Æðelst. i. § 26. So again Æðelst. iii. § 7; iv. § 1. Thorpe, i. 212, 219, 222. Footnote 375: Æðelst. v. § 11. Thorpe, i. 240. Footnote 376: “And the king enjoins the reeves in every place to protect the abbots in all their worldly needs, as best ye may.” Æðelred, ix. § 32. Thorpe, i. 346. Footnote 377: Æðelst. i. Introd. Thorpe, i. 194, 196. Footnote 378: Eádg. i. § 3. Æðelr. ix. § 8. Cnut, i. § 8. Thorpe, i. 262, 342, 366. Footnote 379: Æðelst. i. § 10. Thorpe, i. 204. Footnote 380: Eádm. iii. § 5. Thorpe i. 253. This law uses the word _ordalii_, which I believe to be an error for _hordere_, as in Æðelstán’s law, and have rendered it accordingly. Footnote 381: Leg. Æðelr. i § 4. Thorpe, i. 282. ----- From this also it appears probable that the geréfa was the officer to conduct the execution of criminals in capital cases, as he remains to this day; but as far as I remember, there is no instance of this duty recorded. The regulations respecting mints and coinage seem also to show that this part of the public service was under the superintendence of the scírgeréfa[382]. As the principal political officer, and chief of the freemen in the shire, it was further his duty to promulgate the laws enacted by the king and his witena gemót, and take a pledge from the members of the county, to observe these: and it is to be concluded that this was solemnly done in the county-court[383]. ----- Footnote 382: Cnut, ii. § 8. Thorpe, i. 380. Footnote 383: Æðelst. v. § 10. Thorpe, i. 238. -----