The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington

Child #105

There was a youth and a well belov-ed youth
And he was the Squire's son.
He loved the bailiff's daughter dear
That lived in Islington.

But she was coy and would not believe
That he did love her so,
Nor would she at any time
Any countenance to him show.

And when his friends did understand
His fond and foolish pride
They sent him up to far London
An apprentice for to bind.

Seven long years went rolling by
And ne'er did his true love see.
"Many a tear have I shed for her sake
When little she thought of me."

The maids of Islington went forth
Went forth to sport and play,
All but the bailiff's daughter dear.
She secretly stole away.

And as she went along the road,
The weather being hot and dry,
She sat down on a shady bank.
Her true love eame riding by.

She sprang up with color so bright
And seized his bridle rein,
"One penny, one penny, kind sir," she said,
"Twould ease me of mueh pain."

"Before I give you a penny, sweetheart,
Pray tell me where you were born."
"At Islington, kind sir," said she,
"Where I have had many a scorn."

"Before I give you a penny, sweetheart,
Pray tell me whether you know
The bailiff's daughter of Islington."
"She's dead, sir, long ago."

"If she be dead, then take my horse,
My saddle and bridle also,
And I will go to some far land
Where no one me shall know."

"Oh, stay, oh, stay, you goodly youth,
She's standing by your side.
She is not dead but alive and well
And ready to be your bride."

"Depart sorrow and welcome joy,
Many thousand times and more,
For now I have my own true love
Whom I thought I would see no more."


[1980:] Judging from the frequency of reprints, the ballad was
immensely popular in the latter part of the 17th century. It has
continued to be held in affection ever since, though one doubts
the informant who told Child in the 1880s that it "may be heard
any day at a country cricket-match". It has been confidently
asserted that the Islington in question is the village in
Norfolk, rather than the one formerly near London and now part of
it. (Palmer, Ballads 190)

[2000:] This widely known traditional ballad was first published
in Bishop Percy's Reliques of English Poetry in 1765. Bertrand
Bronson in his Traditional Tunes of the Child Ballads includes
more than 30 different tunes to the ballad from England,
Scotland, and north America, several of which come from Gavin
Greig's collection.

It was very popular (at one time) in England--rather obviously--
and also in Canada and the USA, with 109 instances listed in Roud
[The Folk Song Index / The Broadside Index]. There are only 11
Scottish examples, and mostly from Aberdeenshire - it appears in
GD [Greig-Duncan] and in Keith's Last Leaves of Traditional
Ballads, where 5 tunes are given.

http://mysongbook.de/msb/songs/b/bailiffs.html

http://www.mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=5785