
WHITE CATTLE: AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 407 
in the Province of Oude, large herds of black oxen are, or were, 
to be found in the wild and uncultivated tracts; a fact to 
which I can bear testimony from my own personal observation, 
having in 1821 come in contact with a very large herd of these 
beasts, of which we were only fortunate enough to kill one, their 
excessive shyness and wildness preventing us from a near approach 
at any second opportunity.”? 
Coming to our early authorities, I may note that references 
bearing on our subject are very scanty. In this connection I 
have a letter from Prof. Skeat, who says:—“ The literature of 
early England is largely historical and theological ; it never has 
any references to social affairs except in the vaguest manner. Of 
course, such words as ox, cow, bull, frequently occur, but only 
casually and generally. The only sort of literature that could 
help you would be old charters, deeds, and wills, which are 
mostly in Latin. I have seen many such, but I really cannot 
recall any that will tell you anything definite. Allusions to 
colour are in all cases, and with respect to all things, of the 
vaguest kind.” 
- In the laws of King Ine, of Wessex, who succeeded in a.p, 688 
and abdicated in A.p. 725, we find the two following clauses :— 
«40. A ‘ceorl’s’ close ought to be fenced winter and summer. [If it be 
unfenced, and his neighbour’s cattle stray in through his own gap, he shall 
have nothing from the cattle! Let him drive it out and bear the damage.” 
‘©42, Butif there be a beast which breaks hedges and goes in everywhere, 
and he who owns it will not or cannot restrain it, let him who finds it in 
his field take it and slay it.” 
This shows, I think, that cattle strayed and wandered over the 
country, and the two following extracts bear out the same fact. 
Tn the laws of King Edgar, who succeeded in a.p. 959 and died 
in 975, there is the following sentence:—‘“ An oxe’s bell, and a 
dog’s collar, and a blast horn; either of these three shall be worth 
a shilling, and each is reckoned an informer.” The bell and 
horn we find still in use on the Continent, especially in Switzer- 
land. Then in the laws of King Ethelred IT., who succeeded in 
A.D. 978 and died in 1016, we read:—“ Let no one slay an ox 
ya Bartholomew, writing in 1360, says that ‘‘Bulls of Ind be red, and 
swift and cruel.” 
