Editing Grace O'Malley (section)

==Meeting with Elizabeth==
[[File:The meeting of Grace O'Malley and Queen Elizabeth I.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The meeting of Grace O'Malley and Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;I (a later illustration from ''Anthologia Hibernica'', vol. 11, 1793)]]
In the late 16th century, English power steadily grew in Ireland and O'Malley's power was steadily encroached upon. In June 1593, O'Malley sent a petition to the Queen. She asked her "to grant her some reasonable maintenance for the little tyme she hath to live". In return she offered "a surrender at her hands" of the lands of her two sons and those of her two surviving Bourke nephews. She asked for "free libertye during her lyve to envade with sword and fire all your highness enemyes wheresoever they are or shall be&nbsp;... without any interruption of any person or persons whatsoever".<ref name="40th">''Grace O'Malley: the biography of Ireland's Pirate Queen'' (40th anniversary ed.), 2018</ref> In May 1593, [[Hugh Maguire (Lord of Fermanagh)]] rebelled and burned [[Ballymote]], then under the control of Sir George Bingham. One of Maguire's men was captured and implicated Grace's son Tibbott-ne-Long in a wider Tyrone- inspired conspiracy against the English. Tibbott was promptly captured by [[Richard Bingham (soldier)|Sir Richard Bingham]], sent to Athlone prison and charged with treason.<ref name="40th"/> Grace's half-brother Dónal na Píopa was also arrested by Sir Richard Bingham and charged with the murder of some English soldiers.<ref name="40th"/> Grace sailed to England to petition Queen Elizabeth I for their release. She was accompanied by Sir-Murrough-ne-Doe O'Flaherty.<ref name="40th"/>
Sir Richard Bingham implied that Grace sailed her own ship to England as he stated she brought over the son of Ulick Bourke of Erris and her grandnephew, the son of Tibbott Reagh Bourke who "attended uppon Grany O'Maille in her late beyinge at court".<ref name="40th"/> The Earl of Ormond, cousin and favourite of the Queen, gave Grace an introduction to [[William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley|Lord Burghley]], chief advisor to the Queen. Burghley sent O'Malley a list of questions, "eighteen articles of interrogatory" which were answered and returned.<ref name="40th"/>

At around the same time, Sir Richard Bingham wrote to Burghley: "There be 2 notable traitors gon over Sir Morrow ne doe and Grainy O’Maly both rebelle from their childhoode and continually in accion&nbsp;... for notwithstanding that they have many pardons there ys matter ynough of late found out against them to hang them by justice".<ref name="40th"/>

Tradition but not the written sources states that O'Malley met with the Queen at [[Greenwich Palace]], wearing a fine gown; the two of them were surrounded by guards and the members of Elizabeth's royal court.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://getpocket.com/explore/item/grace-o-malley-the-fearless-16th-century-irish-pirate-queen-who-stood-up-to-the-english|title=Grace O'Malley, the Fearless 16th-Century Irish Pirate Queen Who Stood Up to the English|website=Pocket|access-date=2020-04-21}}</ref>

Many of what Anne Chambers refers to as "fanciful tales" have embellished the story of the meeting in Irish story-telling tradition.<ref name="40th"/> For example, O'Malley is said to have refused to bow before Elizabeth because she did not recognise her as the "Queen of Ireland".<ref name=":0" /> It was said that she had a dagger concealed about her person, which guards found upon searching her. Elizabeth's courtiers were said to be very upset and worried, but O'Malley informed the Queen that she carried it for her own safety. Elizabeth accepted this and seemed untroubled. It was said that O'Malley had sneezed and was given a lace-edged handkerchief from a noblewoman. She apparently blew her nose into it and then threw the cloth into a nearby fireplace, much to the shock of the court. O'Malley informed everyone that in Ireland, a used handkerchief was considered dirty and was properly destroyed.<ref name="40th"/>

The Queen ordered her Privy Council to seek an explanation from Sir Richard Bingham regarding his treatment of O'Malley and her family and to investigate how her situation could best be relieved. Bingham defended himself replying "in defence of my own innocency&nbsp;... to shew me instance of any one that ever I used violence against, havinge always (I thancke the Lord) had that consideracion of christian duty as I never sought any man's bloode otherwise then by course of her Maties. comon lawes to take away."<ref name="40th"/> He made his thoughts clear that "how great soevr any may make her wch knoweth her not I will nevr aske but a boat of xxx tonnes to beate her&nbsp;... and wth gods assistance dryve her and all her fleet into the sea."<ref name="40th"/>

Towards the end of September 1593 the Queen wrote to Bingham ordering the release of Tibbott-ne-Long and Dónal-ne-Píopa from prison. She also ordered for provision to be made for Grace out of her sons' estates, the amount to be deducted from their crown taxes.<ref name="40th"/> She requested Bingham to allow them ownership of their lands and property and "protect them to live in peace to enjoy their livelihoods". The Queen stated that O'Malley had "departeth with great thankfulness and with many more earnest promises that she will, as long as she lives, continue a dutiful subject, yea and will employ all her power to offend and prosecute any offender against Us".<ref name="40th"/>

The leading authority on the life of Grace O'Malley, Anne Chambers, states that the conversation between the two women would have been in English as all the indications are that O'Malley could speak it, and not in Latin as often said.<ref name="40th"/><ref>''Under the Crossbones: A Pirate Podcast'', hosted by Phil Johnson – interview with Anne Chambers, 20 March 2018 – accessed on YouTube 4 September 2022. URL https://www.underthecrossbones.com/anne-chambers-grace-omalley/</ref>