BOAR'S HEAD CAROL
Traditional English, 1521

The boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bays and rosemary;
And I pray you, my masters, be merry,
Quot estis in convivio:

Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes Domino

The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all this land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico:

Our steward hath provided this,
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio: