THE ENGLISH DANCING MASTER OR, Plaine and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to each Dance, by John Playford.
| Editorial notes: | If Playford printed more that one name for a dance all the names are listed individually in the Table of the Dances below. |
| Comments by the editor, both here and on the dance pages, are inclosed by parentheses (). |
Jump to the Table of the Dances
(The original preface. The spelling is from the original)
To the Ingenious Reader
The art of Dancing called by the Ancient Greeks Orchestice, and Orchestis, is a commendable and rare Quality fit for your Gentlemen, if opportunely and civilly used. And Plato, that Famous Philosopher thought it meet, that yong Ingenious Children be taught to Dance. It is a quality that has been formerly honoured in the Courts of Princes, when performed by the most Noble Heroes of the Times! The Gentlemen of the Inns of Court, whose sweet and ayry Activity has crowned their Grand Solemnities with Admiration to all Spectators. This Art has been Anciently handled by Athenaeus, Julius, Pollux, Caelius Rhodiginus, and others, and much commend it to be Excellent for Recreation, after more serious Studies, making the body active and strong, gracefull in deportment, and a quality very much beseeming a Gentleman. Yet all this should not have been an Incitement to me for Publication of this Worke (knowing these Times and the Nature of it do not agree) But that there was a false and surrepticious Copy at the Printing Presse, which if it had been published, would have been a disparagement to the quality and the Professors thereof, and a hinderance to the Learner: Therefore for prevention of all which, having an excellent Copy by me, and gentle censure of all ingenious Gentlemen lovers of this Quallity; not doubting but their goodnes will pardon what may be amiss, and accept of the honest Intention of him that is a faithfull honourer of your Virtues, and
Your Servant to command
J. P.
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A Health to Betty - Longways for as many as will
A Souldiers Life - Longways for as many as will
Adsons Saraband - Longways for 6
All a Mode de France - Longways for as many as will
All in a Garden green - Longways for 6
An Old man is a Bed Full of Bones - Longways for as many as will
Anniseed-water Robin - Longways or as many as will
The Bath - Longways for as many as will
The Begger Boy - Longways for 6
Bobbing Joe - Longways for as many as will
Broome, Broome, The bonny bonny Broome - Longways for 8
Cast a Bell or Castabella - Longways for as many as will
Cherily and Merrily - Longways for 8
The Cherping of the Larke - Longways for 8
Chirping of the Nightingale - Round for as many as will
The Countrey Coll - Longways for as many as will
Dargason - Longways for as many as will, standing in one line
Dissembling Love - Longways for 6
Drive the cold winter away - Longways for as many as will
Fain I Would - Square for 8 - contrary
The Fine Companion - Round for 8
The Frier in the Well - Longways for as many as will
The Fryar and the Nun - Longways for as many as will
Gathering Peascods - Round for as many as will
Goddesses - Longways for as many as will
Graies Inne Maske - Longways for 8
Greenwood - For 6. One side man, woman, man. The other w, m, w
The Gun - Longways for as many as will
Half Hannikin - Longways for as many as will
Have at thy Coat old woman - Longways for as many as will
The Hemp-Dresser - Longways for as many as will
Hit and misse - Longways for 4
Hockley in the hole - Longways for as many as will
If all the World were Paper - Round for 8
The Irish Lady - Longways for as many as will
Irish Trot - Longways for as many as will
Jenny Pluck Pears - Round for 6
Jog On - Longways for as many as will
Labour in Vaine - Longways for 6
Lady Lye neare me - Longways for as many as will
Lavena - Longways for as many as will
The London Gentlewoman - Longways for as many as will
Lord of Carnarvans Jegg - Longways for 8
Lulle me beyond thee - Eight, 4 by 4
The Maid peept out at the window - Longways for as many as will
The Merry Merry Milke Maids - Longways for 8
The Milke-Mayds Bobb - Longways for 8
Mill-field - Round for as many as will
Millisons Jegge - Longways for 6
My Lady Cullen - Longways for as many as will
New Boe Peep - Longways for as many as will
The New Exchange - Longways for 6
New New Nothing - Longways for as many as will
The Night Peece - Longways for 6
Once I loved a Maiden Faire - Longways for as many as will
The Oyle of Barly - Longways for 6
Pauls Steeple - Longways for as many as will
Pauls Wharfe - Longways for as many as will
Peppers Black - Round for as many as will
Petticoat Wag - Longways for as many as will
Picking of Sticks - Longways for 6
Prince Ruperts March - Longways for 8
The Punks Delight - Longways for as many as will
Rose is white and Rose is red - Round for as many as will
Row Well Ye Marriners - Longways for as many as will
The Saraband - Longways for as many as will
Saturday night and Sunday morn - Longways for as many as will
Sedauny - Longways for as many as will, standing in one line
Shepheards Holyday - Longways for 6
Skellemesago - Longways for as many as will
The Slip - Longways for as many as will
The Spanish Jeepsie - Longways for 8
Staines Morris - Longways for as many as will
Step Stately - Longways for 3, 5, 7, or 9 couples
Tom Tinker - Longways for as many as will
Up Tailes All - Round for as many as will
Upon a Summers Day - Longways for 6