MONK WOOD, IN LOUGHTON.
175
part of Loughton was called "Luketon Snarringe,"2 as being, or
having been, the fee of one Geoffrey de Snarring. He, we may say
in passing, was probably an under-tenant of the great Norman
barony of de Valoines in Essex, as in Norfolk ; from a place in the
latter county, now called Snoring, he seems to have derived his
name. It appears, however, that he had granted at any rate some
portion of his estate to three owners, who held a certain wood in
Luketon Snarrynge in common, though their shares were not equal.
But at this point it will be well to let two of them, Geoffrey Renitot
and Roger Fitz-Ailmar, speak for themselves through the medium of
an interpreter, their own words being recorded in monkish Latin :—
" To all the faithful in Christ, Geoffrey de Renitot and Roger
Fitz-Ailmer send greeting in the Lord. Be it known unto all men
that Ralph de Assartis and we ourselves having measured of our
commonwood in the parish of Loughton, fifty-six acres and a-half,
and Ralph having demised his share to the Abbot and monks of
Stratford,3 we, for our own salvation and that of our [kinsfolk],
granted, gave, and by this charter have confirmed, to God and the
Church, and to the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Waltham,
all our part of the aforesaid wood with the land and all the right we
had therein, or could have, as in the felling and carrying-away of
trees, and in pannage at pannage-time, with everything else by any
right pertaining to us, to be had and held by the said church and
canons in free, pure, and perpetual alms, free and quit from all
secular service or demand from us and our heirs for ever. And it is
to be noted that of the aforesaid wood and land, fifty-six acres and
a-half by measure, our share was a fourth part in all the advantages
mentioned, and others which might casually accrue, to be received
in common between the said Ralph de Assartis and ourselves. And
we and our heirs will for ever guarantee against all men this part of
the wood and land, with the appurtenances thereof, as is aforesaid,
to the said church and canons, as our free, pure, and perpetual alms.
And for this grant, donation, and the confirmation of this our charter,
the aforesaid canons have received us for ever in the prayers and
other benefits of their house. These being witnesses, &c."
Not content with this joint declaration of their gift, Geoffrey and
Roger proceeded to execute, each of them, separate deeds, couched
in much the same terms. The names of four witnesses are appended
to the charter of the former, vis., Nicholas de Barton. (Barrington);
2 It may have been a small manor. That a hill on the southern border of Monk Wood is
still called "Court Hill," is a significant fact.
3 Unfortunately no cartulary of the Abbey of Stratford Langthorne, if it exist, is accessible
That said to be preserved in Trin. Coll., Dublin, is a fragment of three pages only.