Steve,

I assume the text you quote is from Mr Needham prior to 1790. Do you have more? The "en" added smacks of a burlesque.

Burlesque, however, is not mentioned in the four articles: (1) George Collins- Barbara M. Cra'ster 1910; (2) The "Johnny Collins" Version of Lady Alice- Bayard; (3) The "Clerk Colvill" Mermaid- Harbison Parker 1947 and (4) "George Collins" in Hampshire - David Atkinson.

Nor is is associated with Clerk Covill. However, it was been compared to Lord Lovell by Child and others-- perhaps because of the same form of the 1810 version. Or, perhaps because it has been used frequently as a parody.

It was Atkinson who mentioned the bit about not knowing the original. So where is this ancient ballad?

Or do we need to bring in the tall (pall) bearers? And what about the 6 maids?

Richie