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, Sellenger's Round; or, Caper and Ferk it, &c.
  
         G                 Em           D        7    G
  There was a fair maid at Islington as I heard many tell
  And she would to fair London go fine apples and pears to sell
             G                 D               7            A
  And as she pass'd along the street with her basket on her arm,
         G       D      Em      Bm         A         7         D
  There did she with a vintner meet this fair maid thought no harm.
  
  Good-morrow, fair maid, the vintner said, what have you got here to sell?
  Fine apples and pears, kind sir, she said, if you please to taste then well.
  He tasted of this fair maid's fruit and he lik'd it wondrous well;
  And then he crav'd of this fair maid, how many a penny she'd sell.
  
  Sir, here you shall have six, she said, and here you shall have ten;
  I sold no more, but just before, to some Inns of Court gentlemen.
  Now while he by the dam'sel staid, her body he did eye,
  At length he crav'd of this fair maid, one night with him to lie:
  
  Thy beauty doth so please my eye, and dazels so my sight,
  That now of all my liberty, I am deprived quite;
  And therefore, love, be kind to me, and let us toy and play,
  It is but one small courtesie, then do not say me nay.
  
  Sir, if you lye with me one night, as you propound to me,
  I do expect that you should prove both courteous, kind, and free:
  And for to tell you all in short, it will cost you 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 stay, quoth he, the other night, and thy money thou shalt have.
  I cannot stay, nor I will not stay, I needs must now be gone,
  Why then thou maist thy money go look, for money I'll pay thee none.
  
  This maid she made no more ado, but to a Justice went,
  And unto him she made her moan, who did her case lament:
  She said she had a cellar let out, to a vintner in the town,
  And how that he did then agree five pound to pay her down.
  
  But now, quoth she, the case is thus, no rent that he will pay;
  Therefore your worship, I beseech, to send for him this day.
  Then strait the Justice for him sent, and asked the reason why,
  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 any thing into it, but one poor pipe of wine;
  Therefore my bargain it was hard, as you may plainly see,
  I from my freedom was debar'd; then, good sir, favour me.
  
  This fair maid being ripe of wit, she strait reply'd agen;
  There was two butts lay at the door, why did you not roul them in?
  You had your freedom and your will, as is to you well known;
  Therefore I do desire still for to receive my own.
  
  The justice hearing of their case, did there give order straight,
  That he the money should pay down, she should no longer wait;
  Withal he told the vintner plain, if he a tennant be,
  Ye must expect to pay the same, for he could not sit rent-free.
  
  But when her money she had got, she put it into her purse,
  And clapt her hand o' the cellar-door, and said it was never the worse:
  Which caused the people all to laugh, to see this vintner fine,
  Out-witted by a country girl about his pipe of wine.

late 17th century From bodelian