
WHITE CATTLE: AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETC. 411 
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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—ld.;” and in 1490 it is recorded 
that by the will of Alice Kokyred she “leaves her sister her 
best cow of browne 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,”*.:: ae said Pia a: Sel Gib 
Wylde Bulles,_... $4, a a Ree VL 
Muttons, ... i. a's a2 Fe Aegis 
Veales,... aa ro Ww Sd ... CCCiiii. 
Porkes, ... hia As a cm Bae OLIN 
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Stagges, Buckes, and Roes,_.... ae ... VC. and mo. 
Porposes and Seales, ... Sc ws sec date 
It will benoted that here wehave “oxen” and “wyldebulles” both 
entered, though colour is not noted. Assuming that the “ wylde 
1In 1434 Roger Borton, of Hackney, Middlesex, left ‘‘ Agnes my 
dowghtur my Don Bullock” also ‘‘ my red Bullock,” along with “‘a pot of 
bras of a galon.” 
2 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.” 
