Hi Steve,

Atkinson's article came out earlier this year and focuses on Mallet, not the traditional ballad. He dates "Fair Margaret's Misfortune" at c. 1720.

The 1685 date is from Chappell, who initiated the forgery accusation against Mallet about 1880.

What I'm referring to is that there are a number of editions that have "take" instead of talk" and "grove" instead of "grave" so which is correct - in your opinion. For me "take" seems right. Have you ever seen "talk your fill"?? really!!!!!

In his article Fair Margaret and Sweet William by A.E.H. Swaen 1917, he says,

"Thus far the result of this investigation is, that B & F (Beaumout and Fletcher) represents an older and better version; that A, B and C are versions which had suffered in the course of about seventy years, and from popular ballads had deteriorated into broadsides."

Again it seems the broadside is a weak rendition of the traditional ballad, which unfortunately we don't have many good early examples.

Richie