer; and alsoe that they have found out the Arte and Skill of Makeinge and Dyeinge of all sortes of Panne Tyles, Stone Juggs, Bottles of all sizes, Earthen Wicker Bottles; Meltinge Pottes for Gouldsmythes, and other Earthen Comodityes within this our Realme, which nowe are made by Straungers in Forraigne Partes; and that in the makinge of the same Earthen Comodityes as aforesaid, the saide David Ramsey, Michaell Arnold, and John Ayliffe shall have employment for many of our poore Subjects, whoe thereby shalbee sett on worke, and bee competently mainteyned, and will alsoe sell them cheaper than they are now sould.” This patent was for fourteen years, the parties being bound to pay one-fourth part of their profit yearly into the exchequer.
The stoneware was usually called “Cologne ware,” from Cologne, from whence it was first imported; and by this name that made in our own country continued to be in great measure known. It will be well here, therefore, to speak of the ale-pots and bellarmines of that kind of ware.
Figs. 312 and 313.—Bellarmines.
Fig. 314.—Bellarmine.
The Bellarmine, or Grey Beard, or Long Beard, as it was commonly called, was a stoneware pot of bottle form, mostly with a handle at the back and ornament on the front. The neck is narrow, and the lower part, or “belly,” as it is technically called, very wide and protuberant. They were in very general use at the “ale-houses” to serve ale in to customers, and were of different sizes—the gallonier containing a gallon; the pottle pot, two quarts; the pot, a quart; and the little pot, a pint. These jugs were derisively named after Cardinal Bellarmine, who died in 1621. The cardinal having, by his determined and bigoted opposition to the reformed religion, made himself obnoxious in the Low Countries, became naturally an object of derision and contempt with the Protestants, who, among other modes of showing their detestation of the man, seized on the potter’s art to exhibit his short stature, his hard features, and his rotund figure, to become the jest of the ale-house and the byword of the people. Allusions to the bellarmines are very common in the productions of the English writers of the period.