| Play/Download Music File Barry Taylor Play/Download Music File Ron Clarke |
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| This is also known as The Vintner Over-Reached. The tune is Sellenger's Round or Caper and Ferk which was written by William Byrd in the early 17th century. The words appear in Thomas D'Urfey's Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707).
This is NOT the same as Child Ballad #105 (The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington). |
There was a fair maid of Islington As I heard many tell And she was going to Londontown Her pears and apples to sell As she was going along the road A Vintner did her espy And what shall I give, fair maid, says he One night with you to lie? And what shall I give, fair maid, says he One night with you to lie? If you would lie with me one night You must give me five pound A match a match, the Vintner said And so let this go round. When he had lain with her all night Her money she did crave "O no, O no," the Vintner said "The devil a penny you'll have." "O no, O no," the Vintner said "The devil a penny you'll have." This maid she made no more ado But to the justice went This Vintner hired a cellar of me And will not pay the rent Then straight the justice for him sent And asked the reason why That he would pay this maid no rent To which he did reply. That he would pay this maid no rent To which he did reply. Although I hired a cellar of her And the possession was mine I ne'er put anything into it But one small pipe of wine This fair maid being ripe of wit She straight replied again There lay two butts at the cellar door Why did you not roll them in? There lay two butts at the cellar door Why did you not roll them in? The justice told the Vintner plain If he a tenant be He must expect to pay the price For he could not sit rent-free And when the maid her money got She put it in her purse And clapped her hand o'er the cellar And swore it was never the worse. And clapped her hand o'er the cellar And swore it was never the worse. |
Related Links
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| Information From
Ron Clarke And Pete's Favorite Poems, Fair Lass of Islington) |
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