Irish Pirate, Grace O'Malley

[Reprinted from the award-winning History and Women.]

Grace O'Malley (Pirate) 1530 – 1603

Irish Gaelic: Gráinne Ní Mháille

Grace O'Malley was born in Connaught in Ireland about 1530. Her father was chieftain of the O'Malley clan, subject to the Gaelicized Anglo-Norman Burke or de Burgo family who controlled most of what is now County Mayo. The O'Malleys were a seafaring clan and lived in part off taxes collected from those who fished off their coast which included ships from as far off as England.

As a child of a noble family Grace O'Malley was educated, but legend has her sharing many of her father's sea voyages. She was married first to Dónal O'Flaherty, the heir to the ruler of Connaught, now roughly equivalent to County Connemara. When he was killed in battle, O'Malley returned to Mayo with many of O'Flaherty's followers.

O'Malley next married Richard Burke and took up residence in his Rockfleet Castle. It is said she did this in order to gain access to coastline with sheltered harbors near the greatest sea traffic, perfect for lying in wait with pirate ships. She had been involved from a young girl in her father's shipping and sea trade business and continued with the business even through her marriages.

O'Malley was already known for her ability as a battle commander. After her first husband died, she took back Cock's Castle which he had lost to the Joyce clan. The Joyces were so impressed with her that they renamed the castle Hen's Castle. The English besieged O'Malley there some years later. She is said to have had the lead used to roof the castle melted to pour on the heads of the besieging soldiers, and to have set up a system of signal fires beforehand that allowed her to summon help successfully, so she was the victor.

The city leaders of Galway routinely taxed owners of ships who traded their goods in that city. O'Malley decided that she would do the same and began boarding and "taxing" ships that ventured near her coast. If the ships resisted, their crews would be imprisoned or killed. Them O'Malley's ships would disappear into secret coves. She spread her attacks on ships as far south as Waterford and raided several castles along the Irish coast as well.

O'Malley got into the business of recruiting and transporting mercenaries. She brought soldiers from Scotland to Ireland, raiding the coast of Scotland while she was in the neighborhood. She also offered to recruit and train mercenaries for the English in Ireland.

Much folklore surrounds O'Malley. In one story she arrived at Howth Castle and requested hospitality. When she was refused because the "family was at supper" she kidnapped the young heir and held him until Baron Howth promised that the gates of his castle would never again be closed to unexpected visitors and to have an extra place set at every meal. O'Malley is said to have made a lover of Hugh de Lacey, the shipwrecked son of a Wexford merchant whom she had rescued. When he was murdered by the MacMahons O'Malley attacked and destroyed many of their ships and then took Doona Castle from them, executing those who were responsible for de Lacey's murder.

Over her lifetime O'Malley saw the English hold on Ireland tighten. When two of her sons and her half brother were taken prisoner by the English governor of Connaught, O'Malley traveled to England to treat for their release with Queen Elizabeth herself. When they met at Greenwich O'Malley refused to bow to Elizabeth as she did not consider her the sovereign of Ireland. When her rich garb was searched guards found a dagger When O'Malley assured Elizabeth that it was for her own defense, the Queen of England believed her. The two women's meeting was conducted in Latin since neither spoke the other's language. They came to an agreement, Elizabeth agreeing to the release of O'Malley's menfolk, and O'Malley agreeing to stop her support of Irish rebels and attacks on English ships. It should be remembered that both women were in their sixties at the time of the meeting. Redoubtable old ladies indeed!

In spite of the meeting, O'Malley soon returned to her old ways. She most likely died at Rockfleet Castle in 1603, the same year that Queen Elizaveth died.

Unicorns and Castles and Helms Oh My! Medieval Gifts

How to celebrate the winter holidays forsoothly!

Get medieval on your loved ones this holiday season with special medieval theme gifts for him, her, and the little ones. Current designs include a casual castle, and elegant unicorn coat of arms, a stark Saxon helm, a whimsical Blue Lady Tavern sign and a cute-as-a-gargoyle "Medieval Baby". You will find a selection of items with these original designs by Shield Wall Books' Nan Hawthorne, including shirts, caps, bibs, cards, mugs and more.

Just visit Shield Wall Productions Cafe Press shop! Check back soon for more designs and products.

Glad Jul!

