Original sentence: In all probability, it will never be known whether the legends are true.The strongest argument in favour of the theory that Katherine Ferrers was the Wicked Lady is that for nearly 400 years she was believed to be so, and that even if the original evidence upon which those beliefs rested is now lost, it is probable that the origins of that belief had much more substantial foundations
Edited sentence: All of which appears to say, in short, that it is widely believed that Katherine Ferrers was the Wicked Lady, but there is scant historical evidence from which one could draw a definitive conclusion.In all probability we will never know with certainty whether the legends are true as so many believe.The strongest evidence that Katherine Ferrers was the Wicked Lady is surely that for nearly 400 years she was by most people believed to be, and even if the original evidence upon which those beliefs rested is now lost, it is probably that the origins of that belief had much more substantial foundations.Whilst some may seek to rehabilitate the perceived stain on the character of Lady Katherine Ferrers as being unsupported by historical evidence, it is perhaps also possible to reflect that for a young lady whose life read as a catalogue of misery and tragedy due to circumstance, the suggestion that she should have fought back and sought with courage and skill to help restore family fortunes in a violent and dangerous time should not necessarily be perceived unambiguously as a badge of criticism or shame