Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 1

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

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	REIGN OF ELIZABETH.                                                203
	THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON. Copies of this ballad are in the Roxburghe, Pepys, and Douce Collections; it is printed by Ritson among the ancient ballads in his English Songs, and by Percy (Reliques, series iii., book 2, No. 8). In the Roxburghe, ii. 457, and Douce, 230, it is entitled " True love requited, or The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington: to a North-country tune, or I have a good old mother at home." In other copies it is to "I have a good old woman at home," and " I have a good wife at home." In the Douce, 32, is a ballad called " Crums of comfort for the youngest sister, &c, to a pleasant new West-country tune;" beginning— " I have a good old father at home, An ancient man is he : But he has a mind that ere he dies That I should married be." Dr. Rimbault found the first tune in a lute MS., formerly in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Gostling, of Canterbury, under the name of The jolly Finder. It is in the ballad-opera of The Jovial Grew, 1731, called " The Daily's Daughter of Islington." The second is the traditional tune to which it is commonly sung throughout the country.
	Yet she was coy, and would not believe That he did love her so, No, nor at any time would she Any countenance to him show. But when his friends did understand His fond and foolish mind, They sent him up to fair London, An apprentice for to bind. And when he had been seven long years, And never his love could see: Many a tear have I shed for her sake, When she little thought of me.	Then all the maids of Islington Went forth to sport and play, - All but the bailiff's daughter dear; She secretly stole away. She pulled off her gown of green, And put on ragged attire, And to fair London she would go, ■ Her true love to enquire. And as she went along the high road, The weather being hot and dry, She sat her down upon a green bank, And her true love came riding by.