Not helpful in any way, but I well remember how much I disliked this song in primary school in Scotland in the 50s!

Normally I have a good memory for a story, but I recognise none of this beyond the first verse, which suggests that my aversion to the 'twiddly' tune (my description of it at the time) blanked out everything else about it. I think it might have come from a series of books called 'Folk, National and Art Songs of the British Isles': these contained songs such as 'David of the White Rock' and 'Men of Harlech' from Wales; 'Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms' from Ireland; 'Barbara Allan' from England (which similarly annoyed my 10 year-old self) etc.

(And I very much regret to say that I can't remember what Scots songs were in the selection!)

But, like 'Barbara Allan', this song of the bailiff's daughter seemed just too sapsy/sentimental for a 10 year-old who couldn't appreciate the romantic nuances or lover's testing.