Jim and Steve,

I wonder how significant is the distinction between the kinds of people whom you respectively believe to have been responsible for making many/most of the songs.

Only a few people, then or now, have much skill at making verses. Those who have the skill tend to use it. If (say circa 1800) such people happened to live in a town where there was a broadside printer, they might sell their verses and be thus motivated to produce more. If they happened to live in the country they would necessarily get their living in some other way and would have less time and less motivation to churn out many songs; and the songs that they did make might or might not subsequently find their way into print.

However I am with Steve in seeing internal evidence of the broadside hacks' hands; in stock phrases such as "we hear" used to fill up lines; in all those milk-white steeds and dapple greys; in things that go on for "a day/league/year but barely three" and suchlike.

Richard