Take the Medieval Sleuth Quiz!

Identify which medieval sleuth or spy is referenced in the clue.

Answers can be found at http://www.medieval-novels.com/locations/mysteries.htm

1. Which medieval sleuth lost an eye to the knife of a jongleur's leman?
A. Matthew Shardrake
B. Matthew Bartholomew
C. Owen Archer

2. Which medieval sleuth learns at adulthood that her father was born to a Jewish family?
A. Ursula Blanchard
B. Katherine Le Vendeur
C. Eleanor of Wynthrope

3. Which English sovereign does the sleuthing for herself?
A. Isabella the Fair
B. Eleanor of Aquitaine
C. Queen Elizabeth I

4. Which medieval sleuth is King Edward I's senior clerk and master spy?
A. Philip Gooden
B. Sir Robert Carey
C. Sir Hugh Corbett

5. Which medieval sleuth is a medical practitioner whose first case is based on The Canterbury Tales?
A. Kathryn Swinbrooke
B. Dame Frewise
C. Katherine Swynford

6. Which medieval sleuth has a son named Olivier de Bretagne?
A. Brother Athelstan
B. Justin de Quincy
C. Brother Cadfael

7. Which sleuth has a day job that takes him to a tavern called The Queen's Head?
A. Nicholas Bracewell
B. Edward Hood
C. Christopher Marlowe

8. Which medieval sleuth's brother is the King of Cashel?
A. Grace O'Malley
B. Sister Fidelma
C. Rory McGuinness

9. Which dependable lady-in-waiting is really a spy who reports to Sir William Cecil?
A. Ursula Blanchard
B. Rosamund Cllifford
C. Lady Amy Robsart

10. Which medieval sleuth is a doctor skilled in reading corpses and solved the murder of the "Fair Rosumend", Henry II's famous mistress?
A. Abbess Halewise
B. Mistress Lucy Wilton
C. Adelia de Aguilar

11. Which medieval sleuth accompanied Queen Isabella to England when she married Edward II?
A. Mistress Jane Shore
B. Mathilde of Westminster
C. Piers Gaveston

12. Which medieval sleuth helped rescue Richard of Gloucester's wife Anne Neville?
A. Roger the Chapman
B. Brother Athelstan
C. Sir Roger Shallot

Answers are at http://www.medieval-novels.com/locations/mysteries.htm

A Tragi-nasty Hero/Villain

My husband Jim has been reading my novel to me most nights after we go to bed. It's an interesting experience. I cringe a lot: ""Oh why did I use that word?!" I notice patterns I hadn't seen before now that I am not embroiled in it: "Lawrence is a tad theatrical, isn't he?" And I admit I nod with admiration for my own skill often enough: "That was a pretty good scene with the brigands, wasn't it?"

One thing I am enjoying is actually getting a better sense of the characters than when I crafted them. That's gotta be a good thing, right? The queen really does come off strong in much of the novel, which should make The Muse pretty happy. The character I am looking at with new eyes though is Lord Elerde (eh-laird')of Brittany. He's supposed to be a bad guy kinda sorta, but it's getting harder not to feel sorry for the guy. When I said "Well, he shouldn't have gotten mixed up in it all in the first place," my husband replied, "The heart wants what it wants."

Elerde is the "darkly sensual mercenary" of the back cover and the ads. He is employed by one of the entirely bad bad guys who sends him to the king's court to be undercover. He comes to want to be undercovers with Josephine, whose character flaw is primarily not knowing when she's encouraging men to fall in love with her. Elerde is well educated, erudite, gallant, continental as he is. Her Saxon husband is sexy as hell and admirable, but let's just say Roman love poetry doesn't thrill him the way Beowulf does. Elerde ingratiates himself to the queen, but she's a good girl, she is, and there is no hanky panky. But her brother has sent for her royal hubby and Elerde finds himself posted to the Críslicland equibalent of Siberia.

Elerde of course does an exemplary job. Lawrence has to give him credit for that, but he also likes to get under the king's skin. Lawrence and he get into an unlooked for situation where hthe king almost kills the mercenary. This sparks Elerde to ally with a group of his old army buddies who lack his finer sensibilities in taking over the queen's homeland. He admits he is doing it to get Lawrence's goat and to further his own ambitions, but when he learns the queen is caught behind enemy lines, it all changes. Now he is bent on protecting her. When in spite of his best efforts someone else does a better and incredibly noble job of that, he throws up his hands and goes back to Críslicland where he just happens to know the king's evil cousin -- remember the earlier employer? -- is about to usurp the throne. So smolderingly sexy Elerde has to go protect the queen there.

