King’s Shilling English Pewter Glass bottom Tankard

Product Description

HISTORY

BRITISH NAVAL PRESS GANGS

In the the 17th, 18th and early 19th Centuries the Royal Navy used force to engage recruits and this was often endorsed by parliamentary authority. Press Gangs tricked drinkers to enlist by putting a shilling in their tankard of ale. Once in possesion of a shilling they had been bought by the Crown to serve in the Navy.

These are the words engraved on the tankard:

'England's navy while being the life line for the small island nation were always short of trained sailors. To get more men to join the navy the press gangs were sent out to recruit men between the ages of 18 and 55 some would be knocked unconscious, threatened with a sword, pistol or musket, or plied with ale. Others would find a shilling at the bottom of their tankard of ale and since they were in possession for the king's shilling, they were in the navy. This led to landlords using glass bottom tankards.'

Additional information