122 ANATID.E. 



by whicli each party might know their own birds. The sub- 

 ject, in all its details, is so extensive that I can afford space 

 for little more than an outline, but this will be sufficient to 

 show the degree of value and importance attached to the pos- 

 session of the bird, and the authorised power to protect it. 



In the twenty-second year of the Reign of Edward the 

 Fourth, 1483, it was ordered that no person who did not 

 possess a freehold of the clear yearly value of five marks 

 should be permitted to keep any Swans. 



In the eleventh year of the Reign of Henry the Seventh, 

 1496, it was ordered that stealing, or taking a Swan's egg 

 should have a year's imprisonment, and make fine at the 

 king"'s will. Stealing, setting nets or snares for, or driving, 

 Grey or AVhite Swans, was punished still more severely. 



In Archseologia, or miscellaneous tracts relating to anti- 

 quity, published by the Society of Antiquaries of London, 

 vol. 16. 1812, Ordinances respecting Swans on the River 

 Witham, in the county of Lincoln ; together with an original 

 roll of ninety-seven Swan marks, appertaining to the pro- 

 prietors on the said stream, were communicated by the Right 

 Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K.B. P.R.S. and F.S.A. 



" These are the Ordinances made the 24th day of May, 

 1524, in the fifteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign 

 Lord King Henry the Eighth, by the Lord Sir Christopher 

 Willuby, Sir Edward Dimock, and others. Justices of Peace 

 and Commissioners, appointed by our Sovereign Lord the 

 King, for the confirmation and preservation of His Highness 

 game of Swans, and signets, of his stream of Witham, Avithin 

 his county of Lincoln, &c. from a Brcges, called Boston 

 Breges, unto the head of the said stream." 



A true copy of the Parchment Roll being too long, a few 

 only of the particulars are here inserted. 



No persons having Swans could appoint a new swanherd 

 without the king**s swanherd''s license. 



