By the way, neither of the two references Bruce gave are actually in my list. They are as follows (from his Broadside Ballad Index).

Aryse and wak, for Cristis sake/ ZN3380| [no title]/ ASM 52 [Entd. 1557/8. ZB93|. Rollins, Notes, first ballad entry in Stationers' Register]

The man is blest, That lyves in rest/ ZN3297| A Ballet/ [no tune indication]/ CV 18 [Entd. 1557/8, Dec. 4, 1559. ZB3006|, ZB3007|]

The first is the Pekerynge ballade quoted before the list starts. The nearest we have to the second is No. 1, but I'd be loth to identify "Women be beste" with "Man is blest" (though one may be a parody of the other, perhaps).

The Wallye and Toye ballad which Bruce quotes above is in fact No. 2 in the list. It is (from Bruce's Broadside Ballad Index)

Now prudentlie to pondre prouerbes of olde/ ZN3475| A new merry balad of a maid that wold mary wyth a seruvng man/ Tune: none, poem?/ [by] Thomas Emley/ Lemon Catalog: Ihon Wallye and mistress Toye [CLB 53]

I'm not absolutely certain that Bruce's identification of Thomalyn with Brian O'Lynn is any more likely than Tam Lin ... but I'm willing to be persuaded. I know Bruce has a lot of information about J. P. Collier, so watch this space when he gets back to us.

For the rest, speculation is well worth the risk!

;-)