104 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



For some two or three hundred years, therefore, we may 

 trace a close connection between the swan-rights and 

 marks of this Hospital and the Corporation, whilst a 

 careful search amongst their archives might probably 

 elicit some further particulars with reference to the 

 swannery itself, in connection with swanherds' salaries, 

 and the fatting of cygnets for our civic banquets. It is, 

 moreover, worthy of notice that in the list of payments 

 annually made out of the revenues of St. Helen's Hos- 

 pital as quoted by Blomefield for the year 1728, and 

 still continued, is the following item (vol. ii., p. 397) : 



" To the Chamberlain for a year's rent of the Swan-bank, 

 1 10s." 



This is further alluded to in his description (vol. ii., 

 pp. 102-6) of the Eectory of St. John the Evangelist, 

 in Southgate, and the founding of " Cooke's Hospital," 

 near the former site of St. Vedast's or St. Faith's church, 

 in the following terms : 



" In this parish is the island in the river called the swan-bank, 

 and several litmays or pieces of land gained out of the river, 

 which pay small rents to the city." 



In the engraved "Plan of the City of Norwich," 

 published by Blomefield in the second volume of his 

 History of Norwich, several swan-marks, belonging to 

 the City and the See, are figured with the seals and 

 regalia of the Corporation. These, as numbered on the 

 plan, are thus described : 



142.* The Swan Mark belonging to the See. 



the merke late Robt. Cutler, Clerk ; to have, hold, and enjoye the 

 seid Swannes with the seid merkes to the seid Robt. and his heires 

 for ev'more." This will was executed in 1481 and proved in 1484. 



John Dawbeney, Esq., as Mr. Turner states in a foot-note, was 

 called by the Fastens " our cousin " ; the Rev. Robt. Cutler was 

 vicar of Caister St. Edmund from 1453 to 1466, and was translated 

 to Mautby in 1465 (vide Blomefield.) 



* This is the Bishop's own mark, as figured by Yarrell (No. 10), 



