The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1513

© Peter Smith, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Bird’s Custard Clay Lane

Alfred Bird’s wife could eat neither eggs nor yeast. So being a Victorian, Alfred put his thinking-cap on.

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1514

© John Sievert, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Treasure Island Clay Lane

An excited English gentleman hires a ship for a treasure-hunt, but doesn’t check his crew’s credentials.

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1515

© Colin Smith, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Alleluia Victory Clay Lane

How hard-pressed Christians on the Welsh border won a battle without bloodshed.

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1516

© Jeff Buck, Geograph. Licence CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Hermit of Handbridge Charlotte Yonge

King Harold died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Or did he?

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1517

© Andrew Hill, Geograph. Licence CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Edith and Edward Clay Lane

A King and Queen gentler than the times in which they lived.

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1518

© Fingalo, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Byron and Hercules Clay Lane

Lord Byron could not have hoped for a better omen in his support for the oppressed people of Greece.

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