There are four misfits aboard the HMS Venus, a frigate which is in service to fight the Spanish Armada. One is Albert Poop-Decker, newly minted as a midshipman by the Admiralty, who, in their desperation for men for service, passed him despite he being woefully unqualified in his naivety. While this service was to be his first as midshipman, he is mistakenly on board as a laborer due to two, Sally, a barmaid, who, in her own desperation to find a way to get to Spain to locate her love, Roger, has thus far successfully masqueraded as "Midshipman Albert Poop-Decker". Three is clueless cesspit cleaner Walter Sweetly, on board as a "volunteer" like the real Albert. And four is the captain himself, Fearless, who is less than so in finding any excuse not to enter into battle due to his delicate nature. Fearless' behavior doesn't sit well with two of his other officers, Lt. Jonathan Howett and Mr. Angel, the boatswain, who plot to relieve Fearless of his duties without it being considered an official mutiny. In Albert, Sally, Walter and Fearess' collective bumbling, and Albert and Sally falling in love with each other, they inadvertently change the nature of the situation and the status of the war with Spain.—Huggo