ABSTRACT
While providing an overall backdrop for the London black records, the notations of black people outside London do not simply replicate the thematic patterns of the London data. With the exception of the Southampton black diver who appeared in the Admiralty case of 1547 discussed, there are no mentions of black people outside London until the beginning of Elizabeth's reign. In these aspects, the records of black people in the English provinces offer important confirmations as well as modifications of the black history of the London citations. There are two tracks in the history of the early modern English black presence outside London. The first is those merchant traders and their powerful associates in the aristocracy and landed gentry bring black people to their country residences. The second track is that of rival business groups, such as outport traders, who also brought back and kept black people in their own rural localities outside London.
