Note Ff — APPENDIX I. AN ESSAY ON THE ANCIENT MINSTRELS IN ENGLAND.
Reading edition
[Historical song or ballad.] The English word ballad is evidently from the French balade, as the latter is from the Italian ballata; which the Crusca Dictionary defines, canzone che si canta ballando: "a song which is sung during a dance." So Dr. Burney (ii. 342,) who refers to a collection of ballette, published by Gastaldi, and printed at Antwerp in 1596 (iii. 226.)