Royal Banners Forward Go { The Royal Banners Forward Go by Venantius Honorius Fortunatus, 569 VEXILLA REGIS The Royal Banners Forward Go } The Royal banners forward go, The cross shines forth in mystic glow Where he, as man, who gave man breath, Now bows beneath the yoke of death. Fulfilled is all that David told In true prophetic song of old; How God the nations' King should be, For God is reigning from the tree. O tree of beauty, tree most fair, Ordained those holy limbs to bear; Gone is Thy shame, each crimsoned bough Proclaims the King of glory now. Blest tree, whose chosen branches bore The wealth that did the world restore, The price of humankind to pay, And spoil the spoiler of his prey. O cross, our one reliance, hail! Still may Thy power with us avail More good for righteous souls to win, And save the sinner from his sin. To Thee, eternal Three in One, Let homage meet by all be done: As by the cross Thou dost restore, So rule and guide us evermore. Amen.