130 EPPING FOREST. 



find employment in Loughton, owing to the part he 

 was taking in maintaining this suit against the chief 

 owner of land in the parish ; it was necessary, there- 

 fore, to make him an allowance of a pound a week. 

 Much difficulty, also, was experienced in finding a 

 lodging for him in the village, without which he would 

 have ceased to be an inhabitant. During this time he 

 was more than once offered 'a large sum as much, it 

 was said, as 500 to abandon the suit. I had oppor- 

 tunities of seeing the old man, and always found him 

 determined to stand by the case and to reject all such 

 offers. His treatment by the magistrates and the death 

 of his son aggravated the feeling of injustice, caused by 

 the arbitrary inclosure of Mr. Maitland, in disregard 

 of the rights of the Loughton people. Though 

 Willingale's death abated the suit and prevented the 

 issues being tried, there cannot be a doubt that the 

 ultimate saving of the Forest was largely due to this 

 case. It practically kept the Forest in statu quo for four 

 years, until the commencement of the great Corporation 

 suit. It prevented the destruction of the trees in 

 the Manor of Loughton. It gave time and opportunity 

 for a closer examination of the Rolls of the Manor 

 and of the ancient Forest records. As the result 

 of this examination, the opinion was formed that, 

 without much greater funds than were then in hand, 

 it would be difficult to impeach the general inclosures 

 of the Forest ; but that if some Commoner with ample 

 means could be found willing to do so, there was every 

 prospect of success. 



