Domboc

Domboc (book of dooms or sentences), the code of laws compiled by King Alfred, who made few if any original laws, but contented himself with restoring, renovating, and improving those which he found already in existence. Alfred's peculiarly Christian character is strongly impressed on his code, which begins with extracts from the Bible, 'The Lord spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God.' Then follow the ten commandments, the part of the Mosaic law relating to criminal offences, and passages from the New Testament, including the golden rule. The code was ratified by the Witan, as Alfred expressly informs us. Thorpe gives it in his Diplomatarium Anglicanum ævi Saxonici (1865).