Madrigals were a popular form of music of the time. At our local Renn Faire they had a pretty strict policy on what could be done by way of appropriate music. Madrigals were sung all over the place.
Here's some info on time period appropriate music.
http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=c&p=i&a=l&ID=2One problem with songs is that though the tune itself may be ancient, the words may be more modern. The words maybe what people will remember, and not remember that the tune goes farther back. So you'd have people thinking, why are they playing a song about Bonnie Prince Charlie and therefore the wrong time period, but you may actually be playing a more ancient air.
Eileen Aroon is one of those. I remember reading that the tune used was probably one of the oldest known in the British Isles, but the words are from a 17th Century poet.
Added by Edith: You might want to look at Carrie Crompton's books on solos for the HD. They contain several older tunes.
I've been looking through somethings I have and would suggest perhaps that "The Castle of Dromore" might be a possibility. The air for that is said to go back to the 8th Century. "Nonesuch" is
from Medieval times. "Hal-An-Tow" is a very old ritual song. "The Padstow May Song" is another one of these ritual songs of the British Isles. It's so old that it's origins are unknown.
Also 1503 was the period of James IV of Scotland who married Margaret Tudor (Henry VII's daughter) in 1502 so perhaps there might be information on the music you are looking for in this section of a book on old music of England. Margaret as an English woman would have had some influence on the music that was being played around her. And her brother, Henry VIII was credited with the composition of "Greensleeves".
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/popul ... 200148.htmHope this helps. Just keep hitting next at the top of the page to move to the next one.
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