112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap. though the Danes, who peopled East-Anglia andli. Northumberland, were for some time ruled im-mediately by their own princes, they all acknow-ledged a subordination to Alfred, and submittedto his superior authority. As equality amongsubjects is the great source of concord , Alfredgave the same laws to the Danes and English,and put them entirely on a like footing in theadministration both of civil and criminal justice.The fine for the murder of a Dane was the famewith that for the murder of an Englishman; thegreat symbol of equality in those ages.

The king, after rebuilding the ruined cities,particularly London ", which had been destroyedby the Danes in the reign of Ethehvolf, establish-ed a regular militia for the defence of the king-dom. He ordained that all his people should bearmed and registered; he assigned them a regularrotation of duty; he distributed part into thecastles and fortresses, which he built at properplaces 48 ; he required another part to take thefield on any alarm, and to assemble at stated placesof rendezvous; and he left a sufficient number athome , who were employed in the cultivation ofthe land, and who afterwards took their turn inmilitary service The whole kingdom was like

" Asser. p. 15. Chron. Sax. p. 88. M. West. p. 171.Simeon Dunelin. p. 131. Brompton , p. 812. AluredBeverl. ex edit. Hearne , p. 106.

48 Asser. p. 18. Ingulf, p. 27.

" Chron. Sax. p. 92, 93.

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