In addition to Jean's posting I found the following in "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable". "...A dance, popular in England in the 15th century and later, in which the dancers often represented characters from the stories of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. Other stock characters were Bavian the fool, Malkin the clown, the Hobby horse or a Dragon and foreigners, probably Moors or Moriscos. It was commonly part of the May games and other pageants and festivals and the dancers were adorned with bells."