WM. DENTON
Shoreditch, Dec. 11. 1849.
ROGER DE COVERLEY.
Sir,—In No. 4 of your "NOTES AND QUERIES" it is asked, if any notice of the tune called Roger de Coverley is to be met with earlier than 1695, when it was printed by H. Playford in his Dancing Master? I am happy in being able to inform your correspondent that the tune in question may be found in a rare little volume in my possession, entitled "The Division-Violin, containing a Choice Collection of Divisions to a Ground for the Treble-Violin. Being the first Musick of this kind ever published. London, Printed by J.P. and are sold by John Playford, near the Temple-Church, 1685, small oblong."
I have every reason to believe, from considerable researches, that no earlier copy can be found in print.
EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.