57. Alfred's Laws; his Translations.

Alfred proved himself to be more than mere ruler, for he was also a
lawgiver and teacher as well. Through his efforts a written code was
compiled, prefaced by the Ten Commandments and ending with the Golden
Rule. Referring to this introduction, Alfred said, "He who keeps this
shall not need any other law book."

Next, that learning might not utterly perish in the ashes of the
abbeys and monasteries which the Danes had destroyed (S53), the King,
though feeble and suffering, set himself to translate from the Lating
the "Universal History of Orosius," and also Bede's valuable "Church
History of England."

58. Alfred's Navy.

Alfred, however, still had to fight against fresh invasion by the
Danes, who continued to make descents upon the coast, and even sailed
up the Thames to take London. The English King constructed a superior
class of fast-sailing war vessels from designs made by himself. With
this fleet, which may be regarded as the beginning of the English
navy, he fought the enemy on their own element. He thus effectually
checked a series of invasions which, if they had continued, might have
reduced the country to barbarism.

59. Estimate of Alfred's Reign.

Considered as a whole, Alfred's reign (871-901) is hte most noteworthy
of any in the annals of the early English sovereigns. It was marked