A body of nobles known as the "witan" joined with the king in most of the actions of government.    From Wordnik.com.  [An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England] Reference

"This then is the secular law which by the counsel of my 'witan' I will that it be observed all over England".    From Wordnik.com.  [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 13: Revelation-Stock] Reference

The witan at once elected Harold, Earl Godwin's son.    From Wordnik.com.  [c. France] Reference

Winchester, by making, with the consent of his witan, a new see at.    From Wordnik.com.  [Bell's Cathedrals: Chichester (1901) A Short History & Description Of Its Fabric With An Account Of The Diocese And See] Reference

He consulted the witan, but he himself determined on, and proclaimed war or peace.    From Wordnik.com.  [Coronation Anecdotes] Reference

The Confessor's bequest, acceptance by the witan, and coronation “legalized” William's title.    From Wordnik.com.  [b. The British Isles] Reference

In 991, he had, with the consent of his witan, raised the sum of £10,000 with which he had bribed the Danish host.    From Wordnik.com.  [London and the Kingdom - Volume I] Reference

King Canute (Cnut), elected by the witan, a heterogeneous body of prelates, magnates, and officials without precise status.    From Wordnik.com.  [616-80] Reference

Godwin's influence led to the deposition of the Norman archbishop of Canterbury and the selection of the Saxon Stigand by the witan.    From Wordnik.com.  [616-80] Reference

One year later, however, Cynewulf and the witan deprived.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

English, bearing messengers from the great witan itself.    From Wordnik.com.  [King Olaf's Kinsman A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut] Reference

A witan -- i.e. a national council -- was held in London in 811.    From Wordnik.com.  [The History of London] Reference

As a rule, the witan was called together three or four times a year.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Governments of Europe] Reference

Next year Swegen died, and the West Saxon witan sent back for Æthelred.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

The king died in 1066, and Harold was quietly chosen at once by the witan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

The king and witan have again offered tribute to the Danes; it is accepted.    From Wordnik.com.  [Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune] Reference

But the host had already chosen Cnut; and the host had a stronger claim than the witan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

Recalled by Earl Godwine and the witan, he came back to England a Norman, rather than an.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

The king and his witan resolved to send against them a land fyrd and a ship fyrd or raw levy.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

Æthelred and his witan bought them off again, with the immense tribute of sixteen thousand pounds.    From Wordnik.com.  [Early Britain Anglo-Saxon Britain] Reference

Mercia as a separate state by the hand of his brother-in-law, and left it to its own national council or witan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Lectures and Essays] Reference

At the head of the shire was an ealdorman, appointed by the king and witan, generally from the prominent men of the shire.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Governments of Europe] Reference

Þær fram sylle âbeág medu-benc monig mîne gefræge, golde geregnad, þær þâ graman wunnon; þäs ne wêndon ær witan Scyldinga.    From Wordnik.com.  [Beowulf] Reference

Þǣr fram sylle ābēag medu-benc monig mīne gefrǣge, golde geregnad, þǣr þā graman wunnon; þæs ne wēndon ǣr witan Scyldinga.    From Wordnik.com.  [Beowulf] Reference

"King and witan and people have been fools enough to buy peace with gold and not with edged steel.    From Wordnik.com.  [King Olaf's Kinsman A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut] Reference

A witan is summoned; it will do no good.    From Wordnik.com.  [Alfgar the Dane or the Second Chronicle of Aescendune] Reference

Under the witan-trees, and their full minds.    From Wordnik.com.  [Georgian Poetry 1913-15] Reference

Alfred ordained that the witan should meet in.    From Wordnik.com.  [London and the Kingdom - Volume I] Reference

Egbert, King of Wessex, held a witan in London.    From Wordnik.com.  [The History of London] Reference

"frum-cyn witan, ær ge fyr heonan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Beowulf] Reference

"frôdan fyrn-witan, feorh ûðgenge.    From Wordnik.com.  [Beowulf] Reference

Ecgfrith and his witan had banished #Wilfrith#, Archbishop of York, from his see.    From Wordnik.com.  [Bell's Cathedrals: Chichester (1901) A Short History & Description Of Its Fabric With An Account Of The Diocese And See] Reference