Then comes in the second course with great pride, The cranes, the herons, the bitterns, by their side, The partridges, the plovers, the woodcocks, and the snipe, Larks in hot snow, for the ladies to pick, Good drink also, luscious and fine, Blood of Allemaine, romnay, and wine, With Hey! Good brewed ale and wine, I dare well say, 2 That is," the first dish." Furmity for pottage, and venison fine, And the umbles of the doe and all that ever comes in, Capons well baked, with knuckles of the roe, Raisins and currants, and other spices too, THE BOAR'S HEAD IN HAND BRING I. [THIS Carol is taken from a single leaf, all that has been preserved, of a book of Carols printed by Wynkin de Worde in 1521. It is there entitled, "A Carol, brynging in the Bore's Head." This antique ceremony was observed up to a very recent period in Queen's College, Oxford, but with this considerable improvement indeed, that the Boar's head was neatly carved in wood.] 康 Caput Apri defero Reddens laudes Domino. HE boar's head in hand bring I, Qui estis in convivio. The boar's head, I understand, Is the chief service in this land; Look wherever it be found, Servite cum cantico. Be glad, lords, both more or less, To cheer you all this Christmas, The boar's head with mustard.1 'The imprint on the leaf which has preserved us this Carol is :—" Thus endeth the Christmasse Carroles, newely enprinted at Londo. in fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkin de Worde. The yere of our lorde, M.D.XXI." THE BOAR'S HEAD THAT WE BRING HERE. [THIS Carol was first printed by Ritson from an ancient MS. in his possession, now deposited in the British Museum. The composition in all probability is of the reign of Henry VIII. As before stated, Nowel, or Noel, is the old French name for Christmas, and was the usual burden for Carols of this kind.] OEL, Noel, Noel, Noel, The boar's head, that we bring here, Is born to-day to buy us dear, Noel. |