
WHITE CATTLE: AN INQUIRY INTO THEIR ORIGIN, ETc. 421 
writes, it is evident that Italian cattle and the cattle of “ other 
forraine countries” were known in England, and their virtues 
extolled by “other authors.” Markham writes :—‘“ You shall 
understand, then, that of our English cattell (for I will not speake 
of those in Italy and other forraine countries, as other authors 
doe, and forget mine owne) the best are bred in York-shire, Darby- 
shire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Lincolne-shire, Gloster-shire, and 
Somerset-shire, though they which are bread in York-shire, Darby- 
shire, Lancashire, and Stafford-shire are generally all blacke of 
colour ; and though they whose blacknesse is purest and their 
haires like veluet are esteemed best; they haue exceeding large 
hornes, and very white, with black typpes; they are of stately 
shape, bigge, round, and well-buckled together in euery member, 
short-ioynted, and most comely to the eye, so that they are 
esteemed excellent in the market, those in. Lincolne-shire are the 
most part pyde, with more white then the other colours; their 
hornes little and crooked ; of bodies exceeding tall, long and large, 
leane, and thin thighed, strong hooued, not apt to surbaite, and 
are indeed fittest for labour and draught. Those in Somerset-shire 
and Glocester-shire are generally of a bloud-red colour, in all shapes 
like unto those in Lincolne-shire, and fittest for their uses.” 
* * * * * * * 
‘‘The use of the Cow is two fold—either for the Darie or for 
breed. The red Cow giueth the best milke, and the blacke Cow 
bringeth forth the goodliest Calves.” 
The use of the term ‘“‘cattell” is rather misleading, if we 
restrict it to the sense now common among us. I have shown 
that it included other animals besides the bovines. When we 
read, under date 1605, of a place “ replenished with cattell both 
tame and wild,” we are apt to think that bovine animals are 
alone meant, when really ‘“cattell,” in this instance, should be 
read as “animals.” But in the 17th century cattle that were 
called ‘‘ wild” did exist, and were exported. In the Calendar of 
State Papers (Domestic Series), time of Charles I., there are the 
two following entries. The first, dated 1632, February 11th, is 
as follows :— 
[Officers of the Navy to the Lords 
of the Admiralty. ] 
“The Earl of Rutland, to. prevent the trouble of shifting the beasts, in 
another passage described as ‘wild cattle,’ into a ‘shouler’ vessel in 
