A 'maggot' was another name for a dram, a small unit of liquid measure but also was used to mean something of slight consequence or a plaything; from the Italian maggioletta. Maggots were dances written in the later 17th century and often dedicated to a personage. This melody was first published in 1701 in The Dancing Master, 11th edition, and was retained until the end of the series, with the 18th edition of 1728. It was also printed in Karpeles & Schofield's A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs (1951) and Sharp's Country Dance Tunes (1909). It was recorded on The English Country Dancing Master, vol 2 by The Telemann Society.