The Boar's Head Carol

This carol has been sung at Queen's College, Oxford, since the seventeenth century, as the celebrated dish is borne into the dining hall. An early version of a similar carol was first printed in 1521 by Wynkyn de Worde.

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;

Chorus:: Caput apri defero,; Reddens laudes Domino.

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

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

Quot. . . "so many as are in the feast"
Caput. . . "The boar's head I bring, giving praises to God"
Servire. . . "Let us serve with a song"
In Reginensi. . . "In the Queen's Hall"