The poem was first published anonymously in The Royal Devonport Telegraph and Plymouth Chronicle in September 1826, over 100 years after the events.

However it is more likely that it referred to his grandfather, Sir John Trelawny, a Cornish Royalist leader who had been imprisoned by parliament in 1628.

[6] 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.

"[7] In 1881, at the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral at Truro, the song was described by Canon Harvey as "... the national anthem of our dear Cornwall.

Out spake their Captain brave and bold: A merry wight was he: Though London Tower were Michael's hold, We'll set Trelawny free!

The first was written by Henry Jenner in 1905: 'Ma lel an leuv, 'ma'n kledha mas 'Ma'n golon lowen, gwir!

"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."

Gans kledha da ha dorn yw lel, Gwir lowen an golon Yth aswon Mytern Jamys fel Pandr'wrello Kernowyon.

Yn-medh an kapten, byw y woos, Gwas joliv yn mesk kans: "Tour Loundres kyn fe Karrek Loos Y’n delirvsen dehwans.

Trelawny yw avel felon Fast yn karharow tynn Mes ugens mil a Gernowyon Godhvos an ken a vynn.