Robert Stephen Hawker
Reimagining Cornwall's rebel spirit, this icon transformed local folklore into a defiant anthem of regional identity. The seemingly simple ballad masks a sophisticated meditation on how cultural memory shapes political resistance—revealing that true revolution often begins in storytelling, not swordplay.
"And Shall Trelawny Die?" - A Patriotic Cornish Anthem \n \n "And Shall Trelawny Die?" stands as one of Cornwall's most stirring patriotic songs, composed by Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker (1803-1875) in 1824. While often mistaken for an ancient folk ballad, this poetic work masterfully reimagines a historical Cornish battle cry from the 17th century, demonstrating how literary artifice can transform into authentic cultural heritage. \n \n The song's origins lie in the 1688 imprisonment of Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of Bristol, who, along with six other bishops, faced charges of seditious libel against James II. The original rallying cry, "Here's twenty thousand Cornishmen will know the reason why!" became a powerful symbol of Cornish resistance and solidarity. Hawker, serving as vicar of Morwenstow, crafted his version while still a student at Oxford, brilliantly capturing the spirit of Cornish nationalism in verses that would later be mistaken for a genuine medieval ballad. \n \n The poem's journey from literary creation to cultural touchstone represents a fascinating example of invented tradition becoming authentic heritage. Hawker's verses were so convincing that they were collected as genuine folk songs, appearing in various Victorian anthologies of traditional music. The refrain, "And shall Trelawny die? / Here's twenty thousand Cornish men / Will know the reason why!" became embedded in Cornish identity, serving as an unofficial anthem and rallying cry for regional pride. \n \n Today, "And Shall Trelawny Die?" continues to resonate as a powerful expression of Cornish cultural identity. Performed at gatherings, sporting events, and cultural festivals, it exemplifies how literary creation can transcend its origins to become genuine folklore. The song's enduring popularity raises intriguing questions about the nature of authenticity in cultural traditions and t
he role of artistic interpretation in shaping regional identity. Hawker's legacy lives on not only in this beloved anthem but in the broader discourse about how cultural symbols are created, adopted, and transformed through time.
"And Shall Trelawny Die?" by Robert Stephen Hawker interweaves profound questions of cultural identity, communal faith, and the power of shared narrative in ways that resonate deeply with philosophical and spiritual inquiry. The ballad, which champions Cornish solidarity through the story of Jonathan Trelawny's imprisonment, exemplifies how symbols can indeed contain ultimate truth and how ritual - in this case, the sharing of a patriotic verse - can create real change in social consciousness. \n \n The text powerfully demonstrates that religion and cultural identity must be communal, as evidenced by the collective voice of the "twenty thousand Cornishmen" who would "know the reason why" their leader faces death. This speaks to the fundamental question of whether tradition should limit interpretation, as Hawker's work itself represents a reimagining of historical events through a folkloric lens, showing how truth can be both preserved and transformed through artistic expression. \n \n The ballad's enduring impact raises questions about whether something can be simultaneously true and false - while its historical accuracy may be debatable, its emotional and cultural truth remains undeniable. This connects to broader questions about whether personal experience is more trustworthy than expert knowledge, as the poem's popular resonance often overshadows its documented history. The work demonstrates how reading fiction can indeed teach real truths about life, as its verses capture essential aspects of Cornish identity and solidarity. \n \n The poem's exploration of loyalty and sacrifice echoes philosophical questions about whether personal loyalty should override universal moral rules, and whether tradition should limit moral progress. The Cornish people's willingness to rise up for Trelawny speaks to whether revolution is ever morally required and if political authorit
y is truly legitimate. The text suggests that patriotism - at least on a regional level - can indeed be a virtue when it serves to protect community values and individual rights. \n \n Artistically, the work raises questions about whether art should serve society and if beauty lies in the object or the experience. The poem's continued relevance to Cornish identity shows how art can change reality and how artistic interpretation, while subjective, can create lasting cultural impact. The way the ballad has been preserved and passed down demonstrates how art needs an audience to truly be art, while its emotional resonance suggests that art should both express and evoke emotion. \n \n The text's religious undertones - Trelawny was a bishop defending his faith - connect to questions about whether faith is more about experience or tradition, and whether divine grace is necessary for virtue. The community's willingness to defend their religious leader suggests that faith indeed seeks understanding through action, while the poem's blend of historical fact and folkloric element asks whether sacred texts must be literally true to contain spiritual truth. \n \n This intersection of cultural memory, artistic expression, and communal identity in "And Shall Trelawny Die?" ultimately suggests that meaning is both found and created, that truth can be more than mere usefulness, and that some knowledge indeed requires a leap of faith. The work stands as testament to how art, community, and belief can intertwine to create enduring cultural touchstones that transcend their historical moments.
Plymouth