ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the development of the measures in relation to that of early country dance, and suggests some sources of influence. The new country dances were probably the direct ancestors of some of John Playford's dances. The old country dances, then, probably included the simpler examples such as Turkeylony and Basilena, descendants of the basse-danse 'mesure' and mentioned by Thomas Nash and by earlier writers. A prerequisite in distinguishing between early choreographies is the separation of genuine prehistory from pure mythology. Melusine Wood believed that the basis of Basilena, Turkeyloney, Tinternel and The Earl of Essex's Measure was her reconstruction of the medieval Estampie, with its repeated forward-and-backward Doubles, varied by two Singles danced sideways. There is nothing in either Thoinot Arbeau's notation of his Spanish Pavan or his commentary on the dance to suggest that it was performed in galliard time.
