And thanks Bill too - our messages cross in cyberspace! You're right about there being a Canadian version. Wish I had Fowke to look it up!

I agree the women don't seem to fit in with the general theme. To summarize Ritchie, she says it's as though the women are complaining and men get in the last word. Maybe it was like the Laird of Cockpen and someone put in a last verse... (People didn't like the ending in Laird where she rejected him so they added verses where she changes her mind and marries the idiot!) Though with a name like Bachelor's Hall maybe the first verses came later!