Fain I would if I could

Playford, 1651, 1652, 1657, 1665, 1670, 1675, 1679, 1686, 1690

“Lead all out, lead all in again 1. Man and 4. Wo. the 1. Wo. and 2. Man change places by both hands, the other foure doing the like, then the 1. Man and 1. Wo. the 2. And 4. Wo. change by both hands, the other foure doing the like . Then each man hands with the Wo. on his left hand, lead out and in as before, changing places, back again as before: The 1. And 3. Cu. meet, the 2. And 4. Falling back, the 1. And 3. Cu. fall back, foure a breast, the 2. Man and 4. Wo. with the 1. Cu. the 3. Man and 1. Wo. armes and fall into the 4. And 2. Places, whilst the 2. Man and 4. Wo. the 4. Man and 2. Wo. armes behind, and fall into the 1. And 3. Places . The other as much : As in Oxford Sides and change places as before . Sides againe, and change places, back again : The 1. And 3. Cu cast off, and come into your places all again, the 4. Wo. following the 1. Man, the 2. Man the 1. Wo. and 2. Wo. the 3. Man, the 4. Man the 3. Wo. the uppermost and lower most foure, hands round, to your places . The 2. And 4 Cu. cast off, and the other four follow, to your places, foure and foure of each side, hands round, to your places. Armes and change as you sided . That againe, to your places : The 1. And 3. Cu. meet, turn back to back, the other foure hands about them, and go round to the right, and fall into each others places, the 2. Man and 4. Wo. into the 1. Place, the 4. Man and 2. Wo. into the 3. Place, the 1 man and 3 Wo. into 4. Place, and the 3. Man and 1 Wo. into 2. Place. the other (four as much)”

Music AA BB 3X (Square dance with first couple facing down hall across from the third couple, the second couple to their left, and fourth to their right. Instructions are given for the dancers to be improper and are consistent for that set up throughout the dance)

AA      All lead outward, change hands and lead back inward (exploding set). Corners change by both hands, ……….then first and third couples change with their partner, and second and fourth change with their ……….opposite (all are changing across the set). All lead outward with their new partner, and back; then ………change back again, first with corner, then across the set.

BB      First and third couple meet their opposite a double while the second and fourth couples fall back a ……….double to form two lines of four abreast (with 2nd man and 4th woman with 1st couple and 4th man ……….and 2nd woman with 3rd couple); all double back and forth then first and third couples arm with ……….their opposite into the side places while second and fourth couples arm with opposite and fall into ……….top and bottom of set. Repeat with the roles reversed.

AA      Side right with partner; change with corners; change across the set;  Side left with new partner; ……….change with corners; change across the set

BB       First and third couples cast off and are chased by their corners; then all four top and bottom take ………..hands and circle four. Second and third couples cast off and are chased by their corners; then all four ………..along the sides take hands and circle four.

AA      Arm right with partner; change with corners; change across the set. Arm left with new partner; ……….change with corners; change across the set.

BB      First and third couple meets and turns back to back; other four take hands* and circle around the ……….until they are in their corners position at the head and bottom of the set; first and third couples fall to ……….the sides with their opposite during last measure. Repeat with reversed roles.

 

Music: “At Home” (Bare Necessities); “English Country Dances from …” (The Broadside Band); “Jamestown Founders Ball” (The Legacy Trio)

 

Note: You can do this dance proper. All the instructions need to be altered to reflect that the first man will interact with the second lady rather than the fourth; his partner the fourth rather than the second, and the same for the third couple. However it may seem more natural for the dancers to dance on the proper side. We do it improper as written.

 

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