Mark Williams
@mrfw17thc.bsky.social
Reader in Early Modern History. Currently writing a cultural history of the English East India Company. He/Him. Immigrant. Academic. Father.
All opinions my own.
All opinions my own.
Memorandum attesting to the fact that Domingo Rodriguez 'is now, and has been for upwards of 17 years ... '
[Alan Carr voice]
' .... head Linguister' at Tellicherry (Thalassery) for the East India Company. #skystorians
One of untold hundreds who did this translation work for the EIC.
[Alan Carr voice]
' .... head Linguister' at Tellicherry (Thalassery) for the East India Company. #skystorians
One of untold hundreds who did this translation work for the EIC.
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Memorandum attesting to the fact that Domingo Rodriguez 'is now, and has been for upwards of 17 years ... '
[Alan Carr voice]
' .... head Linguister' at Tellicherry (Thalassery) for the East India Company. #skystorians
One of untold hundreds who did this translation work for the EIC.
[Alan Carr voice]
' .... head Linguister' at Tellicherry (Thalassery) for the East India Company. #skystorians
One of untold hundreds who did this translation work for the EIC.
Beautiful embellishment on a printed shipping pass out of New York, ca. 1698. #skystorians
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Beautiful embellishment on a printed shipping pass out of New York, ca. 1698. #skystorians
Letters to pirates ... #skystorians
November 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Letters to pirates ... #skystorians
November 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Find yourself something that makes you as happy as Edward Barlow's 'dolphin' was to 'swim in the sea'. #skystorians #earlymodern
(National Maritime Museum, Journal of Edward Barlow, JOD/4/197-210, 213-294)
(National Maritime Museum, Journal of Edward Barlow, JOD/4/197-210, 213-294)
November 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Find yourself something that makes you as happy as Edward Barlow's 'dolphin' was to 'swim in the sea'. #skystorians #earlymodern
(National Maritime Museum, Journal of Edward Barlow, JOD/4/197-210, 213-294)
(National Maritime Museum, Journal of Edward Barlow, JOD/4/197-210, 213-294)
I make no claim on being an historian of the United States, but all Trump's talk of the Insurrection Act being invoked did make me wonder when it's been used and ... it's interesting how many times Ulysses S. Grant invoked it against exactly the sort of people that now support MAGA.
October 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I make no claim on being an historian of the United States, but all Trump's talk of the Insurrection Act being invoked did make me wonder when it's been used and ... it's interesting how many times Ulysses S. Grant invoked it against exactly the sort of people that now support MAGA.
The problem, of course, is not that 'Great Man Theory' was ever unfashionable in the writing of History, but that it has been inescapably there all along.
October 19, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The problem, of course, is not that 'Great Man Theory' was ever unfashionable in the writing of History, but that it has been inescapably there all along.
Robert Knox - 19 years in captivity in Sri Lanka - returns to England and promptly goes back out in service of the Company to do what?
Engage in the slave trade: April 1684 commissioned to 'purchase' as many as 250 Africans - no males younger than 14, no females under 12. #earlymodern #skystorians
Engage in the slave trade: April 1684 commissioned to 'purchase' as many as 250 Africans - no males younger than 14, no females under 12. #earlymodern #skystorians
October 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Robert Knox - 19 years in captivity in Sri Lanka - returns to England and promptly goes back out in service of the Company to do what?
Engage in the slave trade: April 1684 commissioned to 'purchase' as many as 250 Africans - no males younger than 14, no females under 12. #earlymodern #skystorians
Engage in the slave trade: April 1684 commissioned to 'purchase' as many as 250 Africans - no males younger than 14, no females under 12. #earlymodern #skystorians
How was Robert Knox, son of an EIC Captain and captive in Sri Lanka for nineteen years, immediately identified as an outsider aboard ship when it was inspected on his arrival in England in September 1680?
His beard was long and old-fashioned. #earlymodern #skystorians
His beard was long and old-fashioned. #earlymodern #skystorians
October 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
How was Robert Knox, son of an EIC Captain and captive in Sri Lanka for nineteen years, immediately identified as an outsider aboard ship when it was inspected on his arrival in England in September 1680?
