The Copybook

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

Blog

Copybook

Think & Speak

Games

KJV Bible

769

From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Peacemaker by D. H. Montgomery

American historian David Montgomery credited King Edward VII with bringing peace to Europe, the Empire and the world.

Read

770

© Jason Zhang, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Empire Day by D. H. Montgomery

American historian David Montgomery explains why Britain’s Empire Day really was a cause for celebration.

Read

771

Anonymous photograph ca. 1875, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Shadow of a Name by Prince Hoare

When a Tahitian sailor was denied his well-earned wages, the rumour got about that Granville Sharp was on the case.

Read

772

© Wojciech Migda, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Charm of Golf by A. A. Milne

A. A. Milne analyses the popularity of golf, and decides that it’s good to be bad.

Read

773

By Carl Rudolf Huber (1839-1896), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

On a Tight Rein by Mrs Devonshire

The tale of how a prim little English horse cleaned up his Continental stables.

Read

774

© By William Hemsley (?1817-1906), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Hue and Cry by Sir Thomas Smith

Sir Thomas Smith, one of Elizabeth I’s diplomats, explains how in her day criminals were brought to trial.

Read

Clay Lane The Copybook
About Clay Lane nicholas@claylane.uk

© Nicholas Armitage / Clay Lane, 2025

May 29 NS

May 16 OS

The Last Commandment : Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf imagines the farewell between Jesus and his Apostles, forty days after his resurrection.
The Fall of Constantinople : Hospitality and sympathy, but no help - the Byzantine Emperor learns a bitter lesson about western diplomacy.
The Return of King Charles II : Almost nine years after Oliver Cromwell’s army drove him from England, King Charles II returned at their invitation, and John Evelyn was there to see it.
Lost and Found : What would you in these difficult situations?
They Might Not Need Me : Read these lines of verse out aloud.
The Turn : Ben Jonson tells us how we should measure a life well lived.
Music Video : Julius Benedict, Piano Concerto in E flat: II. Andante,
The Character of George Washington : Thomas Jefferson recalls the virtues (and a few faults) of the first US President.
Amen to That : John Bright declared it was time stop fighting wars around the world for ‘British interests’.
Arena : Use these nouns in sentences of at least ten words in length.
Q & A :
Deep Harmony : In the midst of the US Civil War, a simple melody briefly brought the warring factions together.
Thirty Minutes : Describe half an hour in one of these places.
And is there Care in Heaven? : Sir Guyon lies in an enchanted swoon, but he is not without help.
Pirate : For each of these words, suggest others that seem to go with it, and use them to bring a scene to life.
Latest

Clay Lane Home

Search

Blog

The Copybook

Think and Speak

Comfortable Words

Word Games

Featured Authors

Featured Subjects

Search The Copybook

About Clay Lane

Close Menu