A Bellarmine, but we a Conscience;
Whereon the lewder hand of pagan workman
Over the proud ambitious head hath carved
An idol large, with beard episcopal,
Making the vessel look like tyrant Eglon.”
In the curious play of Epsom Wells, one of the characters, while busy with ale, says, “Uds bud, my head begins to turn round; but let’s into the house. ’Tis dark. We’ll have one Bellarmine there, and then Bonus nocius.”
These are but a few of the allusions that might be brought forward from the old writers, but they are sufficient to show its common use. The ale pots thus being formed with the corpulent proportions and the “hard-mouthed visage” of the cardinal, became a popular and biting burlesque upon him. From them, too, from the face upon the ale mug or ale pot, the vulgar name of “mug” for the human face is probably derived. The engravings, Figs. [312 to 314], show three bellarmines; the first two are “foreign” make, but the latter is English; and a strong general resemblance will be seen to the pitchers before engraved. Another English bellarmine is engraved under the head of “Fulham.”
The ordinary “ale-pots,” or “little pots,”—the pint jugs,—were, like the bellarmines, at first imported into this country, but they were afterwards made to a considerable extent in various parts of the kingdom. They were made of a light-coloured clay, and took the name of “stoneware,” from their hardness and colour. They were turned on the wheel, the necks being usually covered, with deeply encircling lines; and the ornaments consisted of lines scratched, or incised, into the soft clay with a sharp point, in form of foliage, flowers, scrolls, circles, &c., and then washed in with blue colour. In some instances a pattern—usually a flower or initials—was impressed, from a mould, on the front, as in the manner of the bellarmines. They are generally very thick, and must have been extremely durable. One example is engraved (Fig. [315]).
Fig. 315.—Ale Pot.