he earliest known and surviving Eng

he earliest known and surviving English written mention of Morris dance is dated to 1448, and records the payment of seven shillings to morris dancers by the Goldsmiths' Company in London. Further mentions of morris dancing occur in the late 15th century, and there are also early records such as visiting bishops' "Visitation Articles" mention sword dancing, guising and other dancing activities, as well as mumming plays. Furthermore, the earliest records invariably mention "Morys" in a court setting, and a little later in the Lord Mayors' Processions in London. The court records mention both men and women as dancing. It is only later that it was mentioned as something performed in the parishes. There is no known surviving evidence that it is a pre-Christian ritual, as is often claimed.