232 OUR WOODLAND TREES. 
lost their right to lop—ever to cut or carry away 
any more wood. 
In Theydon Bois, up to a very recent period, 
the privilege of wood-cutting, inaugurated each 
year in so singular a manner, was continued. But 
the increasing timidity of the inhabitants, and the 
power of the lord of the manor, led at length to 
the almost entire cessation of the practice, which 
was not exercised, except in a very furtive manner. 
It has been seen that in the parish of Loughton 
alone had' the curious custom continued to be 
exercised with full vigour up to the period to 
which this chapter refers, and this must have been 
owing in a large degree to the sturdy determina- 
tion of the commoners; for it is a curious fact that, 
although for many years past nearly the whole of 
that portion of Epping Forest included within 
the Manor of Loughton was enclosed—illegally 
enclosed, as the Court of Chancery decided in 
1874—yet the poor inhabitants of the parish, 
relying on their Royal Charter, have each year at 
midnight of the 11th of November gone over the 
enclosing fences, and commenced their top-lopping 
of the Trees, continuing the practice during the 
