Fascinating. I'd love to know how a contemporary version compares with my 200-year-old text[s].

It's a surprisingly 'branchy' ballad, despite the seemingly straightforward story. For instance, in one of the Child versions the wedding has been going on for a month, because Lord Bateman has already had second thoughts and is refusing to take his bride to bed - presumably Lord B's Mum and Dad (and the young bride's mother) are hoping to talk him round before word gets out. It's a great little elaboration, but there's a verse right at the end with the line "Lord Bateman's wed twice in one day", and I couldn't use that and have the wedding go on for that long ("Lord Bateman's wed twice in one month"?) I can quite imagine people having trouble piecing together a version.