Hello and thanks Tootler.

John Wilmott was, of course, the Duke of Rochester, as you will know; just clarifying for other readers. I'm sure I've seen 'dildos' or something like them on classical artifacts etc.

On the topic of rhythm, in Roud chapter 9 (19th century) page 324 there is an account by Waugh of pub singing with two references to people beating time to the singing. On that basis I can maybe conjecture that not all English 'folk' singing lacked a foot-tappable rhythm.

Tzu