Clay Lane

The Copy Book

A Library of History and Literature in English

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787

Bass, Bat and Bull

John Nyren tells us about one of cricket’s truly great batsmen, John Small.

788

The Gossip in Gavrillac

The simple folk of Brittany know what it means when a nobleman calls himself godfather to an unknown infant.

789

The Synod of Hatfield

The Roman Emperor offered to unite the world’s squabbling churches – but it was the kind of offer you can’t refuse.

790

The Hundred Years’ War

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.

791

A Cricketer’s World

Leigh Hunt reflects on the civilising effect of the game of cricket.

792

Leg Glance

A sportsman and an officer lays a wager that he can make a trigger-happy Irishman go barefoot in public.