Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 2–4 swanimot, 3 suanimot, swaynimot, -emot, 3–4 swanemot, 4 swanymot, swanmot, pl. swanesmotes, 5 swanemoode, 6 swanymote, swynemote, 6–7 swannimote, 7 swanimoote, swannamott, swaynemote, swainemote; Hist. 6–9 swanimote, 7 swainmot, 7–9 swainmote, 8 swainimote, sweinmote, 9 swaynmote, swynmote. [repr. OE. *swánʓemót (whence Anglo-L. suanimotum), lit. meeting of swineherds, f. swán swineherd, SWON + ʓemót MOOT sb.1: the first syllable has been assimilated to SWAIN sb.]
A forest assembly held three times a year in accordance with the Forest Charter of 1217, probably orig. ‘to enable the forest officers to superintend the depasturing of pigs in the king’s woods in the autumn and the clearance of the forest of cattle and sheep while the deer were fawning in the summer’; later, applied vaguely or generically to courts of attachment, inquisitions, etc. (See G. J. Turner, Select Pleas of the Forest, 1901.)
The commonly received account of the swanimote is derived from Manwood, who asserted that it was a distinct court of the forest, to which the freeholders (see SWAIN sb. 6) were summoned, and having jurisdiction with power to enquire of vert and venison and other trespasses done within the forest.
1189. (Sept. 15) Carta Abbatis de Burgo (Cartæ Antiquæ Roll EE 21, P.R.O.). Liberi et quieti ab omni … consuetudine foreste et a swanimot.
1217. Carta de Foresta (2 Hen. 3, c. 8). Nullum Suanimotum de cetero teneatur in Regno nostro nisi ter in anno, videlicet in principio quindecim dierum ante festum Sancti Michaelis quando agistatores conveniunt ad agistandum Dominicos boscos nostros & circa festum Sancti Martini, quando agistatores nostri debent recipere Pannagium nostrum;… Et tercium Suanimotum teneatur in inicio quindecim dierum ante festum Sancti Johannis Baptistae, pro feonacione Bestiarum nostrarum.
12[?]. Liber Niger Scaccarii, 374. Ipse concessit quod ego, & heredes mei … quieti sumus de Secta Swanemoti, et de omnibus aliis Sectis illius bosco.
1294. Yearbks. 22 Edw. I. (Rolls), 627. Nus avum treis swaynemotes par an pur encercher e enquere sy nuly mette plusurs avers ke mettre ne deit.
1311. Noveles Ordenances (5 Edw. II.). Qe les foresters en qe baillies tieux trespas seront faitz, presentent mesmes les trespas as procheins Swanimotz.
1415–16. in Dugdale, Monast. (1655), I. 976. Quod omnia bona … sint … quieta … de … Wapentake, & Shewyne & Miskennyng, Swanemoode, et de thesauro ducendo.
c. 1500. in Essex Rev., XV. 145. The Clerke of the Swanymote to make relacion to the Kyngs hyghnes of the certente of the deer kyllyd.
1558. Nottingham Rec., IV. 118. At the Swynemote at Blydworthe.
1617. Assheton, Jrnl. (Chetham Soc.), 2. Mr. Steward keipping the swainemote.
a. 1634. Coke, Inst., IV. (1648), 298. There be certain incidents inseparable to every Forest,… Courts of Record, as Courts of Attachments, Swanimote, and Iustice Seats.
1635. Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, Washingtons (1860), App. p. lxxiv. To John Chapman for his chardges at the swannamott held within the fforrest of Whitlewood by bill, 00 17 00.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. vi. 72. The court of sweinmote is to be holden before the verderors, as judges, by the steward of the sweinmote thrice in every year.
1837. Howitt, Rur. Life, V. i. (1840), 355. The Court of Swainmote.
attrib. 1614. Spelman, Orig. Four Terms, Eng. Wks. II. (1727), 85. Forasmuch as the Swainmote-Courts are by the ancient Forest-Laws appointed to be kept fifteen Days before Michaelmas.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1655), IV. xvi. 39. A Forest hath her Court of attachments, or Swainmote Court, where matters are as pleadable, and determinable, as at Westminster-Hall.
1670. Evelyn, Sylva, xxxiii. (ed. 2), 209. The great neglect of Swainmote-Courts [should be] reformed.
1809. G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 368. The business of the Swanimote Court at Lyndhurst.
