FOLCLAND, or FOLKLAND, the land of the folk or people in England in Anglo-Saxon times. The F. according to Turner, was that portion of the kingdom which was retained in behalf of the public, and with a view to increasing population and the grow in.- wants of the community, and not permitted to become allodial estate, or absolute private property. Of this land, the usufruct or dominium utile was enjoyed by the freemen, for which certain rents were paid to the state, and which did not become hereditary. On the contrary the rights which were held in it by individuals reverted to the community at the expiry of a particular term, when it was again given out by the folcgemot or court of the district, either in commonty or in severalty. Certain services to the public were commonly imposed on the holders of F., such as the repara tion of the royal vills and other public works; the exercise of hospitality to the king, and to other personages of distinction in their progress through the country, by furnishing them and their messengers, huntsmen, hounds, hawks, and horses with food, and providing them, when necessary, with means of transport. It does not seem that the F. was held exclusively by the common people, but rather that it was open to freemen of all ranks and conditions, and that the possession of it was much coveted even by' those who held great estates on the hereditary title which was known as bockland (q.v.). F. was often given out as bockland to those who had performed great public services, just as Horatius was rewarded by a grant of the Roman ager publicus "They gave him of the corn-land • That was of public right, As much as two strong oxen Could plow from morn till night!" It was also frequently given to the church, for the purpose of founding monasteries and the like, a practice of which Bede complains in his celebrated letter to archbishop Egbert. "It is disgraceful to say, persons who have not the least claim to the monastic
character, as you yourself best know, have got so many of these spots into their power. under the name of monasteries, that there is really now no place at all where the sons of nobles or veteran soldiers can receive a grant."—Kemble's Saxons, p. 291. Kemble gives examples of the dues paid by monasteries for the F. which they held, which afford curious information as to the products of industry and modes of livino. of those times. In 883, a monastery is freed from all dues which the monks were still to pay to the king's hand, including bright ale, beer, honey, oxen, swine, and sheep. The dues of the monastery at Tauton were a feorm (or entertainment) of one night to the king, and eight dogs and one dog-keeper; and nine nights' keep for the king's falconers, and carriage, with wagons and horses, for whatever he would have taken to Curry or Wilton; and if strangers came from other parts, they were to have guidance to the nearest royal vill upon their road.—Ib. 295, 296.