The Copybook

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

May 29 ns May 16 os

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Read short passages similar to those NL Clay collected in his anthologies, to gain a feeling for the language, history and culture of the English-speaking world.

In The Copybook

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The Feast of the Ascension

May 16 os

© Trevor Littlewood, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Last Commandment by Cynewulf

Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf imagines the farewell between Jesus and his Apostles, forty days after his resurrection.

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The Fall of Constantinople

May 29

© MEH Bergmann, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.

The Fall of Constantinople by Clay Lane

Hospitality and sympathy, but no help - the Byzantine Emperor learns a bitter lesson about western diplomacy.

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Charles II returns to London

May 29

By William Hogarth (1697-1764), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Return of King Charles II by John Evelyn

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.

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Featured

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

The Battle of Neville’s Cross by Clay Lane

Ralph Neville spoiled David of Scotland’s alliance with France in the Hundred Years’ War

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1

© JLPC, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Turn by Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson tells us how we should measure a life well lived.

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2

© Bob Linsdell, Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Character of George Washington by Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson recalls the virtues (and a few faults) of the first US President.

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3

By Godefroy Durand (1832–1896), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Amen to That by John Bright

John Bright declared it was time stop fighting wars around the world for ‘British interests’.

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4

National Archives at College Park, Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Deep Harmony by J. William Jones

In the midst of the US Civil War, a simple melody briefly brought the warring factions together.

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5

By an unknown artist, via the Russian Museum and Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

And is there Care in Heaven? by Edmund Spenser

Sir Guyon lies in an enchanted swoon, but he is not without help.

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6

By William Stewart Watson (1800-1870), via National Gallieries of Scotland and Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Tilting at Windmills by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote seizes his chance to capture a giant for his lady-love, Dulcinea.

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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.
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