Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/400

 he had a stock of untamed cows and oxen running at the head of Lynhaven River, but it would be possible to gather only a few into one body. The law inflicting a fine on all who killed wild cattle, without having the proper authority, was strictly enforced in this county. In 1659, cows were valued in York at two pounds and five shillings apiece; yearling steers at thirty-five shillings, and bulls, three years of age, at one pound and fifteen shillings. In 1682; fourteen cows, belonging to Robert Hodges of Lower Norfolk, were appraised at fourteen pounds sterling, or one pound apiece, but there was probably a special reason for so low a figure. In 1674, a bull was valued in Lancaster County at two pounds sterling. In 1649, the number of horses in Virginia, as has been already stated, was only three hundred, and their subsequent increase seems to have been at a moderate rate. In 1665, there were two hundred and sixty-eight of these animals in York, and in Lower Norfolk, sixty-four. The extraordinary esteem in which they were held was shown by the appraisement, in the former county in 1659, of a gelding, fifteen years old, at thirteen pounds sterling. A mare and a foal in that county were entered, in 1688, as equal in value to eight cows. A yearling colt was listed at four pounds sterling, an excess of three