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The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William

History

The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac

Name: The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Author: Hone, William

Hone, William

Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs

The two birds upon the bowl did for some time put me to a stand, till
meeting with a communicative person at Hobarrow, he assured me they were
two hawks, as I soon plainly perceived by their bills and beaks, and
were a rebus of the builder’s name. There was a string from the neck of
one bird to the other, which, it is reasonable to conjecture, was to
note that they must be joined together to show their signification;
admitting this, they were to be red hawks. Upon inquiry, I found a Mr.
Henry Hawks, the owner of a farm adjoining to Groves; he assured me, his
father kept Grove farm about forty years since, and that it was built by
one of their name, and had been in his family upwards of four hundred
years, as appeared by an old lease in his possession.

The apple branches on each side of the bowl, I think, means no more than
that they drank good cider at their Wassells. Saxon words at the
extremities of the beam are already explained; and the mask carved
brackets beneath correspond with such sort of work before the
fourteenth century.

  T. N.

       *       *       *       *       *

The following pleasant old song, inserted by Mr. Brand, from Ritson’s
collection of “Antient Songs,” was met with by the Editor of the
_Every-day Book_, in 1819, at the printing-office of Mr. Rann, at
Dudley, printed by him for the Wassailers of Staffordshire and
Warwickshire. It went formerly to the tune of “_Gallants come away_.”

A CARROLL FOR A WASSELL-BOWL.

    A jolly Wassel-Bowl,
      A Wassel of good ale,
    Well fare the butler’s soul,
      That setteth this to sale;
                      Our jolly Wassel.

    Good Dame, here at your door
      Our Wassel we begin,
    We are all maidens poor,
      We pray now let us in,
                      With our Wassel.

    Our Wassel we do fill
      With apples and with spice,
    Then grant us your good will
      To taste here once or twice
                      Of our good Wassel.

    If any maidens be
      Here dwelling in this house,
    They kindly will agree
      To take a full carouse
                      Of our Wassel.

    But here they let us stand
      All freezing in the cold;
    Good master, give command,
      To enter and be bold,
                      With our Wassel.

    Much joy into this hall
      With us is entered in,
    Our master first of all,
      We hope will now begin,
                      Of our Wassel.

    And after his good wife
      Our spiced bowl will try,
    The Lord prolong your life,
      Good fortune we espy,
                      For our Wassel.

    Some bounty from your hands,
      Our Wassel to maintain.
    We’ll buy no house nor lands
      With that which we do gain,
                      With our Wassel.

    This is our merry night
      Of choosing King and Queen,
    Then be it your delight
      That something may be seen
                      In our Wassel.

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