The Song of the Western Men
Encyclopedia
"The Song of the Western Men" was written by Robert Stephen Hawker
. It is also known by the title of "Trelawny".
Hawker wrote the song in 1824, telling of events that took place in 1688. When the song first appeared many thought it to be a contemporary record of events, although in fact the song contains one or two inaccuracies. The march on London described in this song only reached as far as Bristol, before Trelawny was acquitted by a jury in London and released. Many people have erroneously supposed the song to be ancient, among them, Sir Walter Scott
, Lord Macaulay, and Charles Dickens
.
Hawker's version of Trelawny was possibly a rework of an original song that is said "to have resounded in every house, in every highway, and in every street."
According to Cornish historian Robert Morton Nance
, The Song of the Western Men was possibly inspired by the song Come, all ye jolly tinner boys
which was written more than ten years earlier in about 1807, when Napoleon Bonaparte
made threats that would affect trade in Cornwall at the time of the invasion of Poland
. Ye jolly Tinner boys contains the line "Why forty thousand Cornish boys shall knawa the reason why."
The Trelawny in Hawker's song was Jonathan Trelawny (1650–1721), who was one of the seven bishops
imprisoned in the Tower of London
by James II in 1688. Born at Pelynt
into an old Cornish family, his father, the 2nd Baronet of Trelawne, was a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War
.
Despite its inaccuracies the song has become the Cornish national anthem and is a regular favourite sung at Cornish rugby union
matches and other Cornish
gatherings. Also, primary school children in some schools in Cornwall are taught the first verse and chorus, and sing it at events such as Murdoch Day.
A faithful heart and true!
King James's men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do!
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Chorus
Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
Though London Tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawny free!
'We'll cross the Tamar, land to land:
The Severn is no stay:
With "one and all," and hand in hand;
And who shall bid us nay?
Chorus
And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all:
Here's men as good as you.
'Trelawny he's in keep and hold;
Trelawny he may die:
Here's twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why
Chorus
in 1905:
Robert Stephen Hawker
Robert Stephen Hawker was an Anglican priest, poet, antiquarian of Cornwall and reputed eccentric. He is best known as the writer of The Song of the Western Men with its chorus line of And shall Trelawny die? / Here's twenty thousand Cornish men / will know the reason why!, which he published...
. It is also known by the title of "Trelawny".
Hawker wrote the song in 1824, telling of events that took place in 1688. When the song first appeared many thought it to be a contemporary record of events, although in fact the song contains one or two inaccuracies. The march on London described in this song only reached as far as Bristol, before Trelawny was acquitted by a jury in London and released. Many people have erroneously supposed the song to be ancient, among them, Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
, Lord Macaulay, and Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
.
Hawker's version of Trelawny was possibly a rework of an original song that is said "to have resounded in every house, in every highway, and in every street."
According to Cornish historian Robert Morton Nance
Robert Morton Nance
Robert Morton Nance was a leading authority on the Cornish language, nautical archaeologist, and joint founder of the Old Cornwall Society....
, The Song of the Western Men was possibly inspired by the song Come, all ye jolly tinner boys
Come, all ye jolly Tinner boys
"Come, all ye jolly tinner boys" is a traditional folk song associated with Cornwall that was written about 1807, when Napoleon Bonaparte made threats that would affect trade in Cornwall at the time of the invasion of Poland...
which was written more than ten years earlier in about 1807, when Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
made threats that would affect trade in Cornwall at the time of the invasion of Poland
Battle of Eylau
The Battle of Eylau or Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, 7 and 8 February 1807, was a bloody and inconclusive battle between Napoléon's Grande Armée and a Russian Empire army under Levin August, Count von Bennigsen near the town of Preußisch Eylau in East Prussia. Late in the battle, the Russians...
. Ye jolly Tinner boys contains the line "Why forty thousand Cornish boys shall knawa the reason why."
