"KING’S BARGAIN”
Nautical term referring to a fit and able young seaman impressed into the British Royal Navy
“In sum, Captain Vere had from the beginning deemed Billy Budd to be what in the navel parlance of the time was called a ‘King’s bargain’: that is to say, for His Britannic Majesty’s navy a capital investment at small outlay or none at all.”
-Herman Melville
