From the East Kent Mercury 26 April 1990.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

Times have certainly changed! Three centuries ago Deal publicans gave so much credit to visiting seamen the Admiralty protested.

It was in 1634 the Admiralty complained to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, the Earl of Suffolk, that seamen going ashore from the fleet anchored in the Downs "find such good credit from alehouse keepers" they got heavily into debt and then deserted ship.

The Admiralty asked the Lord Warden to order the alehouse keepers to stop giving credit to Royal Navy men. Excepted were those who were sick or "as shall come ashore wet".