Walking in the grounds of Anne Hathaway’s cottage near Stratford this afternoon, we came on an extraordinary piece of sculpture, and near it this wonderful passage from Richard II.

This royal throne of kings, this sceptr’d isle

This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars

This other Eden, demi-paradise

This fortress built by Nature for herself

Against infection and the hand of war,

This happy breed of men, this little world,

This precious stone set in a silver sea,

Which serves it in the office of a wall,

Or as a moat defensive to a house,

Against the envy of less happier lands;

This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England…

Wonder how many of the UKIP crowd know it.