8 DECOYS AND SWAN MARKS. 



The two marks of the King are here styled the first " for the 

 Crown" being a rude representation of that emblem, the second 

 or Lancaster mark " for the Sworde." There is an index at the 

 end of this manuscript, and at the beginning some curious notes 

 of swans that " I have marked," " Swans sould this yeare of our 

 lor 1628," and " The order for swans, a collection of rules and 

 observances with regard to the keeping and marking of these 

 birds, with the penalties for infringement." Another vellum MS., 

 octavo size, apparently of the time of Henry VIII. ; the King 

 here has three marks allotted to his swans. Some remarks by 

 Sir J. Banks upon the age of the book are prefixed. Another MS. 

 entitled " The orders for swanne Bots by the statutes, and by the 

 auncient orders and customs used in the Realm of England," a 

 vellum roll of the sixteenth century, followed by swan-marks used 

 by the proprietors of lands on the rivers Yare and Waveney, co. 

 Norfolk. Some of these are drawn vertically instead of on the 

 more usual horizontal plan, and the greater number are rudely 

 painted in red and black pigments. At folio 80 of another MS. 

 (Lansdowne 118) there is an entry in the handwriting of William 

 Cecil, Lord Burghley, of " Swannes marked ye xii. June, 7 of 

 Ed. 6, 1553." Harley MS. 4116 gives at p. 403 a curious note 

 respecting the transfer of a swan-mark in 1662. Some further 

 illustrations of this peculiar custom may be seen by reference to 

 the Classed Catalogue of manuscripts in the British Museum, and 

 a careful collation of marks with a view to publication would 

 reward the student of English manners and customs." 



