MONK WOOD, IN LOUGHTON.
177
report states that they did so on June 1, and "the same daie at
Eppinge, did by the othes of . . . . twelve substanciall and honest
men, neare inhabytinge to the said mannor of Loughton, make
inquirie of the same, who, uppon viewe as well made by them of the
woodes as by seekinge further to understand of the same . . . have
made presentment."
The presentment, or verdict, consists of detailed answers to five
articles of enquiry ; and as they are brief and to the point, we give
them as they stand :—
(i.) We say that there is a wood uppon the waste soyle of the
said mannor called Muncke Wood, containing as it is measured
fifty-three acres, sixty-five poles, at twenty-one foote to the pole;
whereof there is waste ground in the same that beareth no wood by
estimacion fifteen acres; which said wood hath been sold to Mr.
Wroth, who felled the same. The nature and kind of the woodd so
felled was most oke, beach, homebeame, and birch. The oaken
wood was lopte and some shredde, and the other usual wood was
most lopte, saving there was felled by the ground of the said usuall
wood to the nombre of 500 younge trees. And as we are certifyed
by our evidence, it hath byn felled in lyke order before at former
sales. The said wood at the time of the fellinge thereof was fifteen
years' growthe.
(ii.) We say that there was late felled within the said wood eight
timbre trees for making of a pownde at Loughton Hall; which is
informed to be done by warrant from Mr. Chancellor of the Duchy.
Of crabtrees and hawthornes, to the number of 618 trees, and two
hollies being vert. And as we are informed moste parte of them
were dead in the toppe and felled by carters and beaten down on
the fall of the wood.
(iii.) We say that Robert Wrothe, Esq., paid for the same wood
to the Queen £20. The charges of felling, &c., stood him in £35 ;
and he afterwards sold the said bargaine of wood to Phillip Grenely
for £120, giving him one year and a quarter's daie for paiment of
£90. And Phillip Grenely saith uppon oath that he got not £20 by
the said bargaine.
(iv.) We say that the verte felled in Muncke Wood aforesaid
was felled by the foresaid Phillip Grenely between the Feast of S.
Bartholomew and the Feast of S. Michael last past, after Mr. Wrothe
had sold the bargain of woode to him ; but whether the doing thereof
is to be accounted waste or not, we knowe not.
(v.) We say that the said Munckewoodd hath byn three times
sold within the mynde of man : that is, one tyme by the Abbot of
Stratford, and twice in the Queene's Majestie's tyme that now is.
In witness of this our Verdict we have hereunto sett our handes
and seales the xii. June, 24 anno R.