Thanks Mick,

Hi Steve, I don't get it either. According to Hyder Edward Rollins (see his notes), there is a relationship but aside from mounting a white steed: "Come saddle me my milke white Steed" and the "bird in a cage" reference at the end there's no similarity. I just saw that in my notes from seven years ago and thought I'd get some feedback on it. Sorry for calling it an antecedent-- it was Rollins who did the notes.

I am interested in get older versions so "you da man" for that. The other text is from National Library of Scotland:
http://digital.nls.uk/chapbooks-printed-in-scotland/archive/104184173

Richie