John Playford was born in Norwich in 1623 and died in London in 1686. He served an apprenticeship with a publisher for seven years. A bookseller and publisher, Playford is best known for his publication of The English Dancing Master in 1651. This came about after Playford was working as a (Civil) war correspondent and was captured by Cromwell's men and told that, if he valued his freedom (as a sympathiser with the King) he might consider a change of career. The work contains both the music and instructions for English country dances. Although many of the tunes in the book are attributed to him today, he probably did not write any of them. Most were traditional melodies that had existed for years. The collection was later updated and re-issued by Cecil Sharp. Norwich (pronounced variously Norritch or Norridge) is a city in East Anglia, in Eastern England, and the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The Dancing Master was a dancing manual containing the music and instructions for English country dances. ... English Country Dance, sometimes abbreviated ECD, is a form of folk dance. ...