Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
By Henry Arthur Payne (1868-1940), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
A struggle between rival Royal Houses begins in 1455, after questions are raised about King Henry VI’s capacity to rule.
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© Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.
God’s love proved to be bigger and stronger than all man’s wickedness.
© Jim Gordon, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.
Naaman had very fixed ideas about what it takes to get a miracle.
© Cocowiki28, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
The Blessed Virgin Mary adds four years to the life of Bishop Wilfrid, and an angel suggests a suitable thank-you.
© Jastrow, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Paris, prince of Troy, takes the not unwilling Queen of Sparta back home with him, and sparks ten years of diplomatic tension and ten of war.
© Alden Chadwick, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Mark Twain’s attention was drawn off people-watching for a moment by an extraordinarily lifelike machine.