MORESQUE Dances, vulgarly called Morrice dances, are those altogether in imitation of the Moors, as sarabands, chacons, &c. and are usually performed with castanets, tambours, &c.
There are few country places in England where the morrice dance is not known. It was probably introduced about, or a little before, the reign of Henry VIII. and is a dance of young men in their shirts, with bells at their feet, and ribbands of various colours tied round their arms and flung across their shoulders.