8OILES : CLAY, MAEL, ETC. 35 



[It is not very clear that " blew clay," however fine, could be " proper for the making of porcilane," 

 the chief characteristic of which is its transparent whiteness. Apart from this however, Aubrey's 

 remark is curious ; as it intimates that the manufacture of it was attempted in this country at an 

 earlier period than is generally believed. The famous porcelain works at Chelsea were not established 

 till long afterwards ; and according to Dr. Plott, whose " Natural History of Staffordshire " was 

 published in 1686, the only kinds of pottery then made in this country were the coarse yellow, red, 

 black, and mottled wares ; and of those the chief sale was to " poor crate-men, who carried them on 

 their backs all over the country." I have not found any account of the Mr. Dwight mentioned by 

 Aubrey, or of his attempts to improve the art of pottery. J. B.] 



Clay abounds, particularly about Malmesbury, Kington St. Michael, Allington, Easton Piers (as 

 also a hungry marie), Dracott-Cerne, Yatton-Keynell, Minty, and Bradon-forest. 



At Minty, and at a place called Woburn, in the parish of Hankcrton, is very good fullers'-earth. 

 The fullers'-earth at Minty-common, at the place called the Gogges, when I tooke it up, was as black 

 as black polished marble ; but, having carryed it in my pocket five or six clayes, it became gray. 



At Hedington, at the foot of the hill, is a kind of white fullers'-earth which the cloth-workers doe 

 use : and on the north side of the river at Broad Chalke, by a poole where are fine springs (where 

 the hermitage is), is a kind of fullers'-earth which the weavers doe use for their chaiiies : 'tis good 

 Tripoly, or lac lunce. Lac lunce is the mother of silver, and is a cosmetick. 



In Boudon-parke, fifteen foot deep under the barren sand, is a great plenty of blew marie, 

 with which George Johnson, Esq., coimcellor-at-law, hath much improved his estate there. The 

 soile of the parke was so exceedingly barren, that it did beare a gray mosse, like that of an old park 

 pale, which skreeks as one walkes on it, and putts ones teeth on edge. Furzes did peep a little 

 above the ground, but were dwarfes and did not thrive. 



At Bitteston, in the highway, blew marie appears. Mr. Montjoy hath drawn the water that 

 runnes through it, and is impregnated with its nitre, into his pasture grounds, by which meanes they 

 are unproved from to per annum. 



In Bradon-forest, and at Ashton Kaynes, is a pottery. There is potters' clay also at 

 Deverell, on the common towards Frome, and potts are made there. 



At Clarendon-parke is lately discovered (1684) an earth that cleanseth better than Woburne 

 earthe in Bedfordshire ; and Mr. Cutler, the cloathier of Wilton, tells me he now makes only 

 use of it There is at Burton-hill, juxta Malmesbury, fullers' earth, as also about Westport, and 

 elsewhere thereabout, which the cloathiers use. 



Tobacco-pipe-clay excellent, or the best in England, at Chittern, of which the Gauntlet pipes at 

 Amesbury are made, by one of that name. They are the best tobacco pipes in England. [See a 

 curious paragraph on the subject of Gauntlet-pipes in Fuller's Worthies, Wiltshire. J. B.] 



The earth about Mahnesbury hundred and Chippenham hundred, especially about Pewsham- 

 forest, is vitriolate, or aluminous and vitriolate ; which in hot weather the sun does make manifest on 

 the banks of the ditches. 



At Bradfield and Dracot Cerne is such vitriolate earth ; which with galles will make inke. This 

 makes the land so soure, it beares sowre and austere plants : it is a proper soile for dayries. At 

 summer it hunger-banes the sheep ; and in whiter it rotts them. 



