'feud' probably had a wider meaning in the 18thc other than the later more specific falling out between two parties.

Yes 18th century printings are known. In the Madden Collection there is a printing by White of Newcastle that has the 16 sts and Davenport of London printed this same version in the early 19thc. All of these have the same first line 'In Scarlet Town where I was bound'. I still think there is possible milage in 'Scarlet' being a theatrical pun on 'Reading'. That would then suppose there was an earlier version that had 'Reading' as the place, but even if that was the case it doesn't mean anything but the town name was different. There are of course versions with 'Reading' as the place of apprenticeship.