August.] SWAN-UPPING.
Reading edition
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.
