what is most important for us, viz. that Æðelberht at first refused to interfere as king, that is, would not make a public question of Augustine’s mission[502]. But Runde seems to have forgotten that Æðelberht’s laws, which must be dated between 596 and 605, do most emphatically recognise Christianity and the Christian priesthood; and as Beda declares him to have enacted these laws “cum consilio sapientum[503],” we shall hardly be saying too much if we affirm that the introduction of Christianity was at least ratified by a solemn act of the witan. Runde’s further remarks upon the conversion of Northumberland seem to prove that he really never read through the passages he himself cites, so completely do they refute his own arguments[504]. ----- Footnote 501: Runde, Abhandlung vom Ursprung der Reichsstandschaft der Bischöfe und Aebte. Gött. 1775, p. 35, etc. Footnote 502: Hist. Eccl. i. 26. Footnote 503: Ibid. ii. 5. Footnote 504: See Phillips, Geschichte des Angelsächsischen Rechts. Gött. 1825, p. 71. ----- 2. _The witan deliberated upon the making of new laws which were to be added to the existing folcriht[505], and which were then promulgated by their own and the king’s authority[506]._ Beda, in a passage just cited, says of Æðelberht:—“Amongst other benefits which consulting, he bestowed upon his nation, he gave her also, with the advice of his witan, decrees of judgments, after the example of the Romans: which, written in the English tongue, are yet possessed and observed by her[507].” And these laws were enacted by their authority, jointly with the king’s. The Prologue to the law of Wihtrǽd declares:—“These are the dooms of Wihtrǽd, king of the men of Kent. In the reign of the most clement king of the men of Kent, Wihtrǽd, in the fifth year of his reign, the ninth indiction[508]. the sixth day of the month Rugern, in the place which is called Berghamstead[509], where was assembled a deliberative convention of the great men[510]; there was Brihtwald the high-bishop[511] of Britain, and the aforenamed king; also the bishop of Rochester; the same was called Gybmund, he was present; and every degree of the church in that tribe, spake in unison with the obedient people[512]. There the great men decreed, with the suffrages of all, these dooms, and added them to the lawful customs of the men of Kent, as hereafter is said and declared[513].” Footnote 505: Hloðhære and Eádríc, kings of the men of Kent, _augmented_ the laws which their forefathers had made before them, by these dooms. Prol. to Leg. Hloð. et Ead. Thorpe, i. 26. See also the Prologue to Wihtrǽd’s laws in the text. Footnote 506: