Summary from my extensive notes at the back of 'Southern Songster'.
The theme of double cuckoldry goes back at least to the 17th century in several ballads. Developed further in the 18th century the protagonists are of a variety of different occupations. 'The Parson and the Butcher' must have been shortened from the 15 stanzas of the 18th century down to the 11 from 2 Dorset singers. A shorter 19th century broadside is probably the source but this hasn't yet surfaced. Hammond's tune notebook went missing from the VWML and with no other versions Bert Lloyd (who else?) appears to have provided his own tune. Bert claimed to have copied down the tune before the Ms went missing.
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sj