song.” There were regular Wassail-songs, of which some ancient specimens may be found in the Harleian MSS. (275 and 541 for instance,) but of no great merit or curiosity, sometimes containing a mixture of Latin and English, not unusual in the monkish times, as thus,
Joy we all now yn this feste
For verbum caro factum est.
The following is, perhaps, one of the most amusing.[1]
Bryng vs home good ale, s’, bryng vs home good ale;
And for our der lady love, brynge vs home good ale.
Brynge home no beff, s’, for that ys full of bonys,
But brynge home good ale Inowgh, for I love wyle yt.
But, &c.
Brynge vs home no wetyn brede, for that ys full of braund,
Nothyr no ry brede, for yt ys of yt same.
But, &c.
Brynge vs home no porke, s’, for yt ys very fat,
Nethyr no barly brede, for nethyr lovys I yt,
But bryngvs home good ale.
Bryng vs home no muttun, s’, for yt ys togh and lene,
Nethyr no trypys, for they be seldyn clene.
But, bryng, &c.
Bryng vs home no vele, s’, for yt will not dur
But bryng vs home good ale Inogh to drynke by the fyr.
But, &c.
Bryng vs home no sydyr, nor no palde wyne,
For and yu do thow shalt have crysts curse and myne.
But, &c.
In the 17th century the wassel bowl was carried round to the houses of the gentry and others with songs, the bearers expecting a gratuity wherever they proffered it: a custom still preserved in some
- ↑ From Harl. MS. 541 (temp. Hen. VI.) and also printed in Ritson's Ancient Songs, pp. xxxiv—v. n.
