A CONCORDANCE OF
DANCES FROM THE INNS OF COURT

By Peter and Janelle Durham

Introduction

Of the eight Old Measures, all but one appear in all seven manuscripts. Instructions for the Black Alman are given in just five of the manuscripts. The New Alman and Lorayne Alman only appear in RP, so they are not included in this concordance.

On a second folio in a different hand, RCM includes a second description for three of the dances (Quadran Pavan, The Earl of Essex Measure, and the Black Alman). While these are much less detailed than the other directions, they do add value, so we have included them here.

Most transcriptions are taken from Wilson, D. R. "Dancing in the Inns of Court" in Historical Dance, vol. 2, No.5, 1986-87. The transcription of Somerset Record Office DD/WO 55/7, item 36, is from Stokes and Brainard, "`The olde Measures' in the West Country: John Willoughby's manuscript" in Records of Early English Drama, vol. 17, number 2, 1992. Although most of the elements are the same between sources, the exact style of describing the dances varies a good deal. We have added horizontal divisions to facilitate close comparison of the descriptions. It is possible that we have affected the interpretation of the dance somewhat in our assumptions about where these divisions lie.

Within the text of the dances, we have included markings which indicate line breaks in the original text. In some cases these are relevant to the reconstruction of the dance; in most cases, they appear to be arbitrary. Line breaks are indicated by a vertical line |. Slash marks / are included when they appeared in the sources. Standard abbreviations were expanded by Wilson; the additional letters he added are shown in italics: your.

Quadran Pavan

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119	RCM 1119 Fol. 2
The payvan.	The Quadran Pavin./	the quatheren paven	The ould Measures: Quadran Pavin.	/1/ The Quadrim Pavin \| begening at the first \| /strayne/	First Measure the Quadryan \| pavin.	1^st Quadrian pavin.	Quadrian pavin
			Honour. \|
ij Singles and	2 singles &	To singles sides and	Two singles syde,	To Singles &	Two singles sides and	Two singles sides and	left right
a duble Forward//	one double forward	a double forward	a double foreward,	a doble \| forwarde	a Double forwarde,	a double forwards,	forwards
ij singles syde \|	:2: singles side &	to singles sides &	ij Singles \| syde &	to singles \|	two \| single sides and	one single sides and	left right
reprynce backe	a double back	a double backeward \|	a double backe	a doble back	a Double backe.	a double back \|	backwards
	:4: times over:	all over 4 times &	.4. tymes.	/4/ tymes \| &	Four times over \| and	four times over and
		soe end	/honour./	soe end./	soe end./	so end.

Turkelone

The parenthesised sections in Douce 280 are described by Wilson as added in on the line above. Symbols indicate where the text fits within the flow of the dance.

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD.WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119
Turquylonye le basse	Turculonye./	the turcke loene	Turkelone.	/2/ Tarquelone begening at \| the seconde strayne/	2d Measure Turky Lonye	2d Treky Lorny.
			Honour.
A duble forward	A double forwarde &	A double forward &	Foure doubles foreward.	A duble forwarde &	A Double forward and	A Double forwards and
reprynce backe	a double backe	a double backeward	(& backe)	a \| duble backe	a Double baeke	a Double back
iiij times //	:4: times:	4 times		/4/ tymes \|	4 times \|	four times,
ij \| Singles syde	2 singles &	to singles sides with \|	ij Singeles syde	set /2/ singles	2 singles Syde	two singles sides, and \|
a duble forward	a double forward \|	a double forward &	(.2. forw:	a doble forward \| &
reprynce backe \|		a double backeward then	2 backe),	a duble backe
twyse	twise	to single sides with		arise
		a double \| forward &
		a double backe then
		a double forward &	4. doub=\|les forwarde	a doble \| forward &	and a double forward	a Double forwards
		a double backe \|	& .4. doubles backe.	a duble backe	and a double \| back	and a Double back
		4 times &		/4/ tymes as you did before &	4 times and	four times and
	then begin all againe/	soe end	honour./	so \| ende	soe end./	so end.

