An English country dance was composed of the putting together of several figures, and it allowed of almost infinite variation, according to the number and arrangement of the figures introduced. Sir Roger de Coverley, which is not quite driven out, consists of seven figures. Some figures are quite elementary, as turning the partner, setting, leading down the middle. Others are more elaborate, as Turn Corners, and Swing Corners; some are called Short Figures, as requiring in their performance a whole strain of short measure, or half a strain of long measure. Long Figures, on the other hand, occupy a strain of eight bars in long measure--a strain being that part of an air which is terminated by a double bar, and usually consists in country dances of four, eight, or sixteen single bars. Country dance tunes usually consist of two strains, though they sometimes extend to three, four, or five, and of eight bars each. The names and character of the old country dances are quite forgotten. The following is a list of some of the dances given in _The Complete Country Dancing Master_, published near the beginning of last century-- Whitehall. Ackroyd's Pad. The Whirligig. Amarillis. Buttered Pease. Bravo and Florimel. Pope Joan. Have at thy coat, old woman. The Battle of the Boyne. The Gossip's Frolic. The Intrigue. Prince and Princess. A Health to Betty. Bobbing Joan. Sweet Kate. Granny's Delight. Essex Buildings. Lord Byron's Maggot. Ballamera. The Dumps. Rub her down with straw. Moll Peatley. Cheerily and Merrily. In Waylet's _Collection of Country Dances_, published in 1749, we have these-- The Lass of Livingstone. Highland Laddie. Down the Burn, Davy. Eltham Assembly. Cephalus and Procris. Joy go with her. Duke of Monmouth's Jig. Bonny Lass. The Grasshopper. The Pallet. Jack Lattin. Fiarnelle's Maggot. Buttered Pease. The Star. Some of these dances were simplicity itself, consisting of only a very few elementary figures. This is the description of _Sweet Kate_. "Lead up all a double and back. That again. Set your right foot to your woman's, then your left, clasp your woman on her right hand, then on the left, wind your hands and hold up your finger, wind your hands again and hold up another finger of the other hand, then single; and all this again." _Bobbing Joan_ is no more than this. First couple dance between the second, who then take their places, dance down, hands and all round, first two men snap fingers and change places, first women do the same, these two changes to the last, and the rest follow.