The key to happily panicked, adrenaline-fuelled term-paper writing, reader, is the right soundtrack. I do my best to match my music to the theme of my writing.

Oh, Lord, I could not have picked a better period.

There is nothing quite like writing about wacko Marian ideology with Purcell pinging dementedly around in your brain, or writing about recusant traditions with a plaintive Byrd Mass achingly egging you on, or stitching Too Many argumentative threads together with a forty-part Tallis motet echoing the rhythms in your mind.

Thank you, sixteenth century. I owe you one.