Advent Poem 15

In England, people would go door to door at Christmastime, and especially on Twelfth Night, singing carols and asking for wassail. I think Christmas caroling would be a lot more fun if we resurrected this old tradition. Mmmm...beer at every house. This song was a very popular wassailing song:

Bryng Us in Good Ale
Anonymous

Bryng us in good ale, and bryng us in good ale;
For our blyssyd Lady sak, bring us in good ale.
Bryng us in no browne bred, fore that is mad of brane,
Nor bryng us in no whyt bred, fore therein is no game.
But bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no befe, for ther is many bonys,
But bryng us in good ale, for that goth downe at onys;
And bryng us in good ale.
Bring us in no bacon, for that is passing fate,
But bryng us in god ale, and gyfe us I-nought of that:
And bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no mutton, for that is often lene,
Nor bryng us in no trypes, for thei be syldom clene,
But bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no eggys, for ther ar many schelles,
But bryng us in good ale, and gyfe us no(th)yng ellys,
And bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no butter, for therin ar many herys;
Nor bryng us in no pygges flesch, for that will make
us borys;
But bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no podynges, for therin is al Godes good;
Nor bryng us in no venesen, for that his not for our blod;
But bryng us in good ale.
Bryng us in no capons flesch, for that is ofte der;
Nor bryng us in no dokes flesche, for thei slober in
the mer;
But bryng us in good ale.