AT MIDNIGUT. 231 
Trees at the stipulated moment, and that therefore 
they had lost their privilege for ever. 
In the parish of Epping the poor inhabitants 
also lost their right to lop wood, through the wiles 
of a bygone manorial lord. This cunning indi- 
vidual pretended at one period to be very much 
concerned on account of the injury done to the 
appearance of the forest by the irregular method 
of lopping; and he accordingly volunteered—in 
order, as he said, to preserve the beauty of the 
greenwood—to cut the wood himself for the poor 
inhabitants of Epping, so that the Trees might be 
lopped in a neat and regular manner. Not only 
did he volunteer to do this, but he also promised 
to have the cut wood carted, free of charge, to the 
doors of the cottagers. The latter, delighted at 
this offer, and unsuspicious of a ruse, gladly 
accepted the service proffered. For some time 
the undertaking was, it appears, properly carried 
out by the lord of the manor. But after awhile 
he became irregular in cutting and delivering the 
wood, and finally he discontinued supplying it; 
and also forbade the poor inhabitants—who had 
themselves personally and by their own default 
