Folc Mote

FOLK MOTE, or FOLC GEnvote (Saxon, from folc, people, and mote, or gemote, meeting).

In Saxon law. A meeting of the people; a general assembly of the people, to consider and order matters of the commonwealth. Somner; Spelman, voc. "Gemotum." Any popular or public meeting of all the folk or people of a place or district. Brande. See "Gemot." The term was used to denote a court or judicial tribunal among the Saxons, which possessed substantially the powers afterwards exercised by the county courts and sheriflP's tourn. These powers embraced the settlement of small claims, taking the oath of allegiance, preserving the laws, and making the necessary arrangements for the preservation of safety, peace, and the public weal. It appears that complaints were to be made before the folk gemote held in London annually, of any mismanagement by the mayor and aldermen of that city. It was called, also, a "burg gemote" when held in a burgh, and "shire gemote" when held for a county. See Manw. For. Laws; Spdman; De Brady; Cunningham. A county court; an assembly of the people or freeholders of a county (conventus eomitatus). Otherwise called the "shire mote." Spelman. A city court; an assembly of the inhabitants of a city or borough (conventus civitatis sea burgi). Otherwise called the "burg mote." Spelman. The folc mote or city court of London is mentioned in ancient records. Id.; Crabb, Hist. Eng. Law, 141. The term seems to have been generally applied to all courts that were adapted to the convenience

A general assembly of the people, under the Saxons. See Fouc-