The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21). Volume VIII. The Age of Dryden. XIII. Legal Literature. § 3. The Era of the Capitularies. It was succeeded by the era of the capitularies, which add to, and amend, the previous codes; and here, again, England stands apart from the continent of Europe. On the continent, during the three centuries of chaos that followed the break up of the Carolingian empire, general legislation ceased. But, in England, a long and almost continuous line of strong kings—Alfred, Edward, Athelstan, Edmund, Edgar, Canute—issued administrative ordinances, which reveal the activity of a resolute central government. Taken as a whole, they constitute a very notable body of primitive Teutonic law.   3