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 im 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. 
