I thought in Musgrave it is the narrator who says 'and woe be to the little foot page' Who else could it be?   At this point in the song Musgrave and Lady Barnard are ensconced together so are blissfully unaware until Barnard's arrival?
I haven't looked at this thread for a while. When discussions or squabbles get to full screen postings I stop looking.    I'll try the library to find me 'Living with Ballads' though.