The Copybook

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

Blog

Copybook

Think & Speak

Games

KJV Bible

1339

© Stephen Daglish, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Burning Daylight by Samuel Smiles

George Stephenson argued that his steam engines were solar-powered.

Read

1340

Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain

The Spear of St Mercurius by Clay Lane

Roman Emperor Julian was ready to destroy an entire Christian community over his wounded pride.

Read

1341

© Brian Robert Marshall, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

With Hymns and Sweet Perfumes by Elfric of Eynsham

Elfric imagines how the Virgin Mary went to her eternal home.

Read

1342

© Stanley Howe, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Flodden Edge by Clay Lane

The Scots paid a heavy price for honouring their ‘Auld Alliance’ with France.

Read

1343

© Alfie Tait, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Kings of Northumbria by Clay Lane

Out of a restless alliance between two 6th century kingdoms came a civilisation that defined Englishness.

Read

1344

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

Vinland by Clay Lane

Scandinavian warrior Leif Ericson was sent to bring Christianity to Greenland, but accidentally discovered North America instead.

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.
Filioque : It started as an honest mistake, became a diplomatic standoff, and brought down an Empire.
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