The Englishman lived in constant fear of life and goods; he was liable at any moment to be called out against the enemy.

Whatever little civilisation had ever existed in the country died out almost altogether.
The Latin language was forgotten even by the priests.

War had turned everybody into fighters; commerce was impossible when the towns were sacked year after year by the pirates.

But in the rare intervals of peace, AElfred did his best to civilise his people.

The amount of work with which he is credited is truly astonishing.