WHITE CATTLE : AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 423 



forest lands j and forest cattle then were as much domesticated 

 as our 7'anche cattle are now. 



The entry I have quoted regarding the Earl of Rutland's 

 shipment of " wild cows," I think, refers to a white breed, as 

 from the extract I now quote from the Report of the Historical 

 MSS. Commission — Duke of Rutland^ s MSS., I think it probable 

 that about this time the Earl may have disposed of his white 

 park cattle. Under date 4th August, 1669, Lord Cha worth 

 writes to the Countess of Rutland: — "I have made boulde to 

 presentt your Ladyship a small taste off a white wilde oxe from 

 my Parke — killed by my owne hand. I had not praesumed so much 

 but that I have heard my Lorde off Rutland saye they were orrigin- 

 ally his att Beskewood Parke, from whence I had that breed.' 

 Beech wood Park was enclosed or '• paled " about the time of 

 Edward III., and when Lord Cha worth got his animals would 

 be, I think, when the others went to Belgium. Sending a 

 "taste" of beef seems to have been a favourite method of 

 making gifts. We find in the same report thirty-six years 

 later (22nd December, 1705), a letter from Lord Gower to the 

 Duke of Rutland, in which he states that he "is sending a brace 

 of Trentham oxen for a 'Xmas present." He does not add, 

 however, like the former present giver — " Killed by my owne 

 hand." 



At a later date we see the influence of a " fancy " for white 

 colourinfif still at work — 



"■s 



" Five hundred white stots I'll gie you 

 If ye'll let Hughie Grseme gae free." 



The change in colour seems to have been easily accomplished, 

 according to a Northumbrian saying noted in The Durham Tracts — 



" The red bull of Berrington 

 Gaed oure the hills to Hurrington, 

 And knock'd its head atween twae stanes, 

 And came railk-white back asrain.'' 



'o' 



We have also an early reference to a dun cow, which has been 

 regarded both as mythical and yet historical. I refer to the 

 animal slain by Guy Earl of Warwick — 



* * A monstrous wild and cruel beast 

 Called the dun cow of Dunsmore heath." 



