This is an old and -until now- forgotten thread, and Conrad's old reference is long disappeared. However, I can add to Al's recent comments.

The Yorkshire musical historian and folksong collector Frank Kidson published words and music in one of his 1887 Leeds Mercury articles. 'The most popular wassail song in Leeds', he said, 'is the following:'

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
For it is the Christmas time,
And we travel far and near;
So God bless you and send you
A happy new year.

We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
But we are neighbours's children,
Whom you have seen before.
For it is the Christmas time...

God bless the master of this house,
The mistress also,
And all the little children
That round the table go.
For it is the Christmas time...

Call up the butler of this house,
Put on his golden ring;
Let him bring us a glass of beer,
And better we shall sing.
For it is the Christmas time...

We've got a little purse
Made of stretching leather skin;
We want a little of your money
To line it well within.
For it is the Christmas time...

'There are many more verses', wrote Kidson. 'The stretching capabilities of the purse are always strongly emphasised.'

No source is given for the notation at the Waits site mentioned above, and the approximate 1800 date doesn't necessarily refer to the example given (see the contributor's original, rather vague comments at http://www.waits.org.uk/notes&queries/archive2002.htm#Leeds Waits Wassail).

It is, however, much the same in essentials as the example published by Kidson.