Plymouth's Town Hall is a small, classically inspired light brown building dating back to 1439, and was the first building to have its foundation stone laid after Plymouth was founded and named.
The building has been a witness to Plymouth's glorious history, including Francis Drake's two journeys around the world in 1557 and 1580, the Royal Navy's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the Mayflower's voyage to the New World in 1620, and, since 1640, the battle that changed the history of England by overthrowing the King. Drake's two journeys around the world in 1557 and 1580, the Royal Navy's defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the Mayflower's voyage to the New World in 1620, and, from 1640 onwards, the Puritan Revolution that changed the history of England and, for a time, overthrew the Crown.
The Commercial Division, which is in charge of the Chamber's registration and preparations, is located on the east side of the third floor of the small building, directly in the direction of Devonport's red lighthouse.
Victor Wesley, the deputy director, received Lorraine. Lorraine was received by Wesley, who had on his table an atlas, which opened in the center and exhibited a black and a white flag.
In white is the flag of the Chamber of Commerce, with England's St. George's Cross as its base, and a delicate pansy flower painted in the center, purple predominating, with a bright yellow center circle and a snowy white core.
In black is the pirate flag, plain black background with a pure white skeleton in the center, the skeleton's eye sockets burning with foreign colored fireballs, purple in the left eye and yellow in the right, and the X-shaped crosses are harpoons and oars.
Mr. Wesley picks through the introductory letter on his desk ...
"Roy's Chamber of Commerce, Stika's Chamber of Commerce, Elminder's Chamber of Commerce ... Mr. Drake does have a wide range of friendships in the business world, but the law doesn't force national franchises, does it?"
Lorraine nodded slightly, "It's not easy for a small merchant group to make a living, basically selling whatever they catch, thank you Mr. Wesley for your understanding."
"Gentleman's Recommendation ... Rod. Viscount Sceh, Maryland County Administrator Kayas Ledis, and Maryland County Councilman Carl. Leddis, and Maryland County Councilman Carl. Piddick." He frowned, "Mr. Drake is Scottish?"
"I'm English, and a native of Devon."
"A Devonshire gentleman ... who can be identified with the Scotsman," Mr. Wesley's expression was much kinder, "Devonshire is proud of you."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"The essential conditions for the establishment of a chamber of commerce you possess, and a bond of a thousand pounds, I am sure, will not be difficult for you." Mr. Wesley gathered up all the correspondence and folded it, revealing the flag map on the album, and looked embarrassed, "Mr. Drake ..."
"You say."
"You're one of our own, so I'll speak solicitously." He took a breath, "Do you have some misunderstanding about the Chamber of Commerce? Realize that we are merchants, not pirates."
Lorraine lifted the suitcase she was carrying and removed the privateering license and placed it flat in front of Mr. Wesley.
"Sir, it's not a regular chamber I want to register, it's a privateering chamber."
"Privateering ... this is ..." Mr. Wesley's eyes grew wide, "You're actually Drake of the Drake family! "
"As an outcast, I am not proud of my family." Lorraine tapped lightly on the glass of the privateer's license, "Sir, I am only proud of my great ancestor."
...
The Drake Chamber of Commerce was officially established.
Mr. Wesley processed the original and duplicate copies of Lorraine's Chamber of Commerce License, Permit to Trade in Ships and Artillery, and Permit to Trade in the Kingdom of England as fast as he could, as well as docketed the Chamber of Commerce information, flag, and Privateering Permit.
This meant that Drake's privateering license no longer represented Lorraine alone from today onwards, and the scope of authorization was expanded to include the entire fleet under the Drake Chamber of Commerce.
Lorraine haughtily expressed her thanks to Mr. Wesley, and, stepping out of the Town Hall in his company, could no longer resist the impulse of her heart to drive in a carriage straight toward Selport, the largest civil port in Plymouth.
At the Ship's Exchange in Port Searle, he met up with Keren, who had arrived here first, and opened his mouth to ask, "I hope that in the day and a half that has passed, you have chosen a new flagship for the Chamber of Commerce."
"In fact, I may have done a little better than expected ..." The big man, Keren, rubbed the tip of his nose with a shy look on his face.
He led Lorraine into the Exchange's parlor and handed Lorraine two sets of ship's deeds.
There were two Brigantine two-masted mixed-sail fast ships in all, one twelve years old and one fifteen, and the choice of ship's materials was Canadian fir, which had excelled in civilian vessels and was known for its good value for money.
They were originally the property of a colonial chamber of commerce, because of the impact of the War of Independence, the chamber of commerce operation has financial difficulties, the original owner which bear the pain, choose to sell the boat.
Keren had already gone to the docks to check out the actual ship, it was old, but because of proper maintenance, the ship's performance was very much intact, and it only needed some simple tending to be enough to handle any situation at sea.
They are being sold in packages and the packages are priced at ... £3700.
The price was so cheap that it was a bit shocking, and Lorraine wondered how she had managed to bump into this good fortune.
It wasn't until the order was placed, and Keren paid the trader 4,000 pounds without a blush, that he whispered to Lorraine after the ship's deed was officially in the Chamber's name.
"Every trader has some unique stock on hand, they never show up on the hall's trading cards, something I learned when I was an apprentice in Devonport."
Lorraine came to a realization.
Two Brigantines were officially delivered, the younger named Buttercup and the older Lucky Straw.
At this time the Chamber of Commerce's activity funds left 6800 pounds, Lorraine did not blink, directly in accordance with the standard configuration for the Butterfly Flower 20 guns, a total cost of 5300 pounds.
The rest of the money, however, could not be touched, and the Lucky Straw would sail north empty, collecting all of her six-pounder medium guns in Elgin as temporary firepower for the ship.
After a full week of such preparations, the two majestic Brittingen and the Artis Beauty together, flying their brand new pansy flags, retraced their steps along the winding coastline of the British Isles back to Elgin, where the first general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce since its inception was called for in the Drake Trading House.
Hina, Keren, Noa, Pierce, Ramos, Eddie and Carmen, who were the entire stockholders of the new Chamber of Commerce, were each in full regalia.
"My dear friends, the Drake Chamber of Commerce, with the North of Europe Chapter, is established."
Applause.
A group of young people, the oldest, Eddie, 29, and the youngest, Pierce, 10, had from this moment their own real industry, and were henceforth free from the black merchant class, and became the true seafaring merchants of the age.
Lorraine raised her glass to them, the azure cocktail as deep as the sea, swaying gently in the goblet like waves.
"Our chamber is weak for the moment. 1500 pounds in cash, two Brigantines, four Kirks, and less than 4000 pounds in stock of goods."
"These things symbolize wealth in Elgin, but in the world of merchants ... they are not worth a thing."
"But we're young!" Lorraine suddenly laughed, "Young people, it's enough to have dreams, what do you need money for?"
The crowd laughed and raised their glasses.
Kron's voice was particularly loud in the crowd as he shouted, "Hail to our poor young!"
"A tribute to our great dream!"
"A tribute to our Governor!"
"Cheers!"