These are the words of the Wassail Song sung in Witcombe and Bentham, according to an article in the Cheltenham Onlooker on 21 December 1912. No tune was given.
Wassail, wassail all over the town Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown Our toast it is made of the maplin tree We be good fellow all – Idrink to thee, Here’s to our horse and to his right eye [ear?] God send our master a happy New Year A happy New Year as e’er he did see With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee. Here’s to our mare and to her right ear [eye?] God send our mistress a good Christmas pie As good Christmas pie as e’er she did see With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee. Here’s to our cow and to her long tail God send our master as never may fail Of a cup of good beer, I pray you draw near And our jolly wassail it’s then you shall hear Be here any maids? – I suppose here be some Sure they will not let the young men stand on the cold stone Sing hey, O maids, come trole back the pin And the fairest maid of the house let us all in. Come butler, come bring us a bowl of the best I hope your soul in heaven will rest But if you do bring in a bowl of the small Then down fall butler, and bowl and all.