The Earl of Essex Measure

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119	RCM 1119 Fol. 2
my lord off Essex measures	ThEarle of Esses his measure./	the Earle of Essex	The Earle of Essex measures.	/3/ The Earle of Essix measure begening at the first strayne	3d Measure The Earle of Essexs Measure	3d Earle of Essex Measure.	Essex Measure
			Honour.
A duble forward	A double forwarde and	A double forward &	One double forewardes &	A duble forwarde &	A Double forward and	A Double forwards and	Forward
one single backe	A single backe	a single backe	one single backe	a single \| backe	a single, and a single back	a Single back	backward
iiij times // \|	:4: times	4 times	.4. \| tymes,	/4/ tymes	\| 4 times.	four times,	Stop the same again. fall back
ij singles syde	:2: singles syde,	then to singles \| sides with	ij. Singles syde,	set tow \| singles	Then two singles side and	then two Singles sides &	Set
a duble forward	a double forward \| &	a double forward &	one double forward &\|	a duble forward &	a double \| forward and	a Double \| forwards and	lead up
reprynce \| backe	a double backe,	a double backe	& one single backe.	a duble backe once	a double back once,	a Double back once,	fall back.
	Then begin all againe/	all over againe &	againe all.	doe this \| once agayne/	Then all this \| measure once over and	then all this measure once over and
			honoure &
		soe end	soe ende./	& soe end	soe end./.	so end.

Tinternell

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119
Tynternell	Tinternell	Tinternell	Tinternell.	The Tinternneyles begening at ye first strayne	4^th Measure Tenternayle	4^th Tentarnayle.
			Honour.
A duble forward	A double forwarde &	A double forward &	One double forward &	A duble forward &	A Double forward and	A Double forwards and
reprynce backe	a double backe	a double backe	one double backe \|	A \| duble backe once	a Double back once \|	a Double back once,
iij times // \|
		the tacke wright handes &		take \| rite hand in rit hande\|	Then take your Woman by the right hand\| and	then take your woman by the \| right hand and
ij singles	:2: singles &	goe to \| singles &	ij Singles &	turne /2/ singles &	slide to slides and	slide two slides and
a duble	a double	a double	a double	A \| duble	a double	a Double
rownd	round first with the \| one hande &	round in your places	rounde	roune	rounde in Armes \|	round in armes
		then tacke the left hand
bothe wayes //	then with the other,	\| & doe as much agen	both waies	both the wayes \|	both ways, Then	both ways \| then
	a double forward &	a double forward &	.3. doubles \| forwarde	A duble forwarde &	a double forward and	a Double forwards and
	a double back	a double backe	& .3. doubles backe	A \| duble backe	a double \| backe	a Double back
	3 times	3 times \| and		/4/ tymes \|	3 times, Then	three times then
		soe tack wright handes &	change handes.	take right hand in right \| hande	take the woman by the right hand \| and	take your woman \| by the right hand and
	:2: \| singles &	goe to singles &		tow singles	slide two singles, and	slide two singles and
	a double	a double			a double	a Double
	round both wayes./	round in your \| places			round \|	round
		then tacke the left hand &			in Armes	in armes \|
		doe the same &		both the \| wayes &	both wayes and	both ways and
			honor &
		soe end	soe ende./	soe ende	soe end./	so end.

The Old Alman

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119
The old allmayne	The olde Almaine./	the ould Allman	The ould Almaine.	The oulde almane\| begening at ye \| second \| strayne	5^th Measure The old Almayne a Round Measure./	5^th The old Almane a round measure. 5^th The old Almayne.
			Honour.
	Take both handes, &	Tacke both hands &	Take both handes	Take by both the handes \|	Take both hands and	Take both hands and
ij singles	goe :2: singles &	goe to singles &	.2. singles &	turne tow singles &	slyde a single and	slide two singles and
a duble	one double	a double	a double	a \| duble	a double \|	a Double
		to your wright hand \|
rownd	round	round in your places &	round	round	round in Armes	round in armes \|
bothe ways //	both wayes	as much to the left the	both \| waies	both the wayes \|	both wayes, Then	both ways then
a duble \| forward hoppe iiij tymes	:4 doubles \| forward,	4 double forward \|	.4. doubles forward,	leade /4/ dubles forwarde \|	slyde 4 doubles \| rounde about the Hall	slide four Doubles round about the house
					and close, ye last double \| face to face	and close the \| last Double face to face,
	then with both handes	then all over againe &	take both handes	take by both the handes &	then hold both Hands \| and	then hold both hands and
	:2: singles &		.2. \| singles &	turne \| tow singles &	slyde 2 singles and	slide two singles \| and
	one double		a double	a duble	a double	a Double
	rounde		round	round \|	round \| in armes	round in armes
			both waies.	both the wayes &	both Wayes and	both ways and
		soe end	soe end./	soe ende	soe end./	so end.

The Queens Alman

Note that Rawlinson Poet. 108 is quite notably different from the other sources.

