The tame bulls of Beverley

St John of Beverley, who died on 7 May 721, founded the monastery in the forest that grew into the town of Beverley. Hone quotes William of Malmesbury that the townspeople proved their patron’s holiness by dragging the fiercest bulls on ropes into his churchyard, where they lost their fury, grew gentle as lambs and played quietly when set free. Another tale said that King Athelstan left his knife on the saint’s altar as a pledge before fighting the Scots, and after his victory granted the church of Beverley its famous right of sanctuary.