A web-based edition of early seventeenth-century political poetry from manuscript sources. It brings into the public domain over 350 poems, many of which have never before been published.
I18 Two kinsmen wrastlinge, who shold have the fall
Notes. This poem uses an extended wrestling metaphor to depict Ralegh’s betrayal by his kinsman Lewis Stukeley, who gave evidence to the authorities after escorting Ralegh to London in 1618.
“On Sir Walter Rawleighe his death”
Two kinsmen1 wrastlinge, who shold have the fall
the state stood by, threw up the foote ball
Both mett, tooke hold, one coller thinkes to slipp2
the other slilye gott him on the hipp
Ne’re foyld him, but ere he came to ground
5to save him selfe & foyle his freind meanes found
Whil’st one cleane strength to fetch him o’er did lacke
the other footes him & layes him on his backe
O for a righteous Judge, peoples good voice
and after age sentence; t’is better choice
10To dye with glorye, then to live with shame
Rawleigh hath lost his head, and Stukeley his fame
Source. Bodleian MS Don. d.58, fol. 6r
Other known sources. Ralegh, Poems 194
I18
1 Two kinsmen: Ralegh and his kinsman and purported betrayer Lewis Stukeley. <back>
2 coller thinkes to slipp: possible allusion to Stukeley’s thwarting of Ralegh’s alleged attempt to escape to France. <back>
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