The Fair MAID of Islington;
OR,
The London Vinter Over-reach'd.
This is a pritty Fancy if you mind,
He thought to fool her, since she was so kind;
Bu[t] she was Crafty, and resolv'd to fit him,
And in the end it prov'd she did out-wit him;
She for her Seller made him pay her Rent,
As by a wile, which made him to repent.
Tune of, Sellengers Round; Or, Caper and ferk it, etc. With Allowance,
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THere was a fair maid at Islington,
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as I heard many tell,
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And she would to fair London go,
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fine Apples and Pears to sell:
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And as along the streets she flung,
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with her Basket on her arm,
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Her Pears to sell, you may know right well,
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this fair maid ment no harm.
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But as she tript along the street,
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her pleasant fruit to sell,
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A Vintner did with her meet,
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who lik'd this Maid full well:
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Quod he fair maid, what have you there
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in Basket decked brave,
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Fine Pears quod she, and if it please ye,
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a tast Sir you shall have.
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The Vintner he took a taste,
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and likt it well, for why?
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This Maid he thought of all the rest,
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most pleasing to his eye:
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Quoth he fair maid I have a suit,
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that you to me must grant,
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Which if I find you be so kind,
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nothing that you shall want.
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Thy Beauty doth so please my eye,
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and dazels so my sight,
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That now of all my liberty,
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I am deprived quite:
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Then prithee now consent to me,
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and do not put me by,
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It is but one small courtisie,
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all night with you to lye.
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SIR if you lye with me one night,
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as you propound to me,
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I do expect that you should prove,
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both courteous, kind, and free:
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And for to tell you all in short,
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it will cost you five pound,
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A match, a match, the Vintner said,
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and so let this go round.
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When he had layn with her all night,
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her money she did crave,
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O stay quoth he the other night,
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and thy money thou shalt have:
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I connot stay, nor I will not stay,
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I needs must now begone,
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Why then thou mayst thy mony go look
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for money I'le pay thee none.
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This maid she made no more ado,
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but to a Justice went,
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And unto him she made her moan,
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who did her case lament:
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She said she had a Seller let out,
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to a Vintner in the Town,
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And how that he, did then agree,
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five pound to pay her down.
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But now quoth she, the case is such,
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no rent that he will pay,
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Therefore your Worship I beseech,
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to send for him this day:
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Then streight the Justice for him sent,
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and ask'd the reason why,
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That he would pay this Maid no Rent
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to which he did reply.
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Although I hired a Seller of her;
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and the possession was mine,
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I ne'r put any thing into it,
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but one poor Pipe of Wine;
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Therefore my bargain it was hard,
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as you may plainly see,
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I from my freedom was debar[']d,
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then good Sir favour me.
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This fair Maid being ripe of wit,
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she straight reply'd agen,
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There was two buts more at the door,
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why did you not rowl them in:
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You had your freedom and your will,
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as is to you well known,
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Therefore I do desire still,
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for to receive my own.
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The Justice hearing of their case,
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did there give order straight,
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That he the money should pay down,
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she should no longer wait:
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Withal he told the Vintner plain,
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if he a Tennant be,
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He must expect to pay the same,
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for he could not sit rent free.
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But when her money she had got,
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she put it into her purse
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And clapt her hand on the Sellar door,
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and said it was never the worse:
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Which caus'd the people all to laugh,
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to see this Vintner fine,
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Out-witted by a Country Girl,
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about his Pipe of Wine.
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