King George III offered up some naval incentives throughout 1776. Seamen who enlisted would get bonuses depending on their level of experience, but the Royal Navy wasn’t above impressing sailors into service, either.

However, it’s also worth noting that King George also put some disincentives out there as well. For instance, in November of 1776 he forbade British mariners and seafaring men from working on foreign vessels, or working for a foreign government or prince without a special license. He also demanded that all natural-born British subjects who were working abroad return home so they can servc the Crown. Violations of these rules would be met with the “utmost severities of the Law”, though those punishments weren’t always clear. And don’t get George started on privateers.

These warnings came after news got out about a thousand men being impressed into service about a week earlier.

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