EPPING FOREST. 1527 



prison, where be caught a severe cold, which developed 

 into pneumonia, and resulted in his death. 



These high-handed proceedings caused great indig- 

 nation in the district and in the East of London. 

 Meetings were held to protest against the inclosures 

 of Loughton. When Willingale came out of prison, 

 he was advised to seek the aid of the Commons Society. 

 It appeared to the Society that the custom of the 

 people of Loughton was such that, if supported by 

 legal proceedings, it might result in defeating the in- 

 closures, and in preserving this part of the Forest. A 

 fund of 1,000 was raised among its leading members 

 the half of it from Sir T. Fowell Buxton, an owner 

 and resident within the range of the Forest ; and a 

 suit was commenced in the name of Willingale, on 

 behalf of the inhabitants of Loughton, claiming the 

 right to lop the trees in that part of the Forest during 

 the winter months, and asking for an injunction to 

 restrain Mr. Maitland from cutting down the trees 

 and inclosing the Forest. Another suit of the same 

 kind w r as commenced in the name of a freehold tenant 

 of the Manor named Castell, claiming the right 

 of lopping the trees as a commonable right. An 

 interim injunction was thereupon obtained to prevent 

 Mr. Maitland cutting down the trees of the Forest, 

 pending the hearing of Willingale's suit. 



The case thus asserted, on behalf of the inhabitants 

 of Loughton, was not free from difficulty, owing to 

 the technical rule of law already alluded to, that the 

 inhabitants of a place are too vague a body to enjoy a 



