240 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 



Of a frank chase, a park, and a free-warren^ what they are, 

 and how they differ from each other, 



1. A frank, or free chase, is a franchise next in degree unto 

 a forest, being an open place for the keeping of game, and in 

 that respect something resembling it, yet with this difference, 

 that a chase hath neither the same kinds of game in it, nor any 

 particular laws belonging to the same, proper to a chase only ; 

 for, whereas the beasts of forest are the hart, hind, hare, boar, 

 and wolf; the beasts of chase are none of them, but other five, 

 viz. the buck, the doe, the fox, the martern, and the roe ; in like 

 manner, all offenders in a chase are punishable by the common 

 law of this realm, and not by the forest laws. Besides, a chase 

 hath no such officers as a forest, viz. verderors, regarders, (or 

 rangers) foresters, or agistors; nor hath it any courts of attach- 

 ments, swainmote, or justice- seat appertaining thereunto, all the 

 officers belonging to a chase being only keepers, as they are 

 called in a park, but such are termed foresters in a forest; 



2. As a chase is next in degree unto a forest, and in some 

 sort resembling it, so is a park to a chase, being in many re- 

 spects the same ; for there is no diversity between them, save 

 only that a park is inclosed, and a chase lies always open with- 

 out Jnclosure. 



3. Lastly, the next franchise, in degree unto a park, is the 

 liberty of a free warren ; the beasts and fowls whereof are four, 

 viz. the hare, the cony, the pheasant, and the partridge, and no 

 other (being such as may be taken by the long-winged hawks, 

 according to Budoeus), for as a forest is the highest and greatest 

 in dignity of all franchises, so it doth surpass them all for extent 

 and comprehensiveness, including in it a frank chase, a park, 

 and a warren ; for which reason, the beasts of chase, and 

 the beasts and fowls of warren, are as much privileged within 

 the forest, as the beasts of forest are ; every forest being in 

 itself a chase, though a chase be not a forest, but a part of it; 



