HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 413 



but neither Speed nor Camden mention it as such. Dr. Plot 

 (1686) is the earliest writer who notices it, and with whose clear 

 and comprehensive account of the state of the Manufacture of 

 Earthenware at that time, we shall commence our Sketch of the 

 Rise and Progress of the Staffordshire Potteries. 



" The greatest Pottery (says he) they have in this County, is 

 carryed on at Burslem near Newcastle-under-Lyme, where for mak- 

 ing their severall sorts of Pols, they have as many different sorts 

 of Clay, which they dig round about the Towne, all within half a 

 miles distance, the best being found nearest the coale, and are dis* 

 tinguish't by their colours an 1 uses as followeth : 



" 1. Bottle Clay, of a bright whitish streaked yellow colour. 

 " 2. Hard Fire Clay, of a duller whitish colour, and fuller inter- 

 jBperst with a dark yellow, which they use for their black wares, 

 being mixt with the 



" 3. Red Blending Clay, which is of a dirty red colour. 

 " 4. White Clay, so called it seems though of a blewish colour, 

 and used for making yellow-coloured ware, because yellow is the 

 lightest colour they make any Ware of ; all which they call throw- 

 ing clays, because they are of a closer texture, and will work on 

 the wheel ; 



" Which none of the three other clays, they call Slips, will any 

 of them doe, being of looser and more friable natures ; these mixed 

 with water they make into a consistence thinner than a Syrup, so 

 that being put into a bucket it will run out through a Quill, this 

 they call Slip, and is the substance wherewith they paint their 

 wares ; wherof the 



" 1. Sort is called the Orange Slip, which before it is work't, is 

 of a greyish colour mixt with orange balls, and gives the ware 

 (when annealed) an orange colour. 



" 2. The White Slip; this before it is work't, is of a dark blewish 

 colour, yet makes the ware yellow, which being the lightest colour 

 they make any of, they call it (as they did the clay above) the 

 white Slip. 



" 3. The Red Slip, made of a dirty reddish clay, which gives 

 wares a black colour ; neither of which clays or Slips must have any 

 gravel or Sand in them ; upon this account, before it be brought to 

 the wheel they prepare the clay by steeping it in water in a square 

 pit, till it be of a due consistence; then they bring it to their 

 beating board, where with a long Spatula they beat it till it be well 

 mix't ; then being first made into great squarish rolls, it is brought 



