Early Black

Presence up to the 16TH Century Contrary to the general belief black people have arrived in Britain centuries ago. Very little is known about their presence in Britain before the sixteenth century for they have been marginalised and neglected by British historians who considered their history not worth studying, yet according to some archaeological and literal evidence, their presence probably dates back to Roman times, and may be earlier. (Fryer, 1984; Sandiford, 1988)1. Walvin (1994)2 states that: Black people have lived in Britain for centuries. During the Roman Occupation, for instance, a unit of African troops was stationed near Carlisle. There is evidence of Africans in York in the same period. (p.83) In fact, in the 3rd century AD black soldiers were sent by the Roman army to the province of Britannia to protect the Adrian Wall. Amongst them, there had been slaves, soldiers and even officers some of which married, had children, and remained in Britain. The proportions of limbs of some skeletons found in a Romano British Cemetery outside York suggested that they were Black Africans. Various remains and artifacts from the 4th century at the Yorkshire Museum show the presence of colored people during the 4th century. The most interesting of these was the skeleton of a woman in York in 1901, which archeologist experts revealed to be of a woman of high status and from African origin. Paul Edwards, who thanks to his knowledge of old languages is trying to find evidence of black presence during the Dark Ages, had pretty well underlined the ironical side of this reality when he stated that “it would be a nice irony against racist opinion if it could be demonstrated that African communities were settled in England before English invaders arrived from Europe”.

Black people during the 16th century Although in small proportions, the 16th century saw the establishment of the first black community in London. Many references could be found in the literature of that period. Thanks to records we find a number of traces of black people at that time, most of which were used as entertainers and musician, especially at the royal court. References are made in the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber to John Blanke who was a regular musician at the courts of Henry VII and his successor Henry VIII. In 1501, Catherine of Aragon arrived in Deptford with five ‘Black Moors’4. Queen Elisabeth I used to have a black maidservant and a group of black musicians and three dancers who entertained her courtiers and herself.5 Black characters also figured in the 16th century literature, such as Shakespeare plays and London place names such as Black Boy Court or Blackmoors’ Alley. The first official mention of black presence was in 1555 when John Lok, a son of a prominent London merchant, decided to bring five West African slaves to London from a town called Shama on the coast of what we know nowadays as Ghana. His purpose was to teach them English then to take them back to Africa as interpreters. Yet, it is not he but Sir. John Hawkyns, an English navigator, who is considered as the initiator of British slave trade.6 At that time, black people were rather stared at as strange beasts, freaking creatures, or for the best as curiosities.

English people were very little informed about Africans and their cultures. However, when they started to explore the African continents, images and descriptions of African people, most of the time distorted or exaggerated, started to spread in England. Explorers and travellers started to publish their findings and impressions in books which were read by English people. They were described and pictured to the reader as having no noses, no upper lips or tongues, or again without mouths. Some of them were said to be eight feet tall, others had a single eye in the forehead, and others without head at all with mouths and eyes on their breasts. They described as lustful people with weird sexual practices.7 It was not surprising, therefore, that the English society, once confronted to black people, had treated them as curiosities, or even as animals. By the end of the sixteenth century and the beginning of the next one, possessing black servants among the household became a fashionable thing among titled and rich families as an evident symbol of their status. At first, they were rather considered as exotic objects, human curiosities, pets, or as simple ornaments. This practice became more general by the end of the century and more and more black slaves were brought to England where they were for the majority used as household servants, prostitutes, or as entertainers. Their numbers increased so as to annoy Queen Elizabeth I who ordered them to be taken out of her realm, producing three addicts calling for their expulsion.

Queen Elizabeth’s

Reaction to Black Presence By the end of the sixteenth century and the beginning of the seventeenth century, the number of black people increased so as to reach several thousands. No exact record exists about how many coloured people were there, for since slave trade was not yet a regular and an organised one at that period, no taxes were levied. During that period, because of the dramatic increase in population and to other economic problems, ten per cent of the population was unable to support itself8, and thus reduced to vagrancy and begging. Several acts were introduced to help the needy. Even if the number of black people at that time was not very large, it was such so as to cause the Queen to be alarmed. Seeing them more and more present in her kingdom, she send an open letter to the lord mayor of London and to the mayors and sheriffs of other town on July 1596. Expressing her great displease concerning the large number of blackmoors in her realm, and her desire to deport at least some of them from the land, the letter stated the following: Her Majestie understanding that there are of late divers Blackmoores brought into the Realme, of which kinde of people there are all ready here to manie, consideringe howe God hath blessed this land with great increase of people of our owne Nation as anie Countrie in the world…Her Majesty’s pleasure therefore ys, that those kinde of people should be sent forthe of the lande. And for that purpose there ys direction given to this bearer Edwarde Banes to take of those Blackmoores that in this last voyage under Sir Thomas Baskervile, were brought into this Realme to the nomber of Tenn, to be transported by him out of the Realme. Wherein wee Require you to be aydinge & Assysting unto him as he shall have occasion, and thereof not to faile.9 A while after, a Lübeck merchant made her a proposal to arrange for the release of 89 English prisoners in Spain and Portugal but asked in return the permission to take as many blackmoors in her country. This proposal was highly welcomed by her majesty; first, because this clever arrangement would have allowed her to get rid of a number of black people whom she considered as already “to manie” and it would have saved her a lot of money at the same time.

A week after sending the first letter, an open warrant was sent to Lord Mayor of London and all-vice admirals, mayors and the other public officers where she informed them that a Lübeck merchant, called Casper van Senden, was licensed to take black people from the country and consequently required the local authorities to assist him to arrest them with consent of their masters who would, she was sure, they would rather prefer to be served by their Christian fellowmen. The warrant was in theses terms: …doth thincke yt a very good exchange and those kinde of people may be well spaared in this realme…[public officicers]…are therefore…required to aide and assist him to take up such blackmores as he shall finde within this realme with the consent of their masters, who we doubt not, considering her Majesty’s good pleasure to have those kinde of people sent out of the lande…and that they should doe charitably and like rather to be served by their owne contrymen then with those kinde of people, will yielde those in their possession to him.10 However, this letter had as minimal effect as the first one, for no master was eager to part with his black servants, especially when no compensation was offered. If Queen Elisabeth’s motives were to get rid of the coloured population present in her realm, then it had completely failed for she issued in 1601 a Royal Proclamation, expressing her great displease about the great number of ‘negars and Blackmoores’ whom she blamed for the social problems that existed at time, underlining the fact that the great majority of them were infidels. She confessed being Highly discontented to understand the great numbers of negars and blackmoores which (as she informed) are crept into the realm…who are fostered and relieved [i.e. fed] here to the great annoyance of her own liege people, that want the relief [i.e. food], which those people consume, as also for that the most of them are infidels, having no understanding of Christ or his Gospel.11