Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
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By Theodoor Smits (1635–1707), via the Residenzgalerie Salzburg and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Sir Walter Raleigh was within his rights to experiment with the Native American habit of smoking tobacco, but he should have told his servants first.
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Attributed to William Segar (1564–1633), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
When young Walter Raleigh first came to the court of Queen Elizabeth I he had little more than his wardrobe in his favour, and he wore it wisely.
By William Charles Ross (1794–1860), via the National Portrait Gallery and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: ? Public domain.
Fiery young attorney Thomas Erskine stood up in the House of Commons to denounce a bill aiming to silence critics of the Government.
By Sir Thomas Lawrence (1768-1830), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Unlike some of his fellows in Westminster, Scottish statesman Henry Dundas made no attempt to make himself sound more ‘English’.
© Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
Among the oldest surviving fragments of Norse poetry are some lines of rugged common sense which any age would do well to heed.
By Thomas Luny (1759-1837), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Sir Edward and Lady Pellew were on their way to a dinner engagement one stormy day, when their carriage was caught up in tragedy at sea.