Dear Sir,

During Oliver Cromwell’s time, a period of stark religiosity, life was grim for many in England.

The Restoration, which followed, is epitomised in this song with words by Dryden and music by Purcell:

“We ha’ cheated the parson, we’ll cheat him again,

For why should a blockhead ha’ one in ten?”

It’s history here repeating itself.

ROGER SNAPE