THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF

ISLINGTON.

HERE 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.

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.

She started up, with a color soe red,
Catching hold of his bridle-rein ;

"One

penny, one penny,

kind sir," she said,

"Will ease me of much pain."

"Before I give you one penny, sweet-heart, Praye tell me where you were born.'

"At Islington, kind sir," sayd she,

"I prythee, sweet-heart, then tell to me, O tell me, whether you know

The bailiff's daughter of Islington." "She is dead, sir, long ago."

"If she be dead, then take my horse,
My saddle and bridle also;
For I will into some far country,

Where no man shall me know."

"O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth, She standeth by thy side;

She is here alive, she is not dead,

And ready to be thy bride."

“O farewell grief, and welcome joy,
Ten thousand times therefore;

For now I have founde mine own true love,

Whom I thought I should never see more."

From an ancient black-letter copy in the Pepys Collection, with some improvements communicated by a lady as she had heard the same recited in her youth. The full title is, "True love requited; or, the Bailiff's daughter of Islington."

Islington in Norfolk is probably the place here meant.

THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD.

PART THE FIRST.

ENRY, our royal king, would ride a hunting
To the green forest so pleasant and fair;
To see the harts skipping, and dainty does
tripping,

Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repair:

Hawk and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd
For the game, in the same, with good regard.

All a long summer's day rode the king pleasantly,
With all his princes and nobles each one;

Chasing the hart and hind, and the buck gallantly,
Till the dark evening forced all to turn home.
Then at last, riding fast, he had lost quite
All his lords in the wood, late in the night.