Note 378 — ACTUS III., SCÆNA 1.
Reading edition
Trenchmore was a dance, of which (says Sir John Hawkins, in his "History of Music," iv. 391) "frequent mention is made by our old dramatic writers. Thus, in the 'Island Princess' of Beaumont and Fletcher, act v., one of the Townsmen says—
'All the windows of the town dance a new trenchmore.'
In the 'Table Talk' of Selden, title King of England, is the following humorous passage:—'The Court of England is much altered. At a solemn dancing, first, you had the grave measures, then the corantoes and the galliards, and this is kept up with ceremony; at length to trenchmore and the cushion-dance: and then all the company dance, lord and groom, lady and kitchen-maid, no distinction. So in our Court ... in King Charles's time, there has been nothing but trenchmore and the cushion-dance, omnium gatherum, tolly polly, hoite cum toite.' And in the comedy of 'The Rehearsal,' the earth, sun, and moon are made to dance the hey to the tune of trenchmore. From all which it may be inferred that the trenchmore was a lively movement."
The trenchmore is also mentioned in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Pilgrim," act iv. sc. 3.