Christmas Carols, Ancient And Modern
With Historical notes Lyrics & Sheet music - online book.
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song." There were regular Wassail-songs, of which some ancient specimens may be found in the Har-leian 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.*
 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. |
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