Professionalism, perfidy and personal circumstance in the life of Marchamont Nedham

Abstract

Marchamont Nedham, the English revolutionary journalist, for whom ostentatious side-changing became an occupational hazard, has earned a reputation among both contemporaries and many historians for perfidy and venality. This article proposes another interpretation of his career. A close contextualization of his canon of works and his professional circumstances with the varying political climates shows that his apparent changes of allegiance can be explained by his long-standing attachments to political patrons. Such fidelity is also evident in his duty to his family and in his personal friendships. His career exemplified professionalism, rational pragmatism and loyalty, often in difficult circumstances.