412 TKANSACTIOiN'S, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



bulles" were white, yet I think the entry only means that "oxen" 

 stands for salted meat, and "wylde bulles" for fresh meat. But 

 the monks did require white bulls for sacrificial purposes. We are 

 told that " the monks of Bury St. Edmunds, in Suffolk, spread it 

 abroad that if a barren married woman would come with a white 

 bull to the bier of St. Edmund and make her offerings and vows, 

 she would presently afterwards conceive with child." This is 

 simply the old pre-Christian sacrifice for barrenness, which usually 

 was two white bulls fastened together by the horns. The white 

 bull at Bury St. Edmunds was adorned with garlands of flowers 

 between his horns, ribbons, etc., and was led by the monks in 

 procession through the streets, the lady or woman following, 

 stroking him all the time. It is stated that eminent women of 

 England, and ladies from beyond the seas, came to make this 

 sacrifice. The following entry supports this statement: — 



" 1474. 2nd June did, in the presence of many credible 



persons, offer at the bier of the glorious king, virgin, and martyr St. 

 Edmund, at Bury aforesaid, one white bull, according to the ancient 

 custom, to the honour of God and the said glorious martyr, in relief of the 

 desire of a certain noble lady." 



That a white bull for this sacred use might not be wanting when 

 required, the tenants of the abbey lands were obliged to find one 

 always in readiness. Leases are extant, dated 1487, 1519, and 

 1533, in the names of Simon, Richard, and Robert and John, 



in which there is the following clause: — "and the said , 



his executors and assigns, shall find, or cause to be found, 

 one white bull every year of his said term, as oft 

 as it shall happen that any gentlewoman, or any other 

 woman, out of devotion, or vow by them made, shall 

 come to the bier of the glorious king and martyr St. 

 Edmund, to make their oblations of the white bull."^ Here we 

 find the monks actually placing a premium on the breeding of 

 horned white sacrificial bulls. Is it not probable that it is the 



* According to the Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on Historical 

 MSS. — " It happened that, in the year 1164, Ailred, the Abbot of Rievaux, 

 was on a journey in Galloway, and was at Kirkcudbright on the festival of 

 the Saint (St. Cuthbert), from whom the place is called. On this occasion 

 a hull of fierce temper was brought to the church as an oblation, and was 

 baited in the churchyard by the young clerics." 