Elerde's devotion is part of his appeal I suppose. He reveals himself as a big softy a couple times, and frankly he deserves better than Josephine. He deserves someone who will love him back and not just turn a blind eye to his sacrifices. He loves her kids, he hellps take care of her sick daughter, he saves her life more often than anyone else, he really does love her, and what's more, he gets most of the best lines.

The Breton met the earnest even imploring gaze. He nodded slowly. “Methinks the lady has at least two champions besides her husband. Alas, that only one may win her.”

Rory’s gaze changed to a challenge. “If it came to me to make that choice, sir, that champion shall be the king.”

Elerde dismissed Rory with a gesture. “Well then, it is a good thing that you will be unlikely to be the one to choose.”

True, he sends his lieutenant to kill the king. True, he really does want Josephine for himself. True he is a savage fellow in many ways. True, only one of the three men who love her can have her. But there comes a time in the story when you find yourself rooting for him, or at least hurting for him. Well, I did, and I know at least three readers who did also.

One reviewer told me she wants a sequel just about Elerde.

The photo above, by the way, is Ioane Guffudd, the Welsh actor who portrayed Lancelot in the 2001 film "King Arthur" with Clive Owen. He is exactly how I picture Elerde.

A Historical Mad Lib Game - Results

STOP! If you have not already read A Historical Mad Lib Game then you have already ruined it for everyone!

Well, not everyone... just yourself.

You were asked in that post to come up with a list of words based on parts of speech. It is sort of too late now, but if you want, go ahead and go back to that and do as you are bid.

For those of you who followed instructions like good little doobies, go ahead and copy and paste the following story. Then put the words you came up with in it in the correct places.. it's obvious, so don't fuss.

Then once you have done that.. and stop busting your gut laughing.. copy and paste the resulting story into the comments form below. Then we will bust our guts laughing.

And if you are Susan Higginbotham, thanks for being a good sport about this in advance!

The Story

A Mad LIb about Richard III

Richard was a _adverb_ misunderstood figure in English history. He was a good king but those that followed him made sure history remembered him as a _adjective 1_ one. They claimed that he had a deformed _body part_, that he forced _famous woman_ to marry him against her will, and that he murdered the little princes in the _building_.

When his _adjecttive 2_ brother Edward was King, Richard was the Duke of _place name_. His symbol was a white _animal 1_. They had another brother, _man's first name_ who was the Duke of Clarence. He was a troublemaker. When he was finally imprisoned, Richard is said to have drowned him in a butt of _liquid_. This is probably a lie that _author_ put in his play _famous play_.

Richard III is shown holding a _plant_ in the famous portrait that hangs in the national Portrait gallery. When Henry Tudor crossed from _place_ to seize the throne, Richard led his own army against him He is said to have cried "A _animal 2_, a _animal 2_, my kingdom for a _animal 2_!"

Susan Higginbotham, whose real job is as a _occupation_ , is writing a novel about all this. Her other novels are "The _type of person_'s Wife" and "Hugh and Bess: A _emotion_ Story". Susan is such a _adjective 3_ writer.

I am sure you noticed my mistake in the story...

Susan Higginbotham supplied some words so I could offer one result for you before you start supplyiung yours for the rest of us.

The Story

A Mad LIb about Richard III

Richard was a quickly misunderstood figure in English history. He was a good king but those that followed him made sure history remembered him as a lovely one. They claimed that he had a deformed elbow, that he forced Sarah Palin_ to marry him against her will, and that he murdered the little princes in the Empire State Building.

When his bold brother Edward was King, Richard was the Duke of Apex, North Carolina. His symbol was a white cairn terrier. They had another brother, Richard, who was the Duke of Clarence. He was a troublemaker. When he was finally imprisoned, Richard is said to have drowned him in a butt of Coca Cola.This is probably a lie that Jane Austen put in his play "Hamlet".

