There was a fair maid of Islington as I have heard man tell
And she was a-going to London town her apples and pears to sell
As she was a-going along the road a vintner did her spy
“And what shall I give you, me lad, a night with you to lie?”

“If you would lie with me a night you must give to me five pounds”
“A match, a match,” the vintner said, “And so let this go round”
But when he'd lain with her all night her money she did crave
“Oh no, oh no,” the vintner said, “The devil a penny you'll have!”

This maid she made no more ado but to the justice went
“This vintner's hired a cellar of me and he will not pay the rent”
And straight the justice for him sent and asked the reason why
That he would give this maid no rent to which he did reply:

“Although I hired a cellar of her and the possession was mine
I never put anything into it but one small pipe of wine”
This fair maid being ripe of wit she straight replied again
“There lay two oxes at the door why didn't you roll them in?”

The justice laughed and told the vintner if he a tenant be
He must expect to pay the purse; he couldn't sit rent free
And when this maid her money got she put it in her purse
And clapped her hands on the cellar door and said it was none the worse