O'Rourke's noble feast will ne'er be forgot By those who were there, or those who were not. His revels to keep we sup and we dine On seven-score sheep, fat bullocks, and swine Usquebaugh to our feast in pails was brought up A hundred at least; and a madder our cup Oh, there is the sport. We awake with a fright In disorderly sort from snoring all night. Oh how I was tricked! My pipe it was broke! My pocket was picked! I lost my new coat! "I'm rifled," quoth Nell, "of mantle and kercher!" Well then fare them well, and the de'il take the searcher. Come harper, strike up! But first, by your favor Boy - bring us a cup. Now THAT has some savor! Glossary Usquebaugh = water of life or whiskey madder- a wooden measuring 1-3 pints

Heap on more wood! the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still. Each age has deemed the new-born year The fittest time for festal cheer;

All hail to the days that merit more praise Than all the rest of the year, And welcome the nights that double delights As well for the poor as the peer! Good fortune attend each merry man's friend, That doth but the best that he may; Forgetting old wrongs, with carols and songs, To drive the cold winter away. This time of the year is spent in good cheer, And neighbours together do meet To sit by the fire, with friendly desire, Each other in love to greet; Old grudges forgot are put in the pot, All sorrows aside they lay; The old and the young doth carol this song To drive the cold winter away. To mask and to mum, kind neighbours will come With wassails of nut-brown ale, To drink and carouse to all in the house As merry as bucks in the dale; Where cake, bread, and cheese is brought for your fees To make you the longer stay; At the fire to warm 'twill do you no harm, To drive the cold winter away. Thus none will allow of solitude now When Christmas's tide comes in like a bride With holly and ivy clad, Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer In every household is had; The country guise is then to devise Some gambols of Christmas play, Whereat the young men do best that they can To drive the cold winter away. Thus none will allow of solitude now But merrily greets the time, To make it appear of all the whole year That this is accounted the prime: December is seen appareled in green, And January fresh as May Comes dancing along with a cup and a song To drive the cold winter away.

The damsel donned her kirtle sheen; The hall was dressed with holly green; Forth to the wood did merry men go, To gather in the mistletoe.

The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown O, the rising of the sun, And the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a blossom, As white as any milk And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, All wrappéd up in silk The holly bears a berry, As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To do poor sinners good The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, On Christmas Day in the morn The holly bears a bark, As bitter as the gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, For to redeem us all The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown

Then opened wide the baron's hall To vassal, tenant, serf, and all; Power laid his rod of rule aside, And Ceremony doffed his pride. The heir, with roses in his shoes, That night might village partner choose;

The fire, with well-dried logs supplied, Went roaring up the chimney wide; The huge hall table's oaken face, Scrubbed till it shone, the day to grace, Bore then upon its massive board No mark to part the squire and lord.

Hey, ho, nobody home Meat nor drink nor money havie I none Yet shall we be merry. Hey ho nobody home A soul, a soul, a soul cake Please, good missus a soul cake An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry Any good thing to make us merry One for Peter, one for Paul Three for him who made us all God bless the master of this house and bless the mistress also And all the little children that round your table grow The horses in your stable and dog before your door And all that dwell within your gates, we wish you ten times more A soul, a soul, a soul cake Please, good missus a soul cake An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry Any good thing to make us merry One for Peter, one for Paul Three for him who made us all Go down into your cellar and see what you can find And if you can find something we hope you will be kind We hope you will be kind with your apples and strong beer For we won't come a-souling 'till this time next year A soul, a soul, a soul cake Please, good missus a soul cake An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry Any good thing to make us merry One for Peter, one for Paul Three for him who made us all The streets are very dirty, my shoes are very thin I have a little pocket to put a penny in If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you A soul, a soul, a soul cake Please, good missus a soul cake An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry Any good thing to make us merry One for Peter, one for Paul Three for him who made us all

The wassail round, in good brown bowls, Garnished with ribbons, blithely trowls.

There the huge sirloin reeked; hard by Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie; Nor failed old Scotland to produce, At such high tide, her savoury goose.

Why shouldn't my goose Sing as well as thy goose When I paid for my goose Twice as much as thine Christmas is coming The goose is getting fat Won't you please put a penny In the old man's hat If you haven't got a penny A ha'penny will do If you haven't got a ha'penny God bless you

Then came the merry maskers in, And carols roared with blithesome din; If unmelodious was the song, It was a hearty note, and strong. Who lists may in their mumming see Traces of ancient mystery;

Oh where are you going said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose We're off to the woods said John the Red Nose And what will you do there said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose We'll shoot the Cutty wren said John the Red Nose And how will you shoot us said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose With bows and with arrows said John the Red Nose Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder Oh what will you do then said Festel to Fose Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose Great guns and great cannon said John the Red Nose And how will you fetch her said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose On four strong men's shoulders said John the Red Nose Ah that will not do said Milder to Moulder Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose Great carts and great wagons said John the Red Nose Oh how will you cut her up said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose With knives and with forks said John the Red Nose Oh that will not do said Milder to Moulder Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose Great hatchets and cleavers said John the Red Nose Oh how will you boil her said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose In pots and in kettles said John the Red Nose O that will not do said Milder to Moulder Oh what will do then said Festel to Fose Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose Great pans and large cauldrons said John the Red Nose Oh who'll get the spare ribs said Milder to Moulder Oh we may not tell you said Festel to Fose We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose We'll give 'em all to the poor said John the Red Nose

On Christmas Eve the bells were rung; On Christmas Eve the mass was sung; And well our Christian sires of old Loved, when the year its course had rolled, And brought blithe Christmas back again, With all his hospitable train. Domestic and religious rite Gave honour to the holy night;

Good people all, this Christmas time, Consider well and bear in mind What our good God for us has done In sending his beloved son With Mary holy we should pray, To God with love this Christmas Day In Bethlehem upon that morn, There was a blessed Messiah born The night before that happy tide The noble Virgin and her guide Were long time seeking up and down To find a lodging in the town But mark right well what came to pass From every door repelled, alas As was foretold, their refuge all Was but a humble ox's stall Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep To whom God's angel did appear Which put the shepherds in great fear Arise and go, the angels said To Bethlehem, be not afraid For there you'll find, this happy morn A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born With thankful heart and joyful mind The shepherds went the babe to find And as God's angel had foretold They did our Saviour Christ behold Within a manger he was laid And by his side a virgin maid Attending on the Lord of Life Who came on earth to end all strife There were three wise men from afar Directed by a glorious star And on they wandered night and day Until they came where Jesus lay And when they came unto that place Where our beloved Messiah lay They humbly cast them at his feet With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

England was merry England, when Old Christmas brought his sports again. 'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale; 'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale: A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's heart through half the year.