>> not sure about Harry Cox?[does history relate] <<

Well, Dick, I don't know about 'history', but the superb 60-page booklet that comes with Cox's 'Bonny Labouring Boy' double CD on Topic has plenty to say.

Harry Cox learned many of his songs from his father and grandfather, both of whom knew hundreds. His mother knew a good many songs as well, including some she'd learned from broadsides purchased on trips to Norwich. He also learned songs from other singers in the area (the was a tradition of singing in local pubs and several of his friends were singers) and travelled distances to get a song he wanted. He owned a collection of song sheets, some of them printed broadsides and chapbooks, others manuscripts written out at Harry's request by his sisters - because he was 'not brilliant at writing'. However he stated rather confusingly that the songs he sang were 'never writ down' so perhaps he didn't use the broadsides as aids to learning.

Harry Cox admitted to putting alternative tunes with songs he knew, and to making up 'two or three'. Excellent notes by Steve Roud give lots of information about the songs themsleves - many are tracable to 18th and 19th century broadsides, but there are also older ballads and at least one composed locally in the mid 19th century.

Having read through those notes again (and thanks for reminding me to do it!) I'd say that anyone looking for a serious answer to the question 'What is The Tradition'? could do a lot worse than to start with this album.

One thing I don't understand is: which part of this is the fake horsetrough?