Grace O'Malley mixes it up with Robert Cullford in Ye Tragick Tale as she leads a group of "Lady" pirates to take over the Adventure Galley because of his lack of resolution in carrying out the mutiny himself. Piratologists will surely note that O'Malley is a pirate from the 16th Century, well before the time of Robert Culliford and Captain Kidd and the famous mutiny of 1689 aboard the Blessed William. But the author liked the name Grace O'Malley so that's the way it goes.
The real Grace O'Malley seen here with Queen Elizabeth was a female pirate from 16th Century Ireland. Born to a seafaring Irish noble family, Grace grew up always wanting to be a sailor and legend says that she cut off almost all her hair because her father would not take her on his ship because her long hair would get caught in the ropes. After her first husband died, Grace continued in the family trade business and also the "sweet trade" (piracy) against Turkish, Spanish, and the English vessels that came along. She is famous for going to Queen Elizabeth to request the release of her brother and son, as well as having other wrongs done to her by the English governor righted. She was successful in her claims and the Queen gave her back the seized lands and directed the governor to release her son and brother from prison.
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