The More Taubronar (died 1507) was a musician of African origin at the court of James IV of Scotland and his wife Margaret Tudor. His name is unknown. A "taubron" was a kind of drum, the word is related to the modern form "tabor". The word "More" or "Moryen" was used for people of African origin.<ref>See, [https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/more_n 'Mor(e), Moir', Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue]</ref> Archival records credit the More Taubronar as the producer of a costumed dance or masque performed at the Scottish royal court in 1505.
An African drummer in the archives
Although his name has not been discovered, a few things are known of the drummer's career at the Scottish court through the royal treasurer's accounts. He was first noted in the accounts in December 1504. His fee for three months, a quarter, was £4-7s-6d. Scots. The "More taubronar" appeared at Linlithgow Palace, Stirling Castle and Falkland.
James IV travelled with this drummer and four Italian minstrels to Dumfries, Eskdale and Peebles in September 1504. At Dumfries James IV gave 28 shillings to a musician called "Cloffies" whose "tabroun" drum had been taken by Cuddy Rig, who is identified as a fool and fiddler. "Cloffes" was also bought a coat of kersey at Dumfries. It is not clear if "Cloffies" (perhaps "Clovis") was the king's African drummer. The name does not appear in the accounts again.
The Italian minstrels and the "More taubronar" joined the king on his trip to the north to Brechin, Darnaway and Elgin in October 1504. There were dances, performed by the maidens of Darnaway, Elgin, and Forres. They visited Huntly Castle, then known as "Strathbogie" on their journey back. The king may have paid for the drummer's childcare during this trip to the Mounth, paying his "cheldis expens", alternatively the word 'child' may refer to the drummer's servant. While James was away in the north, Margaret Tudor stayed at Dunfermline Palace with four young African women known as the "More lasses".'Child', DOST/DSL
In February 1505 the African drummer devised a masque or dance for the tournament held on Shrove-Tide, called "Fasterins Eve". Twelve dancers wore costumes in black and white fabrics, by "the More taubronaris devis".
A coat was made for the "More taubronar" of camlet fabric woven with black and red threads, with a damask doublet in grey and tanny (purplish brown), and begarried (striped) hose in December 1503.'Begary', DOST/DSL In March 1505 he was given 28 shillings to pay for painting his drum, and was paid 14 shillings on 25 March as a reward with other court musicians. This payment was grouped by the accountant with the money given to four Italian "schawmeris", players of the woodwind shawm, presumably the Italian minstrels mentioned in 1504.
In December 1505 he was given clothes made from Bruges satin and tanny fabrics, the same costume as the four Italians. Another "taubronar", Ansley, was given a slightly less expensive costume. In May 1506 the "More taubronar" was given a yellow coat lined with taffeta. This was for a special occasion when the king sailed to the Isle of May, a place of pilgrimage in the Firth of Forth.
The "More taubronar" was somehow injured in June 1506 at Holyrood. The king gave his physician 9 shillings in July, and made another payment in August. The accountant called the healer a "leech". In March and May 1507 James IV gave 14 shillings to his wife and child. The Scots word is "barne", perhaps meaning a baby. These payments suggest the African drummer had died.
In February 1506, James IV gave 28 shillings to a nurse that brought the "Moris barne" to him "to see", which may suggest this child, possibly the drummer's, was an object of exotic interest to the king.
Extracts from the treasurer's accounts mentioning the musicians at the court of James IV were first published in the 1830s by Robert Pitcairn and William Dauney. It has sometimes been suggested that another individual recorded in the same sources, "Peter the More", was the same person, although Peter is not mentioned as a musician. In March 1501 "Peter More" was granted a yearly fee of 20 French crowns by privy seal letter. Peter the More was sent to France on royal business in May 1501 and left royal service in August 1504.
