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

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961

© Rost.galis, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Misreading Russia by Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden asked Parliament to make a better effort to understand the Russian mindset.

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962

© Franc rc, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Early Warning by Charles H. Ross

An Italian businessman and his family in 18th century Messina owed their lives to their pet cats.

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963

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

Kim’s Game by Rudyard Kipling

Kim O’Hara starts his apprenticeship as a British spy with a little competition.

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964

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

Brightest Beacon by Cynewulf

Christ’s cross promises to take away the fear of Judgment Day.

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965

From the Visoki Dečani monastery in Kosovo/Serbia, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Water into Wine by Elfric of Eynsham

Abbot Elfric explains the significance of Christ’s miracle at Cana.

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966

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

Disbanding Empire by Adam Smith

Adam Smith could not imagine it would ever happen, but he nevertheless recommended that Britain grant independence to her colonies.

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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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