azards. At length he achieved the object of
his ambition and succeeded in driving out the Danes, (A.D. 883 or
884).(25)

(M18)

Whilst the enemy directed their attention to further conquests in France
and Belgium, Alfred bent his energies towards repairing the City walls and
building a citadel for his defence--"the germ of that tower which was to be
first the dwelling place of Kings, and then the scene of the martyrdom of
their victims."(26) To his foresight in this respect was it due that the
city of London was never again taken by open assault, but successfully
repelled all attacks whilst the surrounding country was often devastated.

Nor did Alfred confine his attention solely to strengthening the city
against attacks of enemies without or to making it more habitable. He also
laid the foundation of an internal Government analagous to that
established in the Shires. Under the year A.D. 886, the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle(27) records that "King AElfred restored London; and all the Anglo
race turned to him that were not in bondage of the Danish men; and he then
committed the burgh to "the keeping of the aldorman AEthelred." In course
of time the analogy between shire and city organization became more close.
Where the former had its Shiremote, the latter had its Folkmote, meeting
in St. Paul's Churchyard by summons of the great bell. The County Court
found its co-relative in the Husting Court of the City; the Hundred Court
in the City Wardmote.(28)

(M19)

For the next ten years Alfred busied himself founding a navy and
establishing order in different parts of the country, but in 896 he was
compelled to hasten to London from the west of England to assist in the
repulse of another attack of the Danes. Two years before (894) the Danes
had threatened London, having established a fortification at Beamfleate or
South Benfleet, in Essex, whence they harried the surrounding country. The
Londoners on that occasion joined that part of the army which Alfred had
left behind in an attack upon the fort, which they not only succeeded in
taking, but they "took all that there was within, as well money as women
and children, and brought all to London; and all the ships they either
broke in pieces or burned, or brought to London or to Rochester."(29) Nor
was this all: Hasting's wife and his two sons had been made prisoners, but
were chivalrously restored by Alfred.

(M20)

The Danes, however, were not to be daunted by defeat nor moved