Rex divine, Rector regum

Heavenly King, of Kings the Pastor,
Giv'r of laws, of justice master,
Ruling all by Thy behest,
Unto Thee to-day we render
Praise for him, to memory tender,
Charles our King, of kings the best.

Traitors shedding blood like water
Filled the land with crime and slaughter,
Law was trampled in the mud,
Noble churches left forsaken
And the White Rose, overtaken
By the sword, was red with blood.

Thus the bardic verse fulfilling,
"There shall be a time of killing
When the ravens shall be fed,
And a King without pollution
Midst a realm in revolution
Shall be numbered with the dead."

Violent men without compassion
Proudly spurned the ancient fashion
Of the sacred right divine;
From his friends by madmen riven
Was our King to judgment driven
Stained with blood his Royal line.

Faithful son of Mother holy,
To the Church devoted solely,
He to keep her laws was fain.
He her champion ever glorious,
Was beaten still victorious,
Robbed of life, but conqueror slain.

"He nothing common did nor mean
Upon that memorable scene,"
When on the block he laid his head;
"Nor called the gods with vulgar spite
To vindicate his helpless right,"
But went to death as to his bed.

Fair exchange King Charles was making
When, the crown immortal taking
For the earthly crown he wore,
By the axe he followed faster
To the realm of Christ his master,
And the cross behind him bore.

Lo, the priest who shares his glory
(Laud his name and laud his story),
For his fellow-martyr waits
And the white-robed host upraising,
Heart and voice their Saviour praising,
Greets him at the heavenly gates.

He by dying brought salvation
To the torn and shattered nation,
Life restored and liberty;
For the Martyr's blood was sowing
Seed from which the Church is growing,
Seed of immortality.

Ere his death one word was spoken:
That "Remember" was the token
Of his coming victory.
So his blood brought life and healing,
And the Church's triumph sealing,
Never shall forgotten be.

(C.B. Moss)

Alleluia.