THE
Fair MAID of Islington:
OR, THE
London Vintner Over-reach'd.
This is a pritty FANCY if you mind,
He thought to fool her, since she was so kind;
But she was crafty, and resolv'd to fit him,
And in the end it prov'd she did Out-wit him;
She for her CELLER made him pay her Rent,
As by a Wile, which made him to repent.
To the Tune of, Sellengers Round: or, Caper and Ferk it, etc.
Licensed and Enter'd according to Order.
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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 she pass'd along the Street,
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with her Basket on her Arm,
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There did she with a Vintner meet,
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this fair Maid thought no Harm.
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Good-morrow, fair Maid, the Vintner said;
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what have you got here to sell?
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Fine Apples and Pears, kind Sir, she said,
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if you please to taste them, well.
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He tasted of this fair Maid's Fruit,
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and he lik'd it wondrous well;
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And then he crav'd of this fair Maid,
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how many a Penny she'd sell.
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Sir, here you shall have six, she said,
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and here you shall have ten;
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I sold no more, but just before,
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to some Inns of Court Gentlemen.
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Now while he by the Dam'sel staid,
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her Body he did eye,
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At length he crav'd of this fair Maid,
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one Night with him to lie:
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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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And therefore, Love, be kind to me,
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and let us toy and play,
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It is but one small Courtesie,
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then do not say me Nay.
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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 lain 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 cannot stay, nor I will not stay,
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I needs must now be gone.
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Why then thou maist thy Money go look,
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for Money I'll pay thee none.
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This Maid she made no more ado,
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but to 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'd a Cellar let our,
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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 strait 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 Cellar of her,
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and the Possession was mine,
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I ne'r put anything 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 Butts lay 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 o'the Celler-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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