Free Companies
bands of discharged soldiers, who ravaged France after the conclusion of the peace of Bretigny, May 8, 1360. Bertrand du Guesclin, born in Britain in 1314, put himself at their head, and led them against Peter the Cruel, King of Castile, whom he dethroned in 1365, placing Henry, Count of Trastamara, on the throne. Edward the Black Prince recalled the free companies, defeated Henry at Najara, April 3, 1367, and restored Peter the Cruel, who was, however, defeated March 14, 1369, and killed by Henry of Trastamara, March 23.
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Free Lances
mercenary soldiers of the Middle Ages . After the wars of the Crusades numerous bands of adventurous spirits were left without a regular occupation. For a century or two they gathered in bands of free lances, or free companions, as they sometimes called themselves, selling their services for plunder and hire to any that had occasion for them. The local feuds of northern Italy, in particular, gave opportunity to ply their trade. A hundred years before the discovery of America the free lances of France were so numerous and so powerful that they defeated the king's forces in open battle. They played an important part in the long, bloody wars between France and England. They were dissolute, roistering fellows; fighting was their trade. They rode well mounted and thoroughly armed, and were followed by large bands of adherents. One of these leaders made himself the Duke of Milan. They cared not at all for the justice of the cause in which they engaged. Whoever held out the greatest inducements of wine and plunder was certain of their services. As used in modern politics, a free lance is one who is more or less independent of party government. His motives may or may not be corrupt.
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Free Masonry
. See Masons ; Fraternal Organizations
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Free-Soil Party
in United States history, a short-lived anti-slavery party of 1848-55. It united various elements known as the Liberty party, the Conscience Whigs of Massachusetts, and the Barnburners of New York . Its first candidate for the presidency was Martin Van Buren. Its platform declared that Congress had no more power to make a slave than to make a king, and that slavery ought to be kept out of the territories. The battle cry of the campaign was "Free soil, free speech, free labor, and free men." Though the party did not expect to elect the president, it polled 291,263 votes and elected fourteen congressmen in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Four years later the Barnburners returned to the fold of the regular Democracy. In 1856 the rest of the Free-Soilers were absorbed by the newly formed Republican party . See Republican Party
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Freedmen's Bureau
in American history, a branch of the war department in existence from March 3, 1865, until 1870. It was established by Congress to have general charge of the interests of the negroes of the Southern States. Part of the work of the bureau consisted in assigning former slaves allotments of confiscated or abandoned lands. It also engaged in the establishment of schools for the education of colored people. Something over $15,000,000 of government funds was expended through the bureau. See Contraband
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Freeholder
in English and American law, one who owns real estate , as distinguished from a tenant or renter. In feudal times a freeholder was one who held land on honorable terms as fealty, and the payment of a small sum. The feudal freeholder was not held for military service, nor was he due for menial service. A freeholder was neither a knight nor a villein.
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Freeland
a borough of Pennsylvania , in Luzerne co. It is on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It is the center of an important coal mining and agricultural region and its industries include foundries, machine shops, and silk mills. It has the Mining and Mechanical Institute, Girls' Industrial School and Hill Observatory. Pop. (1910 ) 6,197; (1920) 6,666.
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Freeman
EDWARD AUGUSTUS, an English historian; born in Harborne, in Staffordshire, Aug. 2, 1823; was appointed Professor History at Oxford, 1884. The principal of his very numerous works are: "History and Conquests of the Saracens " (1856); "History of the Norman Conquest of England" (6 vols. 1867-1879); "General Sketch of Euro- English Constitution" (1872); "Reign of Hi History" (1872); "Growth of the William Rufus and Accession of Henry I." (2 vols. 1882); "Fifty Years of European History" (1888). At the time of his death he was engaged on a great "History of Sicily, " of which four volumes have been published . Among his miscellaneous writings are : "Lectures to American Audiences" ( 1882) and "Some Impressions of the United States" (1883). He was a fiery and unvarying champion of national freedom. He died in Alicante, in Spain, March 16, 1892.
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Freemantle
a city of Australia, the chief seaport on the West Coast of Australia, situated at the mouth of the Swan River and twelve miles from Perth. Some thirty years ago it acquired importance on account of the rush of gold hunters to this part of Australia, extensive placer diggings being developed at various points in the interior. It is now of considerable importance as the point of export of leather and lumber, and for its shipyards . A large supply of salt is obtained from the salt works established by the government on an island in the large but rather shallow harbor. The pop. is about 22,000. The
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Freeport
a city and county-seat river, and on the Illinois Central, the Chicago and Northwestern, and other railroads; 121 miles W. of Chicago. It contains a public library, St. Francis Hospital, waterworks, a street railroad, electric lights, National and State banks, manufactories of hardware, wind-mills, and daily and weekly weekly newspapers. It has wagons and buggies, and railroad shops. Pop. (1910) 17,567; (1920) 19,669. in Nassau co., New York. It is entirely a
a village of Long Island, residential place, although fishing is carried on to some extent . There are a high school and two large club houses. Pop. (1910) 4,836; (1920) 8,599. sumed by those who, disbelieving in rev-
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