"And oft for pence and spicy ale
Wi winter nosgays pind before
The wassail singer tells her tale
And drawls her christmass carrols oer"
John Clare, Christmass (1827)
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Good dame, here at your door
    Our wassel we begin,
We are all maidens poor,
    We pray now let us in,
       With our wassel....

Some bounty from your hands,
    Our wassel to maintain:
We'l buy no house nor lands
    With that which we do gain
       With our wassel.

Wassail song from "New Christmas Carols: Being fit also to be sung at Easter, Whitsontide, and other Festival Days of the year....in the curious study of that ever-to-be-respected antiquary Mr. Anthony á Wood [1632-1695],

There are lots more of these.....

Georgina