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."