There is a vast difference between bowdlerising texts in order to promote particular political, religious or moral views and reluctantly "toning down" a text to get it published at all.

As MCP has pointed out above, Sharp was not happy with what he had to do: he spelled it out quite clearly in the preface to Folk Songs from Somerset, quoted above: "...In a few instances the sentiment of the song has been softened, because the conventions of our less delicate and more dishonest time demand such treatment, but indication has been given, and we plead compulsion and not desire in these alterations..."

When the alternatives were minimal "bowdlerisation" or total suppression, what would you have done?