Shepheards Holyday

(or, Labour in Vain)

English Country Dance

Playford, EDM 1st Ed

Longways for three couples

Intermediate


I	A1	1-8	Double forward and back	Lead up all a D. back,
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to left)	crosse over •
	A2	1-8	Face down; Double forwad and back	Lead down, back again,
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to right, returning to place)	crosse over •• §
	B1	1-4	1st couple: Slip down between 2nd couple	The first man slip before the 2. man, while his first Wo. before the 2. Wo.
		5-8	3rd couple: Slip up, each behind 2nd of same gender (end in line across set, 1st couple in middle)	then the last man slip behind the 2. man, while his Wo. behinde the 2 Wo.
		9-16	Lines of gender: Cast up-out-down, then lead up to place, doing 2 Doubles (1st couple at middle splits to lead the cast)	then all six turne round about to the left hand into their places,
	B2	1-4	3rd couple: Slip up, between 2nd couple	then the last Cu. doe as the first,
		5-8	1st couple: Slip down, each behind 2nd of same gender	and first as the last •• ¶
		9-16	Lines of gender: Cast down-out-up, then lead down to place, doing 2 Doubles (3rd couple at middle splits to lead the cast)

II	A1	1-8	Side to left	Sides, back again,
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to left)	crosse over •
	A2	1-8	Side to right	That againe •• §
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to right, returning to place)	That againe •• §
	B1	1-4	Double back (away from partner)	Three men and 3. We. back,
		5-8	Take hands in line of gender; Double forward	joyning hands meet
		9-16	Take hands in circle of gender; 2 Doubles circling left to place	3. men hands and goe round, We. doing the like,
	B2	1-4	Double back (away from partner)	men and We. back as before
		5-8	Take hands in line of gender; Double forward	and meet,
		9-16	Take hands in circle of gender facing out; 2 Doubles circling left to place	hands backward and goe round as before. ¶

III	A1	1-8	Arm to left	Armes as you sided •• §
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to left)
	A2	1-8	Arm to right
		9-12	Double to change places with partner (pass to right, returning to place)
	B1	1-4	1st couple: Double to cross into 2nd couple's places while 2nd couple: Double up	The first man crosse into the 2. Wo. place, and his Wo. into the 2. mans place, &c. ¶
		5-8	1st couple: Double to cross into 3rd couple's places while 3rd couple: Double up
		9-16	2nd couple: Repeat B1 1-8
	B2	1-8	3rd couple: Repeat B1 1-8
		9-16	All: Set and turn single

Reconstruction by Peter Durham informed by that of Sara Bonneville, based in turn on that of John White (KWDS 2003). Original text transcribed from online facsimile.

Notes

Reconstruction. At B1 9-16, the position of the dancers is such that having both lines cast left requires very different paths to get everyone back to place. I assume Playford's directions are male-centric and have the women mirror what the men do (so they turn to the right).

Reconstruction. III B1-B2 provides a puzzle for the reconstructor: there are short instructions for 1st couple to cross into 2nd couple's place, followed by “&c”. Some reconstructors have 1st man and 1st woman cross in the same 4 counts; others have them take turns. The goal is presumably to use all the music and get everyone home at the end. I have chosen to follow the lead of Bonneville and White here. An appealing alternate might be to have the first couple take turns, crossing to the bottom of the set and then back up, displacing the other dancers as they go.