Marlborough - Neal

The Neals write:

1^st cu: cross over & half figure with 2^d cu: in 2^d place:
2^d cu: y^e same into their own places:
1^st man: sett to 2^d wo: both dance 1 minute step sideways, & 2 minuet steps forwards, then turn her with his right hand:
1^st wo: & 2^d ma: y^e same:
1^st & 2^d cu: take both hands goe half round in a ring with 2 minuet steps to y^e left, y^e same to y^e right, 1^st ma: lead par: with his right hand round 2^d ma: into 2^d cu: place, both doing y^e minuet step:

This dance is bears similarities to Playford's The Marlborough of 1706, and the two tunes are also similar (the Neals have made the B strain twice as long by duplicating it).

Playford writes:

Note: Each Strain is to be play'd twice over.

The first Man and 2. Wo. sett to each other, and then Figure the whole Figure round their own Partners The other two do the same Then 1. Man turn the 2. wo. cross with the Minuet Step, the other two do the same; then Hands quite round; then turn Hands, sides half round, and back again; the first Couple being at the top, both cast off and turn.

The music is a medley. The A strain is 12 bars of reel. The B strain is 8 bars of minuet, and the C is 16 bars of minuet.

The first Duke of Marlborough, was John Churchill, the title a gift from Queen Anne in 1702 for his military triumphs on the Continent over the French. After the Battle of Blenheim, 1704, again with the assistance of the Crown, he built Blenheim Palace. His wife fell out of favor with the queen and he exiled himself to the Continent, not returning to favor until George I took the throne in 1714.