412 TRANSACTIONS, 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. Weare 
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, QndJune. . . . . 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 

1 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 bull of fierce temper was brought to the church as an oblation, and was 
baited in the churchyard by the young clerics,” 
