Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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518
ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
JOAN'S PLACKET IS TORN.
The earliest notice I have found of this air, is in Pepys's Diary; where, under date of 22nd June, 1667, he speaks of a trumpeter, on board the Royal Charles, sounding the tune of Joan's Placket is torn.
It is contained in The Dancing Master of 1686 (additional sheet), and in all subsequent editions; also in the ballad-operas of Achilles, The Bays' Opera, and Love in a Riddle.
Colley Cibber's song, " When I followed a lass that was froward and shy," which was written to the tune, for Love in a Riddle, in 1729, was transferred by Bickerstaff to Love in a Village, about thirty years later, without acknowledg­ment of the source from which he derived it.
In the Collection of Loyal Songs, 1685 and 1694, is one entitled, " The plot cram'd into Jone's Placket: To the tune of Jone's Placket is torn." It is also one of the tunes called for by " the hobnailed fellows " in The History of Robert Powel, the Puppet-shewmmi, 8vo., 1715.
As to the word " placket," in " An exact Chronologie of memorable things" in WWsInterpreter, 3rd edit., 1671, it is said to be " sixty-six years since maids began to wear plackets." According to Middleton, the placket is " the open part" of a petticoat; and the word is not altogether obsolete, since the opening in the petti­coats of the present day is still called " the placket hole," in contradistinction to the pocket hole.
A very good song has been written to this tune by Charles Mackay (entited " The Return Home ") ; but I have not 'discovered the original words.