Carol for the Twelfth Day Sweet master of this habitation With my mistress be so kind As to grant an invitation If we may this favor find To be now invited in Then with mirth we will begin. Happy sweet and pleasant songs which unto this time belongs. Chorus Let every loyal honest soul Contribute to the wassail bowl. So may you still enjoy the blessing Of a loving virtuous wife, Riches, honour still possessing With a long and happy life, Living in prosperity Then let generosity Always be maintained I pray. Don't forget the good old way. Before the season is departed In your presence we appear, Therefore soon be noble hearted To afford som dainty cheer Freely let us have it now Since the season doth allow. What the house doth now afford Should be plac'd upon the board Chorus Whether it be roast beef or fowl And liquour well the wassel bowl. For now it is a time of leisure, Then to those that kindness show May they have wealth, peace and pleasure And the spring of bounty flow To enrich them while they live That they may afford to give, To maintain the good old way Many a long and happy day Chorus Let every loyal honest soul Contribute to the wassail bowl. You worthy are to be commended I in this you will not fail. Now our song is almost ended Fill our bowl with nappy ale. Then we'll drink afull carouse To the master of this house Aye and to our mistress dear Wishing both a happy year, In peace and love without controul Who brought Joy to our wasel bowl. -No. 37 from the MS belonging to Miss. Minnie Davies Gilbert and Mrs. Patience Harding, great granddaughters of the original collector. The MS of Cornish Carols wascompiled for Davies Gilbert by John Hutchens about 1826, as cited in: Canow Kernow., ed. Inglis Gundry, The Federation of Old Cornwall Soci eties, 1966. Pp.18-19. CB apr00
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