Clay Lane

The Copy Book

A Library of History and Literature in English

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283

The Little Flower Boy

Mary I’s fear for her throne had risen to such a pitch that her Chamberlain felt threatened by a three-year-old child.

284

Two Sly Foxes

Sir Nicholas L’Estrange recalls two astonishing eyewitness accounts of the resourcefulness the fox.

285

Translated from the Lattin

When William Shakespeare agreed to be godfather to Ben Jonson’s baby boy, he forgot that he would have to think of a gift for his christening.

286

Balaam and His Ass

A prophet-for-hire agreed to help Balak, King of Moab, try to do something about the flood of Israelites pouring into his kingdom.

287

Fight the Good Fight

Eighth-century Northumbrian monk St Bede urged Christians to think of heaven, and then fight our way there for all we are worth.

288

Run for Glory

In a sermon for the Feast of All Saints, eighth-century Northumbrian monk St Bede explains why it is worth going for the spiritual burn.