I use 'vain' in the sense of being 'in vain', not as a synonym for conceited. And I repeat that it is 'in vain' to attempt the sort of 'detective work', as you metaphorically call it, on which you appear to have embarked. The very act of offering to lay bets on the solution shows that you think there may be an establishable solution out there somewhere. I say you might as well try to stop a bandersnatch as to try and 'prove'[!] or 'discover' that rose·&·briar appeared in Lovell before it did in Barbara Allen, & so 'properly' belongs there [pace Munnelly's informant Mr Lenihan & Harry Cox to me & Bob], when earlier related instances, back to classical times, have been adduced.

I wonder why I should be reminded of what Bernard Levin wrote once of someone who had thought it might be possible to establish a notional value for infinity, to which Levin replied "Oh? Why, all you will have to do is to say 'plus one'."

~M~