Sometimes, it sounds better,at least to me, to put some things that are "traditionally " played in a minor key back into a major one !!!
A prime example is the third or c part of the tune " The Horses Branle " , which is currently quite popular with ceilidh-bands and at "English" type sessions. I suggested it in the ceilidh -band that I play with, and everybody agrees that it sounds MUCH better !! I have a theory, anyway, that Playford -era musicians used minor keys a lot less than we might suppose,if only because of the limitations of the instruments available to them .!!! Incidentally, I have recently been doing some research into my "family tree," and I discovered, living in Ireland, a descendant of John Playford !! THE John Playford !! Yes, I know the "Horses Branle " is neither English,nor Playford, but seems & feels of that period.