Playford’s Dancing Master: The Compleat Dance Guide

1651Line
Ed. 1-8 Longways – 4 Couples
D Minor 3 x AABB

Note: The couples are in an unusual order and the last two are improper, so to keep the directions clear, the couples have been renumbered and the instructions updated, thusly:

1W-2W-3M-4M
1M-2M-3W-4W

I.

A1 1-4: Meet all a Double and back.

A2 1-4: That again.

B1 1-2: 2^nd Man and 3^rd Woman take hands and lead out a Double to the wall, the 3^rd Man and 2^nd Woman doing the same. At the same time, the 1^st and 4^th Couples meet in a Double.
B1 3-6: 1^st and 2^nd Couples take hands four abreast and fall back a Double and meet, the other two Couples doing the same.
B1 7-8: Turn your Opposite by both hands.

B2 1-2: 1^st and 4^th Couples take hands and lead out a Double, while the 2^nd and 3^rd meet in a Double.
B2 3-6: Sides take hands four abreast and fall back a Double and meet.
B2 7-8: Turn your Partner by both hands.

II.

A1 1-4: Side Right with your Partners.

A2 1-4: Then 2^nd and 3^rd Couples Side Left with your Opposite while the 1^st and 4^th Couples Side Left with their own.

B1 1-4: Sides take hands four abreast and lead out a Double and fall back.
B1 5-8: Each side take hands and circle quite round to your places.

B2 1-4: 2^nd Couple step in between the 1^st Couple and all four take hands abreast and lead up a Double and fall back, the other Couples doing the same downwards.
B2 5-8: Then each group take hands as before and go quite round to your places.

III.

A1 1-4: Arm Right with your Partners.

A2 1-4: Then 2^nd and 3^rd Couples Arm Left with your Opposite while the 1^st and 4^th Couples Arm Left with their own.

B1 1-2: 2^nd Man and 3^rd Woman take hands and lead out a Double to the wall, the 3^rd Man and 2^nd Woman doing the same. At the same time, the 1^st and 4^th Couples meet in a Double.
B1 3-6: 2^nd and 3^rd Couples fall back a Double, taking hands to make an arch, while the 1^st and 4^th Couples lead their Opposites out under the arches, then split to come back to their Partners.
B1 7-8: All turn your Opposite by both hands.

B2 1-2: 1^st and 4^th Couples take hands and lead out a Double, while the 2^nd and 3^rd meet in a Double.
B2 3-6: 1^st and 4^th Couples fall back and make an arch, while the others lead their Partners under the arches and split to come back to their original positions.
B2 7-8: Turn your Partner by both hands.

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