A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Sir Roger de Coverly

SIR ROGER DE COVERLY,^[1] the only one of the numerous old English dances which has retained its popularity until the present day, is probably a tune of north-country origin. Mr. Chappell (Popular Music, vol. ii) says that he possesses a MS. version of it called 'Old Roger of Coverlay for evermore, a Lancashire Hornpipe,' and in 'The First and Second Division Violin' (in the British Museum Catalogue attributed to John Eccles, and dated 1705) another version of it is entitled 'Roger of Coverly the true Cheisere way.' Moreover the Calverley family, from one of whose ancestors the tune is said to derive its name,^[2] have been from time immemorial inhabitants of the Yorkshire village which bears their name. The editor of the Skene MS., on the strength of a MS. version dated 1706, claims the tune as Scotch, and says that it is well known north of the Tweed as 'The Maltman comes on Monday.' According to Dr. Rimbault (Notes and Queries, i. no. 8), the earliest printed Version of it occurs in Playford's 'Division-Violin' (1685). In 'The Dancing Master' it is first found at page 167 of the 9th edition, published in 1695, where the tune and directions for the dance are given exactly as follows:—

Roger of Coverly.
Longways for as many as will.

The 1. man go below the 2. wo. then round, and so below the 2. man into his own place; then the 1. wo. go below the 2. man, then round him, and so below the 2. wo. into her own place. The 1. cu. [first couple] cross over below the 2. cu. and take hands and turn round twice, then lead up through and cast off into the 2. cu. place.

[ W. B. S. ]

1. Or more correctly 'Roger of Coverly.' The prefix 'Sir' is not found until after Steele and Addison had used the name in the Spectator.
2. See Notes and Queries, vol. i. no. 23. p. 368.