The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington
No: 105; variant: 105
- THERE was a youth, and a well belovd youth,
And he was a esquire's son,
He loved the bayliff's daughter dear,
That lived in Islington.
- She was coy, and she would not believe
That he did love her so,
No, nor at any time she would
Any countenance to him show.
- But when his friends did understand
His fond and foolish mind,
They sent him up to fair London,
An apprentice for to bind.
- And when he had been seven long years,
And his love he had not seen,
'Many a tear have I shed for her sake
When she little thought of me.'
- All the maids of Islington
Went forth to sport and play;
All but the bayliff's daughter dear;
She secretly stole away.
- She put off her gown of gray,
And put on her puggish attire;
She's up to fair London gone,
Her true-love to require.
- As she went along the road,
The weather being hot and dry,
There was she aware of her true-love,
At length came riding by.
- She stept to him, as red as any rose,
And took him by the bridle-ring:
'I pray you, kind sir, give me one penny,
To ease my weary limb.'
- 'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Where that thou wast born?'
'At Islington, kind sir,' said she,
Where I have had many a scorn.'
- 'I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Whether thou dost know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?'
'She's dead, sir, long ago.'
- 'Then will I sell my goodly steed,
My saddle and my bow;
I will into some far countrey,
Where no man doth me know.'
- 'O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth!
She's alive, she is not dead;
Here she standeth by thy side,
And is ready to be thy bride.'
- 'O farewel grief, and welcome joy,
Ten thousand times and more!
For now I have seen my own true-love,
That I thought I should have seen no more.'