Happy Monday,

I decided to kick the week off with a nugget of useless knowledge from The National Archives. Below are a few points...click the link to read more.

'It appears that John Blanke, a Black trumpeter, was a regular musician at the courts of both Henry VII and Henry VIII. Musicians' payments were noted in the accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber, who was responsible for paying the wages.

There are several payments recorded to a 'John Blanke, the blacke trumpeter'. This trumpeter was paid 8d a day, first by Henry VII and then from 1509 by Henry VIII.

In the Westminster Tournament Roll, the king occupies a prominent position. Henry is shown surrounded by a host of footmen, officials and dignitaries, a mace bearer, a crowd of nobles, the officers of arms and six trumpeters. Among the latter is a Black man.

He appears twice on the Roll: once on the way from the court and again on the way back. According to the historian Sydney Anglo, he is almost certainly John Blanke, the 'blacke trumpeter' mentioned in the Treasurer's accounts.

Henry VIII's tournament was a costly extravaganza, and here we find a Black man included in one of the most magnificent pageants of his time, dressed formally as a mounted musician, perhaps also belonging to the equestrian corps of the court.'





You know me, I’ll research the hell out of juicy bits like this. Upon investigation, turns out John Blacke was Henry’s ace. That’s right—he mingled! In addition to being Henry’s highest paid trumpeter, John composed music, and tutored Henry and Catherine of Aragon. He also attended all court events including births.

The most interesting fact I unearthed not only proves his prominence in court, but Henry’s confidence in him. In a time when household servants, which included musicians, slept communally in the great hall and hallways, John had his own lodgings. Remember, upon gifting these rooms, Henry was obliged to staff them. That’s no small gesture…nobles literally fought for years and offered to PAY for lodgings.

I wish these clips of history were taught in school. Stuff like this is all but erased or, in some cases, watered down. I had to do a lot of digging (No, really, A LOT!) but it was worth it.

Tips for researching Tudor history:
Search the national archives of the super powers of the period. Because Henry came to the throne as a rock star, and because England held such political sway, all major courts documented their moves. I’ve found Spain, Venice, and the Vatican most useful. The French archives are sparse at best because their ambassadors were morons and reports their reports are small in number and full of nonsense. The household accounts are a great place to start.

Have a great week!!!