17th-century english history

The traitor who gives Downing Street a bad name

11 October 2025 9:00 am

Even by 17th-century standards, George Downing’s duplicity in serving both Oliver Cromell and Charles II was exceptional and set new standards for unscrupulousness

Shades of meaning

23 January 2021 9:00 am

This is a big book about a minor painting — a double portrait of John Bankes, aged about 16 (the…