Rawlinson Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119
The quenes allmayne	The Queenes Almaine	the queenes Allman	The Queens Almaine.	/6/ The Queenes Alman begening at the second strayne/	6^th Measure The Queenes Almayne A Round Measure	6^th The Queens Almayne a round measure.
			Honour.
ij singles forward	A double forward &	A double forward &	A double forward &	A duble forwarde &	A Double forwards and	A Double forwards and
cast of a duble rownd	a double backe,	a double backe	a .d. backe	a duble \| backe	a double back \|	a Double back
					with the left Legg	with the left legg
					turne face to face, and \|	turne face to \| face and
ij singles \| syde	:2: singles syde,	to single sides face to face	.2. singles syde	set tow singles face to \| face	sett	set
	Caste of A double [round] \| rounde,	& \| turne a double round	& \| a .d. rounde	& turne a duble round	and turne	and turne
		in your place	on your lefte hande.	in \| youre one place	with the Left Legg \|	with the left legg,
	A double forwarde	that part over againe	a .d. forwarde &	a duble forwarde \|	A Double forward and	a Double forward and
	with your righte legge &	with \| the other		with the right legge &
reprynce backe twyse //	A double backe,		a .d. \| backe	backe	a double back	a Double \| back
				with \| the left legge	with \| the Right legg	with the Right legg
	2 singles \| syde		.2. S. syde	set /2/ singles\| face tow face	turne face to face and sett	turne face to face and set
	Caste of & a double round		& a .d. round	& turne a duble \| round	and \|Turne	and turne
			on your right hande		with the right legg,	with \| the right legg,
a duble forward \| hoppe iiij tymes	.5 doubles forwarde, &	then a double forward a double forward &	.4. d. \| forward.	leade fiue dubles forward	Then slide \| 4 Doubles round the Hall	then slide four doubles round about the house
					and close, \| the last double Face to face.	and \|close the last Double face to face,
		a double &	a .d. forward &		Then the \| first and	the the first and second
	a double backe,	a \| double backe then	a .d. backe	\| & a duble backe	second parts once a peice	part once a piece over
	2: \| singles	sett to singles face to face &	2. S. syde	set tow singles \| face tow face &	over \| againe and	againe, and
	cast of A double rounde,	turn a double \| round		turne a duble \| round
		in your place
	A double forwarde with your righte legg, A \| double backe, :2: singles syde caste of a double rounde	as much with the other foote &	as afore./	doe as you did before &
		soe end		soe \| ende	soe ende./	so end.

Madam Sosilia Alman

Rawl Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Rawlinson D.864	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119
Cycyllya Alemayne	sicillia Almaine	Madam Sosilia	.Cecilia.	/7/ Madam sicillia pauin begening at the first strayne /	Cecilia 7 Measure Sicilia Almaine./	7^th Sissilea Almayne.
			Honour.
ij singles	2 singles &	To single sides	Two .S. syde &	To singles &	Two singles and	Two singles and
a duble forward	a double forwarde	a double forward &	a .d. forward &	a duble forward \| &	a double forwards, and \|	a Double forwads and
one single syde\|	& a single backe	a single backe \|	a .S. backe	a singles backe	a single back	a single back
twyse //	twise,	that part over againe then	twice, \|	twise	twice the 1^st part and \|	twice 1 part \| and
	parte handes,		part handes		the second time part hands and turne \| face to face. / \|	the second time part hands and turne face to face
					2d pt, Then	2 part \| then
ij syngles backe	2 singles \| syde and	to singles face to face	.2. S. syde &	set \| tow singles face to face	2 single sydes the \| first with the left legg, the second \| with the right, Then	two singles sides the first with the left legg the second with ye right \| then
honour	honor	honour with \| the left foote then	honour with your left foote, \|	& honer with the left legge \|	Honour with the \| left Legg and close againe, Then \|	Honour with the left legg and close againe then
		Change place with	change places with	crosse ouer into each otheres pleaces with	change places with	chang places with \|
ij singles \|	:2 singles &	to singles &	.2. S. &	tow singles &	2 singles and \|	two singles and
a duble forward	a double into your womans place,	a double \|	a .d.,	a \| duble &	a double	a Double
into eche others place					over into each others places & \| turne all face to face, and	over into each others place and turn all \| face to face ant
honour \| &	then honour & \|	honour with the wright foote &	honour with your right \| foote,	honer with the right \| legge	Honour with \| the right legg, Then	Honour with the right legg, then
			step forward &		meet with 2 \| stepps and	meet with two steps and \|
embrace	inbrace	imbrace	embrace,	embrace	embrace,	embrace,
ij singles backe	:2 singles syde &	to singles sides face to face\|	.2. S. syde		Doe all this 2d part \| step for	do all this 2d part step for
honour	honour	honour	honor with your \| left foote,	& honer with \| the left lagge	step into your owne places./	step into your own places.
ij singles \|	:2 singles &	to singles &	In to your own place,	doe this last \| once agayne
a duble	a double	a double	honor as afore./	/ &
into your owne place	into your owne place, \| then	Change places as you did before \|
honour and \|	honour &	honour &
Embrace	imbrace	imbrace &
		soe end		soe ende

