Hi,

Other observations:

1. The napkin in Johnny Collins (George Collins- Hampshire) versions, "For a napkin to bind round my head" relates directly to Clerk Covill,

And frae her sark he's shorn a gare,
Rowed that about his lovely head,

and is one of the important elements that establishes the relationship with with both Child 42 and Child 85.

2. "that marble stone" of the Johnny Collins (George Collins- Hampshire) is part of the mermaid's environment and not part of "fair Helen's (Eleanor's) hall." Fair Ellen/Helen/Eleanor and the mermaid (pretty fair maid) are confused in the Johnny Collins (George Collins- Hampshire) versions.

3. The death (in the Hampshire versions) of the six pretty maids (sometimes as many as sixteen) that die for his sake are a corruption of what should be the event of her death. She has died for his sake, not six maids. This was changed to balance the pall-bearers ( six pretty lads) in the preceding stanza.

Richie