".....on the often lengthy originals by removing extraneous material like unnecessary detail and description."
Sorry to be a bore about this Steve.
I don't know if there has been any new evidence presented on this since we last argued, but with respect, we know nothing whatever about the 'originals' of the ballads. We certainly know that many of them were taken up by broadside printers, but this certainly is no indication whatever that any of these were originals. The forms the ballads take, the insider knowledge of folklore, the use of vernacular, social familiarity and values.... everything suggests the ballads to be pure folk creations and not those from outside the communities in which they were current.
I don't know if there is an 'author's' name attached to 'Lord Randall'; I do know that Bronson made a valiant argument for it having originated with Sir David Dalrymply b.art, Lord Hailles; he didn't convince me either I'm afraid.
Jim Carroll