You're quite right, Malcolm, about meanings then as distinct from meanings now. All I meant to suggest was that a handful of few new words and the hint of an appealing "hidden" meaning have helped raise the ballad to probably its greatest popularity. I suspect that even many of us who "know better" find the song more enjoyable because of its newly nourished ambiguity. Lloyd's mention of shining teeth is a nearly perfect touch: matched with "sly" and "bold," no liner notes are necessary. I'm speaking here solely of the modern

And consider the intriguing notions that Reynardine's "castle," which ought to be a local landmark, may not be easy to find. Following him "sun and dark" rather than "night and day" is another mysterious touch, though some will undoubtedly find it "gratuitously romantic."

And Nerd, your research is indeed facsinating; but how certain can we be that ballad-singers would take the neologism "Reynardine" to mean only "fox *like*" only? Moreover, "Renardine," "Rinordine" and "Rhinordine" would be pronounced similarly enough, I think, regardless of any broadsheet spelling.

You may be on to something with "Reynoldyn," but more evidence would be most welcome.