174 EPPING FOREST
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 inquiry ; 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, etc., stood
him in £35 ; and he afterwards sold the said bargaine of
wood to Philip Grenely for £120, giving him one year and
a quarter's daie for paiment of £90. And Philip Grenely
saith uppon oath that he got not £20 by the said bargaine.
'' (iv.) We say that the verte felled in Muncke Wood afore-
said was felled by the foresaid Philip Grenely between the
Feast of St. Bartholomew and the Feast of St. 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