His beard was long and old-fashioned. #earlymodern #skystorians
His beard was long and old-fashioned. #earlymodern #skystorians
'What's the matter sweetheart? Aren't you enjoying Halloween as a Second World War evacuee child?'
October 10, 2025 at 6:33 AM
'What's the matter sweetheart? Aren't you enjoying Halloween as a Second World War evacuee child?'
Not drawing any parallels here *ahem*, but in March 1672 William Gyfford was so ill that the Dutch chirurgeon (the English one lacked 'the wherewithall') could do nothing for him 'because his distemper proceeds from trouble ... in regard his industry for the Company'. #earlymodern #skystorians
October 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Not drawing any parallels here *ahem*, but in March 1672 William Gyfford was so ill that the Dutch chirurgeon (the English one lacked 'the wherewithall') could do nothing for him 'because his distemper proceeds from trouble ... in regard his industry for the Company'. #earlymodern #skystorians
Some things never change.
Asked by their hosts at Tonkin (Trinh) in 1672 'which was ye Greatest Kingdome England, France, or Holland', the East India Company factors there responded 'the fame of Great Brittiagne was great all over Europe', but added they shouldn't praise themselves. #earlymodern
Asked by their hosts at Tonkin (Trinh) in 1672 'which was ye Greatest Kingdome England, France, or Holland', the East India Company factors there responded 'the fame of Great Brittiagne was great all over Europe', but added they shouldn't praise themselves. #earlymodern
October 8, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Some things never change.
Asked by their hosts at Tonkin (Trinh) in 1672 'which was ye Greatest Kingdome England, France, or Holland', the East India Company factors there responded 'the fame of Great Brittiagne was great all over Europe', but added they shouldn't praise themselves. #earlymodern
Asked by their hosts at Tonkin (Trinh) in 1672 'which was ye Greatest Kingdome England, France, or Holland', the East India Company factors there responded 'the fame of Great Brittiagne was great all over Europe', but added they shouldn't praise themselves. #earlymodern
Because many things in my life now are seen through the lens of Dr Seuss's books, this page from 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' seems very #UKHE appropriate these days.
September 29, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Because many things in my life now are seen through the lens of Dr Seuss's books, this page from 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' seems very #UKHE appropriate these days.
The endless beauty of the Welsh coast.
September 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The endless beauty of the Welsh coast.
Narrator:
Of course, they did stand for it.
Of course, they did stand for it.
September 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Narrator:
Of course, they did stand for it.
Of course, they did stand for it.
It's all coming together ...
Completed manuscript sent off today. Wonderful, as always, working with Tracey Loughran on this and a host of brilliant contributors.
#skystorians #earlymodern
Completed manuscript sent off today. Wonderful, as always, working with Tracey Loughran on this and a host of brilliant contributors.
#skystorians #earlymodern
September 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM
It's all coming together ...
Completed manuscript sent off today. Wonderful, as always, working with Tracey Loughran on this and a host of brilliant contributors.
#skystorians #earlymodern
Completed manuscript sent off today. Wonderful, as always, working with Tracey Loughran on this and a host of brilliant contributors.
#skystorians #earlymodern
Loving this very early Rembrandt in the Lakenhal in Leiden: 'Brillenverkoper' (Spectacles Seller), ca. 1624.
Part of a wider set of RvR's on the senses.
#earlymodern
Part of a wider set of RvR's on the senses.
#earlymodern
August 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Loving this very early Rembrandt in the Lakenhal in Leiden: 'Brillenverkoper' (Spectacles Seller), ca. 1624.
Part of a wider set of RvR's on the senses.
#earlymodern
Part of a wider set of RvR's on the senses.
#earlymodern
August 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This Johan Huizinga children's book phase is a strong development.
August 24, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This Johan Huizinga children's book phase is a strong development.
We've basically reached this stage now haven't we ... ?
August 22, 2025 at 6:51 PM
We've basically reached this stage now haven't we ... ?
Big win for the bigots. They've been having a tough run of it lately. 😕
August 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Big win for the bigots. They've been having a tough run of it lately. 😕