The tune was first published by Playford in the first edition of The English Dancing Master (1651) and in his A Booke of New Lessons for the Cithern & Gittern (1652). "Dull Sir John" was retained in every edition of the Dancing Master series through the 18th and final edition of 1728, then printed by John Young, heir to the Playford publishing concern. It was also published in Young's Complete Country Dancing-Master editions of 1718, 1731 and 1754. It was also printed in Sharp's Country Dance Tunes (1909), and Walsh's Complete Country Dancing-Master, Volume the Fourth (1740).