Witena Dom

In Saxon law. The judgment of the county court, or other court of competent jurisdiction, on the title to property, real or personal. 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 22. WITENA GEMOTE (spelled, also witena gemot, gewitena gemote, from the Saxon wita, a wise man, gem,ote, assembly, — ^the assembly of wise men). An assembly of the great men of the kingdom in the time of the Saxons, to advise and assist in the government of the realm. It was the grand council of the kingdom, and was held, generally, in the open air, by public notice or particular summons, in or near some city or populous town. These notices or summonses were issued upon determination by the king's select council, or the body met without notice, when the throne was vacant, to elect a new king. Subsequently to the Norman Conquest it was called com/mune concilium regni, curia magna, and, finally "parliament;" but its character had become considerably changed. It was a court of last resort more especially for determining disputes between the king and his thanes, and, ultimately, from all inferior tribunals. Great offenders, particularly those who casual loss of title deeds was supplied, and a very extensive equity jurisdiction exercised. 1 Spence, Eq. Jur. 73-76; 1 Bl. Comm. 147, 148; 1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law, 7; 9 Coke, pre'f. The principal duties of the witena gemote, besides acting as high court of judicature, was to elect the sovereign, assist at his coronation, and co-operate in the enactment and administration of the laws. It made treaties jointly with the king, and aided him in directing the military affairs of the kingdom. Examinations into the state of churches, monasteries, their possessions, discipline, and morals, were made before this tribunal. It appointed magistrates, and regulated the coin of the kingdom. It also provided for levying upon the people all such sums as the public necessities required; and no property of a freeman was, in fact, taxable without the consent of the gemote. Bede, lib. 2, c. 5; 3 Turner, Ang. Sax. 209; 1 Dugd. Mon. 20; Saxon, Chron. 126, 140.

sax.

In Saxon law. The judgment of the county court,,