Boar's Head Carol Lyrics

Trad., possibly 16th century English Arr. Watts

The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bay and rosemary;
So I pray you my masters be merry,
Quot estis in convivio. [So many as are in the feast]
Chorus (after each verse):
Caput apri defero, [I bring the boar's head]
Reddens laudes Domino [Giving praises to God]
The boar's head as I understand
Is the rarest dish in all the land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Let us servire cantico. [serve with a song]
Our steward hath provided this
In honour of the King of bliss,
Which on this day to be served is
In Reginensis atrio. [In the Queen's hall]