ÆÐELWULF OF WESSEX, A.D. 839.—The treaty mentioned in the last article was read in a council of all the southern bishops, held at Astra[653]. ----- Footnote 653: Ibid. No. 240. ----- ÆÐELWULF OF WESSEX, ÆÐELSTÁN OF KENT, A.D. 844.—A gemót at Canterbury, attended by the kings, the archbishop, the bishop elect of Rochester, “cum principibus, ducibus, abbatibus, et cunctis generalis dignitatis optimatibus[654].” ----- Footnote 654: Ibid. No. 256. ----- ÆÐELWULF OF WESSEX, A.D. 851.—The very questionable authority of Ingulph mentions a witena gemót this year at Cyningesbyrig[655]. ----- Footnote 655: Cod. Dipl. No. 265. ----- BURHHRED OF MERCIA, A.D. 853.—This year, the Chronicle says[656], a formal application was made by the Mercian king Burhhred and his witan for military aid, in order to the subjugation of the Northern Britons. This seems to imply a regular meeting in Mercia. ----- Footnote 656: Chron. Sax. an. 853. ----- ÆÐELWULF OF WESSEX, A.D. 855.—In this year there was a gemót at Winchester[657]. ----- Footnote 657: Cod. Dipl. No. 275. ----- BURHHRED OF MERCIA, A.D. 868.—In this year the Mercian witan applied to those of Wessex for aid against the Danes. We may conclude that gemóts were held both in Mercia and Wessex[658]. ----- Footnote 658: Chron. Sax. an. 868. ----- A.D. 866-871.—We learn from king Ælfred himself that there was a witena gemót at Swínbeorh in some year between these limits, wherein the successions to lands, among the members of the royal family, were settled, and placed under the guarantee of the witan[659]. ----- Footnote 659: Cod. Dipl. No. 314. ----- ÆLFRED OF WESSEX, A.D. 878.—In this year there was a gemót, very probably at Wedmore[660], where the Dane Guðorm made his submission to Ælfred, and where the articles of peace between the Saxons and Danes were settled[661]. ----- Footnote 660: Chron. Sax. an. 878. Flor. Wig. 878. Footnote 661: Thorpe, i. 152 _seq._ ----- ÆLFRED OF WESSEX, A.D. 880-885.—A gemót sat at Langandene between these two years, and the affairs of Ælfred’s family were again considered. The validity of king Æðelwulf’s will was admitted, and Ælfred’s settlement of his lands guaranteed[659]. ÆÐELRED, DUKE OF MERCIA, A.D. 883.—In this year the witan of Mercia met at Risborough, under Æðelred their duke[662]: an interesting circumstance, inasmuch as it shows that the union with Wessex did not abrogate the ancient rights, or interfere with the independent action of the Mercian witan. ----- Footnote 662: Cod. Dipl. No. 1066. ----- ÆÐELRED, DUKE OF MERCIA, A.D. 888.—This gemót was held at Saltwíc in Worcestershire, to consult upon affairs both ecclesiastical and secular. The witan assembled from far and near[663]. ----- Footnote 663: Ibid. Nos. 327, 1068. ----- ÆÐELRED, DUKE OF MERCIA, A.D. 896.—Another gemót of the Mercians was held this year at Gloucester, whose interesting acts are yet preserved[664]. ----- Footnote 664: