Fouage.
A tax on chimneys imposed by the Black Prince in Gascony.
Four Burghs, Court of the.
In early Scottish history a court established for the purpose of dealing with all cases in which the Scottish Burghs were concerned.
Fourierism.
A system of communism devised by Charles Fourier, the French Socialist, in 1832. The proposal was to form communities of 1,800 persons each, known as phalanges, to be united under a central government. The gains of each phalange were to be held in common. An attempt to establish the system near Versailles was completely unsuccessful.
Fourth Party.
A small but active body of free-lances of the Conservative party, which was formed under Lord Randolph Churchill during the session of 1880. Though various Conservative members acted with it from time to time, the party is generally considered to have consisted of four persons. Lord Randolph Churchill, Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Gorst, Sir H. Drummond Wolff and Mr. Arthur Balfour.
Francfief.
A tax on commoners who became possessed of fiefs, to compensate for their inability to render military service. It was imposed by Louis IX of France in 1260, and abolished by his successor, Philip III.