HUGEIE TEE GRMME. 113 



with the proprietors of the Chillingham wild cattle 

 should not be forgotten. 



The only two other instances I have been able to 

 obtain of ancient breeds of domesticated white cattle in 

 England have both reference to Cumberland, and I 

 suspect that in both the wild cattle have something to 

 do with their origin. The following quotations from 

 the old ballad of " Hughie the Graeme," * show pretty 

 clearly the value placed upon "white stots" (young oxen) 

 in the North at that time : — 



Stanza I. 



" Our lords are to the mountains gane, 

 A hunting o' the fallow deer, 

 And they hae grippit Hughie Graeme 

 For stealing o' the bishop's mare." 



Stanza IV. 



" Up then bespake the brave Whitefoord, 

 As he sat by the bishop's knee, 

 ' Five hundred white stots I'll gie you, 

 If ye'll let Hughie Graeme gae free.'" 



The bishop refuses, and declares Hughie Graeme 

 shall die ; upon which Whitefoord's wife pleads with 

 the bishop : — 



" Up then bespake the fair Whitefoord, 

 As she sat by the bishop's knee, 

 ' Five hundred white pence I'll gie you, 

 If ye'll gie Hughie Graeme to me.' " 



The bishop still refused, and Hughie was hanged. 

 Many original copies of this ballad existed, some in 



* " Songs and Ballads of Cumberland," edited by Sidney Gilpin, 1866. 

 I 



