[Illustration: MORRIS DANCERS, AS DEPICTED IN AN OLD STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN A HOUSE AT BETLEY, STAFFORDSHIRE.] THE MORRIS BOOK A HISTORY OF MORRIS DANCING WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ELEVEN DANCES AS PERFORMED BY THE MORRIS-MEN OF ENGLAND BY CECIL J. SHARP AND HERBERT C. MACILWAINE IN TWO PARTS. PART I. LONDON NOVELLO AND COMPANY, LTD. 1907. _This Book is issued in connection with "Morris Dance Tunes," by the same Authors_ (Sets I. and II., price 2/- each.) LONDON: NOVELLO AND COMPANY, LTD. TO OUR FRIENDS AND PUPILS The Members of the Espérance Girls' Club, CUMBERLAND MARKET, N.W. PREFACE. Besides other friends, too numerous for individual mention, who have given us able and willing help in the writing of this book, we desire to tender especial thanks to the following: To the Lady Isabel Margesson, by means of whose kind assistance we were enabled to note certain of the dances herein described; to Miss Florence Warren, whose help was simply invaluable; and to the Rev. S. Baring Gould, for permission to reproduce in our text the old woodcut of the historic Kemp, who danced the Morris steps all the way from London to Norwich. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL Bibliography MORRIS DANCE TUNES Notes on Morris Tunes THE DANCE The Morris Step Diagrams of Morris Steps (explaining Notation-marks) Positions, and Change of Position (Diagrams) Evolutions Down-and-Back; and Up-and-Back The Chain (Diagrams) Cross-over (Diagrams) Back-to-Back (Diagrams) Go-and-come The Ring Steps in Foregoing Evolutions The Jump (explaining Notation-marks, &c.) The Hands (movements described) The Call Length of Dances (how to shorten or extend) SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR VARIOUS DANCES:-- BEAN-SETTING To Form Ring (Diagrams) Dibbing COUNTRY GARDENS Notation of Hand-striking CONSTANT BILLY Diagram of Stick-tapping RIGS O'MARLOW Diagrams of Stick-tapping BLUFF KING HAL Description of step, and manner of dancing HOW D'YE DO? Description, and note on singing SHEPHERD'S HEY Instructions for Stick-tapping and Diagram of Hand-clapping On holding sticks NOTATION (Detailed instructions for all the Dances described):-- BEAN-SETTING (Stick Dance) LAUDNUM BUNCHES (Corner Dance) COUNTRY GARDENS (Handkerchief Dance) CONSTANT BILLY (Stick Dance) TRUNKLES (Corner Dance) RIGS O'MARLOW (Stick Dance) BLUFF KING HAL (Handkerchief Dance) HOW D'YE DO? (Corner Dance) SHEPHERD'S HEY (Stick or Handkerchief Dance) BLUE-EYED STRANGER (Handkerchief Dance) MORRIS OFF INTRODUCTION. We have been drawn to the publication of tunes and description of the old English Morris, not primarily for the information of the archæologist and scholar, but to help those who may be disposed to restore a vigorous and native custom to its lapsed pre-eminence.