August.] Swan-Upping
August.]
SWAN-UPPING.
Formerly the members of the Corporation of London, in gaily-decorated barges, went up the Thames annually in August, for the purpose of nicking or marking, and counting their swans. They used to land off Barnes Elms, and partake of a collation. This yearly progress was commonly but incorrectly called “swan-hopping:” the correct designation is shown by the ancient statutes to be “swan-upping,” the swans being taken up and nicked, or marked. A “swan-with-two-nicks” indicated, by his second nick, that he had been taken up twice.75
In the accounts of the Vintner’s Company (Egerton MS. 1143, fol. 2,) is the following entry:—
| “Money payd for expense for uppyng of Swanes | - | Item.—Payd in the grete ffroste to James the under swanyerd for upping of the Maister Swannes | iiijs. | |
| It—For bote hyr at the same tyme | iiijd. |
Notes
75 Among the Loseley MSS. is an original roll of swan-marks, showing the beaks of the swans to have been notched with stars, chevrons, crosses, the initials of the owners’ names, or other devices.—See N. & Q. 2nd S. vol. x. p. 393.