Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
© Lewis Clarke, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
John Nyren tells us about one of cricket’s truly great batsmen, John Small.
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© Pymouss, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
The simple folk of Brittany know what it means when a nobleman calls himself godfather to an unknown infant.
Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The Roman Emperor offered to unite the world’s squabbling churches – but it was the kind of offer you can’t refuse.
From the British Library, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
King John had already lost most of the Crown’s lands in France, but when Aquitaine was threatened Edward III knew he must act fast.
© Peter S, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Leigh Hunt reflects on the civilising effect of the game of cricket.
By Edward Henry Corbould (1815-1905), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
A sportsman and an officer lays a wager that he can make a trigger-happy Irishman go barefoot in public.