1871 Oxford Night Caps a collection of receipts for making various beverages used in the university

42

LAMBS WOOL.

Next crowne the bowle full With gentle Lambs wooll,

Adde sugar, nutmeg, and ginger,

With store of ale too, And thus ye must doe

To make the Wassaile a swinger.

Herridt 1 'l'weljth Night, or King and Quun.

Lambs Wool is merely a vanety of the Wassail Bowl, and although bot common in Oxford, is a great favourite in, some parts of England. The following is the origin of tne 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 ubal,, that is, The day of the apple fruit, and being pronounced 1.amasool, our country people have corrupted it to Lambs Wool.•

*See Col. Vallancy, Collect. de Reb. Hibern. iii. 441.