Ah, I see; if your interest is in the Robin Hood ballads, then Leesome Brand won't be much use to you. I mentioned it in relation to Sheath and Knife only. For what it's worth, I live not far from the places where many of the Hood stories are set; and there is certainly plenty of broom in the Kirklees area even today! I don't discount your theory, but I do think that textual analysis alone is generally not enough to demonstrate direct connections.

Child has long been out of print, but just this year that has all changed. Loomis House has reprinted the first volume, with the rest to follow, and Heritage Muse is bringing the whole thing out on CDROM.