Richard III is shown holding a lavender in the famous portrait that hangs in the National Portrait gallery. When Henry Tudor crossed from the library to seize the throne, Richard led his own army against him He is said to have cried "A Siamese cat, , a Siamese cat, my kingdom for a Siamese cat!"

Susan Higginbotham, whose real job is as a ratcatcher , is writing a novel about all this. Her other novels are "The Grouch's Wife" and "Hugh and Bess: An Outrage Story". Susan is such a garish writer.


Want more??? Then make up your own story.. I'll print it!

Have a great weekend.

Nan

Wherein Leofwen Packs her Bags and Moves

erry gentle folk,
Some years have I resided in this fictional town of Lawrencium, content under the protective watch of the bluff-top palace and its royal king and queen. I was graced with a mention in the novel of their adventures, An Involuntary King, and shared with you much learning about them and about the time in which we all lived.

Now must I leave that life behind and prepare myself for a new one. I leave not only this town but as well the time in which I have passed my sojourn here, the late eighth century. For my new home is what in your own time will be called Winchester and in the time I shall abide in it, the mid-tenth century, Wintanceaster. I go to be the heroine of mine creator's -- not Our Good Lord but Nan Hawthorne -- series of paranormal mysteries that shall center about my new tavern and be shared with familiar but nonetheless new friends and companions.

Share I will as well with you, gentle reader, my progress in my new life as mine own great granddaughter who bears my name exact, as shall my tavern yet be called the Blue Lady Tavern.

It shall be some time ere these tales will reach your hands, so pray be patient. I shall endeavour to keep your minds amused until we can leap out of our future, your past, to entertain, mystify and delight you.

Leofwen Taverner





Visit Leofwen in her new home at Wintanceaster!

What Is It With Historical Novelists and Gay Men?

I just don't get what the deal is with historical novelists, specifically medieval historical novelists, and their portrayals of gay men. If you read as many of these novels as I do one after another, you soon find yourself quite conversant with examples of gay male characters. They abound. But why are they so often cast firmly in stereotype? Is this some sort of love-hate cross-gender preference situation?

Let me point to two miscomprehensions of gay male life I have found in numerous novels.

1. Why do so many novelists cling to the stereotype that hay men seek underage boys as lovers? The comedian in the book I just read, The Merry Devils by Edward Marston is described as having only two things that can ease his temper, drink and boys, and the lead actor takes pains to keep him away from the teen apprentices. Richard the Lionhearted in Shield of Three Lions falls for a girl disguised as a boy. Even novels that seem to treat homosexuality in a little more enlightened way put their toes over this boundary, such as Ellis Peter's Cadfael series where the young boys are closely guarded from adult monks' attention by the master assigned to that chore and the young musician in The Holy Thief has a past as the sexually abused ward of a lord.

2. Which leads me to the second stereotype. that boys become gay because of abuse as children. In Valerie Anand's King of the Wood this seems to be the explanation for King William Rufus' proclivities. That's the situation in Robb's An Apothecary Rose as the Summoner's interest in Lucy's husband is chalked up to childhood sex play.

While some gay men do prefer boys and some boys who are sexually molested grow up to be gay, neither is the norm. That's why I appreciate novels that first of all don't seek to explain the gayness of a character. My favorite gay couple in historical fiction are Martin and Ambrose in the Owen Archer series. They are just two men in love. 'Nuff said. Robb takes it a step further and shows the intense tenderness and concern of the lover when his dear one is hurt. In a funny little novel called Knight on a Bridge the lady of the manor asks a troubadour if he loves boys. He answers, and I thank him for it, that he loves men.

There are oodles of gay characters, mostly but not all men, in historical fiction. Just about any novel about Richard the Lionhearted has this as a theme, as do novels about Edward II with his two favorites, Piers Gaveston and Hugh le Dispenser. Tudor novels have a sprinkling of them, and so do many medieval mysteries. My own novel, An Involuntary King, has a couple whom a reader called "the only tragic lovers" in my story, gay men I endeavored to show as flawed human beings with great depth in their love for one another... or one for the other, at any rate. Take a look at Erastes' blog in the right-hand column here to find "Dare Not Speak Its Name" with more references to gay men historical fiction.

My issue is the stereotypes and my question is, if gay male characters are so compelling and attractive to historical novelists, why don't we portray them as they really are?

I welcome comment.