162
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
out as usual at midnight, broke in upon the lord's fences, per-
ambulated the Forest, and lopped the trees in accordance with
the custom. For this act in vindication of their rights, the three
Willingales were summoned5 a few days later by the Lord of the
Manor before the local justices, and although they protested
that they were only asserting their rights according to the
custom, which should have ousted the jurisdiction of the
magistrates, they were convicted of malicious trespass on properly,
and were sent to prison for two months with hard labour. It
turned out that one at least of the magistrates had received an
allotment of the inclosed lands in compensation for his rights.
One of the Willingale's sons was put into a damp cell in the prison,
where he caught a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia,
and resulted in his death.5"
In this, Mr. Shaw Lefevre's third version, we notice that now,
for the first time, Willingale, the father, is included in the little
band who suffered imprisonment, and the nephew of the
first account has been entirely forgotten. Here too, we have
the genesis of the sensational embellishment, which is wholly
without foundation in fact, that one of his sons met his death in
consequence of his suffering.
From the quotations given, it will be abundantly evident
that, almost from the first, accounts were confused as to the
actual facts of this occurrence, in itself insignificant, but in relation
to what followed of the greatest importance.
Nor is this altogether to be wondered at, when we remember
the tremendous legal fight to which the occurrence served as a
prelude. At such a time, when events crowded upon each
other and public interest became roused to fever heat on the
subject of the saving of the Forest for the people, it is small
wonder that the trivial summons which initiated a struggle lasting
for sixteen years should be lost sight of and the facts forgotten
and distorted.
Later writers have, as might be expected, been content to
copy the statements or misstatements set down as actual occur-
rences in the earlier accounts.
Even the late Mr. E. N. Buxton, in his guide to Epping
Forest (first edition 1897), is content to repeat the statement
that "one Willingale," was the victim. He says (p. 16),
5 The italics are mine.—P.T.