Thomas Pott (master hunter) facts for kids
Thomas Pott was a skilled huntsman from Scotland. He worked for King James VI and I, who was also King James I of England. Thomas Pott was in charge of the royal hunting dogs and helped organize hunts for the King and his son, Prince Henry. He also looked after a large estate called Temple Newsam in England.
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Working for the King in Scotland
Thomas Pott worked as a huntsman for King James VI in Scotland. He was an important person in the King's hunting team. He even traveled to France, taking special gift horses from the King. He also received horses sent as gifts from France.
In 1603, Prince Henry, the King's son, made Thomas Pott his "Master Hunter." This meant Pott was in charge of the Prince's hunting activities. While some royal huntsmen were from England, Thomas Pott was Scottish.
King James VI often went deer hunting in August. He loved hunting, and people compared him to a mythical hunter named Hippolytus. The King had many dogs and horses for hunting. We know a lot about how much was spent on their food. However, we don't know all the details about how hunting was done in Scotland back then.
Historians are still learning about these royal hunts. They study the King's parks and the trips he took where he would hunt. Later, in England, King James even ordered a special area to be built for hunting hares.
Life in England
After King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England in 1603, Thomas Pott continued to work for Prince Henry. He was made the Keeper of Temple Newsam, a large house and park. He was also confirmed as the person in charge of the Prince's dogs in 1605.
You can see a huntsman, possibly Thomas Pott, in paintings of Prince Henry hunting. This huntsman wears red and yellow clothes, which were the colors of the royal family. These paintings show Prince Henry with his friends, Robert Devereux and John Harington.
Thomas Pott also helped entertain important visitors. He worked for Ulrik, Duke of Holstein, who was the brother of Queen Anne. When the Duke visited England, Pott took him hunting. The Duke even wrote a letter to make sure Pott was paid for his work.
In 1607, King James I made a joke in a letter. He said that "Tom Potte" had a "fine kennel of very little beagles" ready to go to France. The King then joked about his friend, Sir Robert Cecil, calling him a "beagle" because he was short.
In 1608, Thomas Pott became an official resident of England. He was also made the keeper of Hay Park near Knaresborough. This was a special gift from the King to a Scottish courtier. Another person, Henry Slingsby, was not happy about this. His family had been the keepers of Hay Park for a long time. Today, Hay Park is a nature reserve.
Pott also looked after other areas for the King. These included Beaumont Grange and Kirby Park in Lincolnshire. These places were often wet or marshy. Kirby Park is also a nature reserve now.
Thomas Pott traveled abroad many times. He took gifts of dogs from the King or Prince to rulers in other European countries. In 1608, he went to France for Prince Henry. His travel group showed his importance. "Mr Thomas Pottes, gentleman" traveled with two other huntsmen, a wagon keeper, a groom for the hounds, two pages, and a footman. Around this time, Pott also received extra property.
After Prince Henry passed away, Thomas Pott worked for Prince Charles, who later became King Charles I. Pott was the Master of the Privy Beagles for Prince Charles. In 1631, King Charles I allowed Pott to work with two other masters of hunting dogs. They were given a special permission to breed and sell dogs. These dogs would be trained in England or Wales.
In 1638, Pott was the Master of the Harriers and Beagles. He was officially confirmed in this role in 1640. He also appointed John Roan as a Yeoman of the Harriers. Pott was also the keeper of "slug hounds" for both King James and King Charles.
Thomas Pott's Family Life
Thomas Pott became an English resident and married Elizabeth Methold. She was the only daughter of a lawyer and judge named Sir William Methold. They got married in Dagenham in 1608. After Thomas Pott died, his wife Elizabeth asked for a yearly payment in 1655. She received £300 a year as the widow of the Master of the Harriers.
A Poem for a Friend
In 1628, a writer named William Jones wrote a poem for a courtier named Endymion Porter. The poem was based on the letters in Porter's name. Jones said that Thomas Pott helped him with this clever idea and the poem itself.
Other People Named Thomas Pott
Sometimes, Thomas Pott the huntsman is confused with other people who had the same name. One was Thomas Potts, a court clerk from Lancashire. He wrote a famous book about witches. Another Thomas Potts was a Scottish preacher who worked in the Netherlands.
