The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Sing we to this merry company,
Regina celi, letare

Words and Music: English Traditional, Before 15291

Compare: Sing We To This Merry Company (Terry, Two Hundred Folk Carols)

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 19

Sing we to this merry company,
Regina celi, letare

1. O queen of heaven, thou sittest in thy see,2
O comfort of all captivity,
Right causeth us all to sing to thee,
    Regina celi, letare.

2. O blessed branch of humility,
O causer of all felicity,
With joy and gladness sing we to thee,
    Regina celi, letare.

3. Benign lady, blessed may thou be,
That barest God in virginity;
Therefore sing we unto thee,
    Regina celi, letare.

Notes:

1. Rickert bases the date of "Before 1529" because the carol was found in the Fairfax MS., supposed to have belonged to Robert Fairfax of Henry VIII's Chapel, who died in that year. Return

2. Domain. Return

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