Page "Grace O'Malley" Paragraph 38

Elizabeth I famously sent Ní Mháille a list of questions, which she answered and returned to Elizabeth.

Ní Mháille then came to England ( as previously stated ) to petition the release of her sons and half-brother.

She met with Elizabeth at Greenwich Palace, wearing a fine gown, the two of them surrounded by guards and the members of Elizabeth's royal Court.

Ní Mháille refused to bow before Elizabeth because she did not recognize her as the Queen of Ireland, and wished to show Elizabeth this.

It is also rumored that Ní Mháille 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 Ní Mháille informed the queen that she carried it for her own safety.

Elizabeth accepted this and, though the dagger was removed from Ní Mháille's possession, did not seem to worry.

Some also reported that Ní Mháille sneezed and was given a lace-edged handkerchief from a noblewoman.

She apparently blew her nose into the handkerchief and then threw the piece of cloth into a nearby fireplace, much to the shock of the court.

Ní Mháille bemusedly informed Elizabeth and her court that, in Ireland, a used handkerchief was considered dirty and was destroyed.

This was meant as an insult towards the court.