Note 388 — Chapter V · THE GERÉFA.
Reading edition
In the Council of Baccanceld, Wihtred is made to say:—“It is the duty of kings to appoint eorls and ealdormen, scírgeréfan and doomsmen.” Chron. Sax. an. 694. “Illius autem est comites, duces, optimates, principes, praefectos, iudices saeculares statuere.” Cod. Dipl. No. 996. The charter is an obvious forgery, but it shows the tendency of opinion in the Anglosaxon times.