1860 Oxford Night Caps

42

LAMBS WOOL.

Next crowne the bowle full With gentle Lambs wooll,

•

Adde sugar,nutmeg, and ginger, •

With store ofale too, And thus ye must doe

To make the Wassailo a swinger. HerricVs Ticelfth Night, or King and Queen.

Lambs Wool is merely a variety of the Wassail Bowl, and although not common in Oxford, is a great favourite in some parts of England. The following is the origin of the term Lambs Wool, as applied to this particular beverage. Formerly the first day of November was dedicated to the Angel presiding over fruits, seeds, &c., and was therefore named La mas uhal, that is. The day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced lamasool, our country people have corrupted it to Lambs Wool.'*

* See Col. Valiancy, Collect, de Eeb. Hibern. iii. 441.