Good points, Observer, but I think there are probably more people who knew about and had contemporary views on the events than you indicate. Ok, the was not the mass media we have now but there were broadsheets and musicians did wander about. Of course this in itself has the 'Chinese whispers' effect which may contribute to the facts being mangled:-) but the feelings still remain.

There are also the songs that helped to make history. The calls to arms or the tales of political misdeeds that helped to raise armies or undo the career of a particularly nasty politician. All these things are inexorably linked and I don't think any single source tells the whole picture.