THE SCENE: The Christmas time practice of going “Wassailing” is derived from a medieval toast. In this anecdote, Geoffrey of Monmouth describes the Saxon feast where this greeting was first introduced into the English language.
THE TEXT: Hengist invited King Vortigern to his home to inspect the new building and to review the warriors who had just landed. The King came there incognito. He praised the fortress which had been built so quickly and he took into his service the soldiers whom Hengist had summoned. While he was being entertained at a royal banquet, the girl Renwein came out of an inner room carrying a golden goblet full of wine. She walked up to the King, curtsied low, and said: “Laverd King, was hail!” When he saw the girl’s face, Vortigern was greatly struck by her beauty and was filled with desire for her. He asked his interpreter what it was that the girl had said and what he ought to reply to her. “She called you Lord King,” answered the interpreter, “and did you honor by drinking to your health. What you should reply is drinc hail’”. Vortigern immediately said the words “drinc hail” and ordered Renwein to drink. Then he took the goblet from her hand, kissed her and drank in his turn. From that day to this the tradition has endured in Britain that the one who drinks first at a banquet says “was hail” to his partner and he who takes the drink next replies “drinc hail”.
– Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th Century AD
