Malcolm:

"
You don't cite any source for those fragmentary texts. Where are they from, and how do you know that they belong to the 1790s?
"

The two stanzas are from A.L.Lloyd, _Folk Song in England_. The single stanza is from Alan Lomax (ed.), Folk Song U.S.A (Signet Classics, 1966), pp.248-250. As to the dating, I've taken this from Lloyd and Lomax.

"
This thread might be shorter and easier to follow if you quoted earlier posts less and concentrated on answering, and asking, questions succinctly and unambiguously.
"

Mea culpa.

Robin

(Actually, comes to succinct, wherefrom do you date "The Rake's Lament"? And we haven't even begun on the girly versions. (I think elsewhere Malcolm references Penguin to this.)

And that's even before we jump the Pond -- Blind Willie McTell and EmmyLou Harris,

I've had my nose rubbed in it that I seem to be profoundly non-linear, but dear god in heaven, this is the first time I've been accused of being un-succinct.

Mostly the opposite accusation runs.

:-(

Robin