I have revived this thread as I am looking for the earliest possible tune of Barbara Allen, as I would be so delighted to find an early tune to sing to this broadside called Barbara Allen's Cruelty. It's dated 1675-1696 (Roxburghe collection 2.25) and is certainly the earliest I have come across. It fits the best known tune for this (thanks to the Everley Brothers), but that doesn't mean it was sung to it, of course. I'd be very grateful indeed if anyone could illuminate. Sometimes songs of this vintage have their tunes in lute manuscripts of the period, but not this one.

Stower