Prologue and Songs from The Silver Tankard

The Silver Tankard, or, The Point of Portsmouth, was a musical after-piece by Elizabeth Craven performed in 1781. An "after-piece" was a short, one-act play or entertainment performed after another play that was considered too short. Craven wrote this to celebrate the bravery and heroism of the British Navy, in which her brother was a rising captain.

Image result for painting HMS Victory


The whole play, including the songs, has a nautical theme. Elizabeth wrote all of the words, and the music for one song. Dr Samuel Arnold, a celebrated composer, wrote most of the music, including a rousing overture on themes from sea-shanties which was applauded.

The full text was never published but the Prologue and two songs from the play were printed in The London Magazine, Or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer, in August 1781. 

 When Nancy sings 

 My heart admired the gallant strife,
But throbb'd and trembled for your life!
And 'mid the fancied cannon's roar
I wish'd Tom Splice'em safe on shore, 

 she is expressing Elizabeth's feelings for her own brother and those of every family that had a father, brother or son in the Navy. 













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