"Baring-Gould was of the opinion that the Traditional Singers were too ignorant to fully appreciate the symbolism of the songs they sang . . . . This speaks volumes for the regard in which our heroes were held, and such, indeed, is the way of the folklorist; driven to falsify the facts to fit their pet theories . . ."

You are painting with a very broad brush. Baring-Gould was condescending toward the singers from whom he collected, therefore ALL folklorists are 'bad guys' and liars? And this comes from someone who defended A. L. Lloyd's fabrications in a recent thread!

"Conspiracy? Perish the thought! After all, this is only the legacy of thousands years of feudal suppression we're dealing with here."

So feudalism lasted thousands of years in the British Isles? That is a very interesting statement. But perhaps you yourself are a folklorist, and hence are 'driven to falsify the facts to to fit your pet theories'?