The Trelawny in Hawker's song was Jonathan Trelawny (1650–1721), who was one of the seven bishops
Seven Bishops
thumb|200px|A portrait of the Seven Bishops.The Seven Bishops of the Church of England were those imprisoned and tried for seditious libel over their opposition to the second Declaration of Indulgence issued by James II in 1688...
imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
by James II in 1688. Born at Pelynt
Pelynt
Pelynt is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated 20 miles west of Plymouth and four miles west-northwest of Looe. Pelynt has a population of around 1,124 ....
into an old Cornish family, his father, the 2nd Baronet of Trelawne, was a supporter of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Despite its inaccuracies the song has become the Cornish national anthem and is a regular favourite sung at Cornish rugby union
Cornish rugby
Rugby union in Cornwall is one of the Duchy's most popular sports.-CRFU:The Cornwall Rugby Football Union was formed in 1883. It is a union of 39 rugby union clubs which includes every rugby union club in Cornwall, the open age Cornwall representative side and representative teams at various age...
matches and other Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
gatherings. Also, primary school children in some schools in Cornwall are taught the first verse and chorus, and sing it at events such as Murdoch Day.
'Trelawny'
A good sword and a trusty hand!A faithful heart and true!
King James's men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do!
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawny die?
Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Chorus
- And shall Trelawny live?
- And shall Trelawny die?
- Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
- Will know the reason why!
Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
Though London Tower were Michael's hold,
We'll set Trelawny free!
'We'll cross the Tamar, land to land:
The Severn is no stay:
With "one and all," and hand in hand;
And who shall bid us nay?
Chorus
- And shall Trelawny live?
- And shall Trelawny die?
- Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
- Will know the reason why!
And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all:
Here's men as good as you.
'Trelawny he's in keep and hold;
Trelawny he may die:
Here's twenty thousand Cornish bold
Will know the reason why
Chorus
- And shall Trelawny live?
- And shall Trelawny die?
- Here's twenty thousand Cornish men
- Will know the reason why!
Translation into Cornish
There are two versions of the song in Cornish. The first one was written by Henry JennerHenry Jenner
Henry Jenner FSA was a British scholar of the Celtic languages, a Cornish cultural activist, and the chief originator of the Cornish language revival....
in 1905:
‘Ma lel an leuv, ‘ma’n kledha mas ‘Ma’n golon lowen, gwir! Tus Mytern Jams ‘wra konvedhes Pandr’ell Kernowyon sur! Yw ornys le ha prys ankow? ‘Verow Trelawny bras? Mes ugans mil a dus Kernow A wodhvydh oll an kas.
‘Medh aga Hapten, krev ha dreus, Gwas lowen ev a veu, “A pe Tour Loundres Karrek Loos, Ni a’n kergh mes a’n le.” “Ni ‘dres an Tamar, tir dhe dir, A pe ‘vel Havren down, Onan hag oll, dhe’n den eus fur; Dhe’gan lettya ‘fedh own.”
“Pan wrellen dos dhe Fos Loundres, Dhe wel a bleg dhyn ni; Ownegyon oll, gwrewgh dos en-mes Dhe dus eus gwell ero’hwi!” “En karhar kelmys rag ankow Mirowgh Trelawny bras! Mes ugans mil a dus Kernow A wodhvydh oll an kas.”
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Gans kledha da ha dorn yw lel, Gwir lowen an golon Yth aswon Mytern Jamys fel Pandr’wrello Kernowyon. Yw ordnys prys ha le ankow? ‘Verow Trelawny bras? Ottomma ugens mil Gernow A wodhvydh oll an kas.
Yn-medh an kapten, byw y woos, Gwas joliv yn mesk kans: “Tour Loundres kyn fe Karrek Loos Y’n delirvsen dehwans. Ni a dres Tamar, tir dhe dir, An Havren ny’gan lett; Ha skoodh reb skoodh, kowetha wir, Piw orthyn ni a sett?
Devedhys bys yn fos Loundres “Gwel teg dhyn” ni a gri; “Dewgh mes, ownegyon oll, dewgh mes, Gwell dus on esowgh hwi!” Trelawny yw avel felon Fast yn karharow tynn Mes ugens mil a Gernowyon Godhvos an ken a vynn.
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External links
- The Life and Letters of R. S. Hawker from The Internet Archive
- Words in Cornish from the Federation of Old Cornwall SocietiesFederation of Old Cornwall SocietiesThe Federation of Old Cornwall Societies was formed in 1924, on the initiative of Robert Morton Nance, with the objective of collecting and maintaining "all those ancient things that make the spirit of Cornwall — its traditions, its old words and ways, and what remains to it of its Celtic language...
website - Trelawny's Army (with notes by R. S. Hawker)
- The Song of the Western Men from the Everything2Everything2Everything2, Everything2, or E2 for short is a collaborative Web-based community consisting of a database of interlinked user-submitted written material. E2 is moderated for quality, but has no formal policy on subject matter...
website