U.S. frigate: Rum’s on us, constable
July 20th, 2009 | Historical Photos Royal Navy | Posted by Phil Ewing
The crew of the frigate Halyburton presents a keg of rum to the Constable of the Tower of London // The Telegraph
“Ooo gaws thee-ahh? What tribute bring ye before the dread pow-ah of this Towah?”
The British press reports didn’t include a transcript of this weekend’s Constable’s Dues ceremony at the Tower of London, but that’s how it would’ve begun if Scoop Deck were in charge. However the script reads, the crew of the frigate Halyburton became the first foreign sailors in British history to present the yearly dues to the constable of the tower, in a centuries-old tradition. Specifically, the crew brought the constable a giant keg of rum.
Reports the AP: “In 1381, King Richard II issued a grant specifying the tolls, including ‘two roundlets of wyne’ for any galley passing the Tower. Adds Wikipedia: One reason ships paid the tribute was in exchange for the protection of the tower’s cannons.
So when they arrived for a port visit in London, the American crew was game. Although according to The Telegraph, the American sailors had to borrow some gear for the ceremony, given that U.S. warships are drier than the Gobi Desert:
The American shore party [...] marched through the Tower of London to Tower Green, accompanied by Yeoman Warders in scarlet and gold state dress and a Corps of Drums to deliver the rum to the current Constable, General Sir Roger Wheeler…
However [Halyburton skipper Cmdr. Michael P. Huck] admitted neither the cask nor the rum was actually cargo from the ship.
“The wine cask has been provided to us by the Tower authorities,” he said. “It will actually be filled with Castillo Silver Rum. Unfortunately, since we do not typically carry alcohol on-board, that was also provided to us.”
The constable’s post was once a powerful position. He was entitled to collect money from fishermen and pilgrims, and could claim any horses, oxen, pigs or sheep that fell off London Bridge.
Also absent from the British press coverage: Why didn’t the Royal Navy present the keg this year?
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July 24th, 2009 at 5:03 am[...] frigate: Rum’s on us, constable. (Scoop [...]