Apparently, there has never been a thread about this particular song, although there have been threads about other songs that mention Islington:

Lyr Req: Lass of Islington
Lyr Add: Fair Maid of Islington
Chord Req: fair maid of islington

From the Bodleian collection, Douce Ballads 2(229a). I have modernized the spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.


True Love Requited.
Or, The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington.

The young man's friends the maid did scorn,
'Cause she was poor and left forlorn.
They sent the esquire to London fair,
To be an apprentice seven year,

And when he out of's time was come,
He met his love a-going home,
And then to end all farther strife,
He took the maid to be his wife.

To a North Country tune: or, I Have a Good Old Woman at Home.

1. There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth,
And he was a 'squire's son.
He loved the bailiff's daughter dear
That lived in Islington.

2. 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.

3. But when his friends did understand
His fond and foolish mind,
They sent him up to fair London
An apprentice for to bind.

4. 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."

5. All the maids if Islington
Went forth to sport and play,
All but the bailiff's daughter dear;
She secretly stole away.

6. She put off her gown of grey
And put on her puggish attire.
She's up to fair London gone
Her true love to require.

7. 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.

8. She stepped 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."

9. "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."

10. "I prithee, sweetheart, canst thou tell me
Whether thou dost know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington?"
"She's dead, sir, long ago."

11. "Then will I sell my goodly steed,
My saddle, and my bow.
I will into some far country
Where no man doth me know."

12. "Oh, stay, oh, stay, thou goodly youth.
She's alive; she is not dead.
Here she standeth by thy side
And is ready to be thy bride."

13. "Oh, farewell, 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."

Printed for J. Walter at the Golden Ball in Pye Corner.