WHITE cattle: an inquiry into their origin, etc. 411 



The body thourgh yheered, thicke and breef, 

 The rede coloure is best, and broune is leef." 



In the same century in which the above was written, we have 

 evidence that cattle wandered about freely, and that dark 

 colours were in favour. From the 5th Report of the Historical 

 MSS. Commission we learn, that in 1471 the Corporation of 

 Lydd, Kent, as the King was coming there, " Payd for one crye 

 to have catell owte of the feldys — Id.j" and in 1490 it is recorded 

 that by the will of Alice Kokyred she "leaves her sister her 

 best coiv of hrowne colour."^ 



Coming to direct references to white cattle, I may first note 

 that Mr. R. E. Lofft, in the sale catalogue of the Troston Hall 

 white polled cattle (24th May, 1895), says that "there is an 

 apparent probability that the polled varieties of white cattle 

 were selections of the monks," and that " there are numerous 

 records of their having been kept in the monasteries." ^ Some of 

 these records are peculiar; but first we note what may be con- 

 sidered as a gastronomic one. We read of " the great feast at 

 the entronization of the reverende father in God George Nevell, 

 Archbishop of York, and Chauncelour of Englande, in the VI. 

 yere of the raigne of Kyng Edwarde the fourth. And first, the 

 goodly provision made for the same." As regards " the goodly 

 provision," the following entries will suffice: — 



" In Oxen, 



WyldeBulles, ... 



Muttons, 



Veales, 



Porkes, 



Ciii. 

 VI. 



M. 



CCCiiii. 



CCCiiii. 



Stagges, Buckes, and Roes, ... ... ... VC. and mo. 



Porposes and Seales, ... ... ... ... XII." 



It will be noted that here we have "oxen" and "wyldebulles" both 

 entered, though colour is not noted. Assuming that the " wylde 



^ In 1434 Pvoger Borton, of Hackney, Middlesex, left "Agnes my 

 dowghtur my Don Bullock " also " my red Bullock," along with " a pot of 

 bras of a galon." 



' The Rev. W. J. Loftie, the well-known authority, writes me " that 

 there is a reference somewhere to a breed of white cattle kept by the 

 Premonstratensian Abbot of Coverham. " 



