free warren

plural free warrens

1. The legal right, granted by the crown of England, to own, maintain, and hunt on a piece of land set aside for the keeping and breeding of beasts of warren.

   Grouse are not birds of warren ( 2 ); and trespass on a free warren will not lie for shooting them .

   1844, Archibald John Stephens, George Sharswood, The Law of Nisi Prius, page 2003

   2 more examples

   The franchise of free warren is to be claimed only by grant from the crown, or by prescription which supposes such a grant (n); and the effect of it is, to vest in the grantee a property in such wild animals or inferior specieis of game as are deemed to beasts and fowls of warren (0).

   1867, John Scriven, A Treatise on Copyholds. Customary Freeholds, Ancient Demesne, and the Jurisdiction of Courts Baron and Courts Leet, page 477

   The defendant has pleaded a warren in gross: he does not make it appendant or appurtenant. He shews merely that Charles I. granted a free warren, as he might do.

   1910, The English Reports - Volume 110, page 1361