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History of The Polly Dodger 1509 - Henry becomes King and orders building of Mary Rose 1511 - Mary rose launched from Portsmouth 1535 - Mary Rose was upgraded and fitted with new more powerful guns 1536 - The Mary Rose "sinks" during battle with French at Portsmouth - reportedly lost but no one actually saw the ship sink (also, the "sinking" was not made public until 1545). This is where the story of The Polly Dodger begins. The four-masted carrack that had been known as Mary Rose was secreted away back to Portsmouth under cover of darkness. Cannon holes had to be repaired and new cannons were acquired. Several royal bankers increased the wealth of one Sir Steven Kimball who was commanded by HRH King Henry VIII to head up the re-fit.Sir Steven, also known as Sir Black Fox, was leader of the Skulk of The Black Fox, a clandestine group of spies, wenches, rogues, and mercanaries who were already working for the king. Black bag operations and assassinations were just part of the Skulk, many of its members became the officers of the new ship. All of the ship's crew members were shang-hi'd from Revel Grove, in Oxfordshire. . . . a place much noted for their devote pyrates. In fact, it is in Revel Grove where the very upper royalty of pyrates could be found. These "Pyrates Royale" were the center of pyrate life in the tiny shire.
1537 - The carrack's refit took but a year, and the first privateer boat of England, The Polly Dodger , set out for sea trials under the her new Captain, the she-wolf known as la Bella Chelle. Her beauty was second only to her ruthlessness. Under Chelle's command, The Polly Dodger pillaged French and Spanish ships of the line and brought home to England, treasure equal value to that of the sacked-monestaries, (also ordered by the king in starting the new Church of England).Chelle was one of the orignial Skulk members and of its highest ranks. Her beauty legendary and her poisons lethal, she was able to charm her way onto another ship of Revel Grove, The Raging Hormone. Chelle was taken captive for a time by the First Mate of The Screaming O. Rescued by the Skulk, she was approached by Sir Black Fox to command The Polly Dodger and accepted the commission.Sir Black Fox, himself, had recently been the Cartographer abord The Jury Rig, another boat of Revel Grove.With the treasure and information brought to King Henry VIII from The Polly Dodger , England became a master of the seas, with the privateer carrack The Polly Dodger leading them all. |