Charley--

Is that really a fault? If Bullen (an experienced (chantyman) says that was how it was, I believe him!

My opinion is that some of the later editors did some damage (inadvertent as it may have been) to the genre by leading people to think their verses constituted set material. (This is offset if someone, as Doerflinger did, makes it clear that all the verses presented just happened to be sung an a particular occasion by a particular individual).