The merry merry Milke Maids

English Country Dance

Playford, EDM 1st Ed

Longways for four couples

Beginning


I	A1	1-8	Double forward and back	Leade up all a D. forwards and back,
		9-16	Set and Turn Single left	set and turne S. •
	A2	1-8	Double forward and back	That again •• §
		9-16	Set and Turn Single right	That again •• §
	B1	1-4	1st and 3rd Couples: Double forward to meet partner	First and third Cu. meet your own,
		5-8	1st and 3rd Couples: 4 Slips down (going through the couple below them into their space) while 2nd and 4th Couples: 4 Slips up (going outside the couple above into their position)	slip between the other,
		9-24	Take right hands across; 4 Doubles to circle to place in a right-hand star (plenty of time, so don’t hurry it!)	take hands a crosse and go round each foure •
	B2	1-24	Repeat B1 in new positions (original 2nd and 4th couples slip down)	The other four as much •• ¶

II	A1	1-8	Side to left with partner	Sides all.
		9-16	Set and Turn Single left	Set and turn S. •
	A2	1-8	Side to right with partner	That again •• §
		9-16	Set and Turn Single right	That again •• §
	B1	1-8	Men: 2 Doubles, casting down to invert line	First man cast off, go to the lower end and stay, the rest following,
		9-16	Women: 2 Doubles, casting down to invert line	The We. as much,
		17-24	Set and Turn Single left	set and turn S. •
	B2	1-8	Men: 2 Doubles, casting up to original places	All that back again •• ¶
		9-16	Women: 2 Doubles, casting up to original places
		17-24	Set and Turn Single right

III	A1	1-8	Arm to left with partner	Armes all.
		9-16	Set and Turn Single left	Set and turn S. •
	A2	1-8	Arm to right with partner	That again •• §
		9-16	Set and Turn Single right	That again •• §
	B1	1-8	Men: Double back (away from partner) and forward (to place)	Men backe and
		9-24	Men: Single hey	goe the S. Hey •
	B2	1-8	Women: Double back and forward	We. as much •• ¶
		9-24	Women: Single hey	We. as much •• ¶

Reconstruction by Peter and Janelle Durham. Transcribed from facsimile.

Notes

Reconstruction. In part I, some reconstructions interpret Playford’s “slip between the other” as going inside the couple between rather than the couple below. They have the 1st and 3rd couples meet and go around in B1 while the other couples stand idle, and then have 2nd and 4th couples do likewise in B2. We believe that “go round each four” indicates multiple groups are circling.