The Black Alman

Rawlinson Poet. 108 does not contain a dance entitled Black Alman. However, the new cycillia has a somewhat similar structure and is put here for sake of comparison. (Mullally notes the existence in 1570 of Bette's ballad `To the newe tune of the Blacke Almaine, vpon Scissillia.') Rawlinson D.864 contains only the title. In Harleian 367, the description is incomplete. Wilson states "The writer was having trouble with his pen, and may have broken off for this reason." Having examined the manuscript, we would note that the description for Black Alman appears to have been written by a different hand than the rest of the dances in this source. The handwriting is very blotchy, especially the d's, but this does not seem like a reason to have stopped writing.

Rawl. Poet. 108	SRO DD/WO 55/7	Harleian 367	Douce 280	Inner Temple, vol 27	RCM 1119	RCM 1119 Fol. 2
The new cycillia allemaine	The blacke Almaine	the blacke allman	.Blacke.	8 Measure The Black Almaine	8^th The Black Amaine.	Black Almain /
			Honour.
a duble forward hoppe iiij tymes //	ffower doubles forwarde,	fouer double forward then	Fowre doubles forward,	Syde 4 double round about the Hall \| and	Sides 4 Doubles round about the house and	Forwards Stop forwards Stop
				close the last double face to \| face,	Close the last Double face to face \|
	parte handes,		part handes with	Then part your hands and	then part your hands and
ij singles \| backe	a double backe one from an other,	a double backe face to face &	a .d. backe, \|	Goe all \| in a double back one from another and \|	go all in a Double back one fron the other and
ij syngles forward [ij]//	a double \| meetinge againe,	a double \| forward	meete againe with a .d.,	meet a double againe, Then	meet a Double againe.Then \|
a duble forward \|	a double on your lefte hand &	then a double to the left hand &	A .d. on your lefte hand,	goe a \| double to the left hand and	go a Double to your left hand and	forwards by your selfe
a duble backe twyse//	an other on your righte,	a nother back to the \| wright hand	a \| nother on your right hand,	as \| much back to the right hand \|	as much back to your right hand,	twice
			the man doe	Then all on the Women syde stand still \| and the men	then all ye women stand still \| and the men
ij singles forward \|		then sat to single sides &	.2. S. &	sett and	set &	Set & turne single
a duble rownd		trune a double round	a .d. \| rounde.	turne \|	turne,
one after an other			the woman as much,	Then all the men stand still, and \| the women sett and turne,	then all ye men stand still and the women set and turne,	Wo: the same
take \| hands	take both \| handes &		take both handes, \|	Then hold \| both hands	then hold both hands \|and	Hands
a duble into eche others place	goe A double round &		change places with	and change places with	change places with	halfe rounde
			a double &	a \| double, &	a double and
advance \| forwards iij tymes	traverse :4: on your left hande,		slide upwardes .4.,	slide four french slydes to the \| mans right hand,	slide four french slides to the mans right hand,	3 slides up
a duble rownd into your \| owne place againe			Into \| your owne place with	change places againe \| with	change places \| againe with	Hands halfe round &
	A double \| rounde &		a .d.,	a double and	a Double, and
advance backe iij times \|	traverse fower on your righte		Slyde down .4.,	slyde 4 french slydes \| to the right hand againe,	slide four french slides to the right hand againe,	3 slides round
				Then\| part hands and	Then part hands and
ij singles forward			backe a .d. \| one from another,	goe back a double one \| from another	go \| back a Double one from another	fall back from ye Wo: &
ij singles backe.			meet againe.	and meete a double \| againe	and meet a Double againe,	set to her again.
			The same againe./	Then all this Measure once \| over	Then all this measure once over \|
				and soe end./	and so end.
				The 2^nd all the men stand still & the \| Women begin sett and turne first and then \| men last./	The second all the men stand still and the women begin set and turne and then men last.

Return to the Inns of Court advertisement.

Gregory Blount of Isenfir (Greg Lindahl)

A CONCORDANCE OFDANCES FROM THE INNS OF COURT

Introduction

A CONCORDANCE OF
DANCES FROM THE INNS OF COURT