The second part of "Parson's Farewell", published in Playford's _The English
Dancing Master_ (1651), includes an action that (at least under some
interpretations, such as the ones shown here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X4wpEIOZIM&t=40s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQhvmA0UJYg&t=45s
) is recognizably ancestral to gents' and ladies' chains, a connection that, if
I recall correctly, I first heard of from Colin Hume. First the men travel
across and back, passing by left hands with each other (but with some sort of
variously-interpreted feint with right hands); then the women do the same, but
with contrary hands. The turns with opposite and partner are commonly
interpreted as one-hand turns. (The so-called "courtesy turn" didn't become a
standard styling until some time in the 20th century.)
Several of the quadrilles in J. A. French's _The Prompter's Hand Book_
(undated, but Library of Congress suggests circa 1893) include the figure
"gents grand chain". French doesn't give definitions of the figures, but my
guess would be that gents begin by crossing the set by left hands with opposite
gent, as in a left-hands-across star halfway around.
--Jim
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