Pressed men were those who were forced into military service.
Voluntiers are better than 200 press'd men.
[1705 T. Hearne Journal 31 Oct. in Remarks & Collections (1885) I. 62 'Tis sd my Ld Seymour presently after Mr. Smith was pronounc'd Speaker, rose up, and told them, Gentlemen; you have got a Low Church man; but pray remember that 100]
‘Shall I give you a song?’ ‘That's right, Tom; a volunteer's worth two pressed men.’
[1834 Marryat Jacob Faithful I. xiii.]
Don't fancy you will be detained against your will; one volunteer is worth two pressed men.
[1837 F. Chamier Arethusa I. iii.]
He presumed Harvey might need a body-servant some day or other, and‥was sure that one volunteer was worth five hirelings.
[1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous x.]
The Earl could not be persuaded to send her away. ‥In any case, said the Earl, Winter would need a personal maid, and in his opinion one volunteer was worth three pressed men.
[1979 M. M. Kaye Shadow of Moon (rev. ed.) iv.]
Related to: co-operation; free will and compulsion
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
