On November 7, 1650, a man named John Playford registered The English Dancing Master: OR Plaine and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to each Dance.  John was a stationer (publisher) in London and already known for his “political tracts, miscellaneous non-musical works, music theory, lessons for various instruments, collections of songs, and psalms.” ⁽¹⁾  Other works that he published include: Musicall Banquet (1651), Musick’s Recreation on the Lyra Viol (1652), and Choice Musick to the Psalms of David (1656). 

On March 19, 1651, the book was “printed by Thomas Harper, to be sold by John Playford, at his shop at the Inner Temple neere the Church doore”. ⁽²⁾ Between 1651 and 1728, 18 editions of ‘The [English] Dancing Master’ were published.  John Playford has been credited for publishing the first seven editions; his son, Henry Playford has been credited for publishing the next four, and John Young has been credited for publishing the final six.  Between the 3 of them, they are credited for publishing over 6,000 dances – including variations, duplications, tunes, and songs.

Each section is separated into at least two of four parts: Playford Edition, Documentation Post 1603, Documentation Pre 1603, and/or Musical History.

• The ‘Playford Edition’ section specifies what edition of John Playford’s The [English] Dancing Master the dance comes from.  The word ‘English’ is in brackets because it is only used in the title of the first edition of The Dancing Master.
   

• The Documentation Post 1603 section includes quotes, regarding the named dance, from sources between 1603 and year that the dance was published in one of The Dancing Master books.
   

• The Documentation Through 1603 section includes quotes, regarding the named dance, from sources prior to 1603.
   

• The Musical History section includes quotes regarding music/tunes, ballads, and/or lyrics either named or including the name of the dance.  

For reconstruction purposes: "The English people of the Elizabethan era had very strong beliefs; all the circle dances started to the left, the “way of the sun”, so as not to upset the gods."⁽³⁾

 While you are reading through the following pages, please keep in mind that middle and old English was quoted, as necessary.  Also note that any dances that were published by John Playford, but not in the first edition of the book, will have the word 'English' in brackets.  This is because editions, after the first, dropped the word 'English' out of the title.