QVID EST WARDEMOTUM?
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The wardmote ( A saxon term ) has been meeting in my ward of the City of London since the time of King Alfred the Great, and possibly has its origins in the curiae of each vicus of the ancient Roman City.Liber Albus, page 36 contains the text I am reading here.
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xZEpAAAAYAAJ
contains the ancient regulations and constitution of the City of London, which unique among cities in England, is still governed with its original Mediaeval constitution. The wardmote is the oldest democratic institution still functioning in the United Kingdom. The City's Common Council predates Parliament at Westminster, and our House of Commons derives its name from it.
Some words are not Latin:
The Alderman is an elected Magistrate. He presides over the Court of Wardemote. The Beadle "Bedelum" is an elected Constable. A "scavengour" was a rubbish collector, and an "aleconnor" was a person who was expert in the quality of beer.
