shallmaketheladieslaughatthefamousoldstoryoftheFlitchofBaconatDunmow，whichisthis:
OneRobertFitzwalter，apowerfulbaroninthiscountyinthetimeofHenryIII。，onsomemerryoccasion，whichisnotpreservedintherestofthestory，institutedacustomintheprioryhere:Thatwhatevermarriedmandidnotrepentofhisbeingmarried，orquarrelordifferanddisputewithhiswifewithinayearandadayafterhismarriage，andwouldsweartothetruthofit，kneelingupontwohardpointedstonesinthechurchyard，whichstoneshecausedtobesetupinthePriorychurchyardforthatpurpose，thepriorandconvent，andasmanyofthetownaswould，tobepresent，suchpersonshouldhaveaflitchofbacon。
Idonotremembertohavereadthatanyoneevercametodemandit；
nordothepeopleoftheplacepretendtosay，oftheirownknowledge，thattheyrememberanythatdidso。Alongtimeagoseveraldiddemandit，astheysay，buttheyknownotwho；neitheristhereanyrecordofit，nordotheytellus，ifitwerenowtobedemanded，whoisobligedtodelivertheflitchofbacon，thepriorybeingdissolvedandgone。
TheforestofEppingandHainaultspreadsagreatpartofthiscountrystill。Ishallspeakagainoftheformerinmyreturnfromthiscircuit。Formerly，itisthought，thesetwoforeststookupallthewestandsouthpartofthecounty；butparticularlyweareassured，thatitreachedtotheRiverChelmer，andintoDengyHundred，andfromthenceagainwesttoEppingandWaltham，whereitcontinuestobeaforeststill。