Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth

Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth (c. 1568–1619) was an Anglo-Irish statesman and soldier of the late Elizabethan and Jacobean era. His personal charm made him a favourite of two successive English monarchs, and he was also a soldier of some repute who fought under the Earl of Essex and Lord Mountjoy during the Nine Years' War. However his bitter quarrels with the Lord Deputy of Ireland, his feuds with other leading families of the Pale, and his suspected involvement in the conspiracy which led to the Flight of the Earls, damaged his reputation almost beyond repair. He is perhaps best remembered for the legend that he was kidnapped by the "Pirate Queen" Granuaile when he was a small boy.

He was born about 1568, eldest son of Nicholas, 9th Baron Howth, and his first wife Margaret, fifth daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey by his wife Marion Sherle. According to the legend of Granuaile he spent his childhood at Howth Castle, although his parents had lived for some years at Platten in Meath.

According to a celebrated legend, which may have some basis in fact, in about the year 1576 Granuaile, the so-called Pirate Queen of Galway, arrived unannounced at Howth Castle at dinner-time, only to find the gates barred. Annoyed at the discourtesy, she took young Christopher hostage until his family apologised. To make amends, the Howth family pledged that in future the castle gates would always be open at dinner-time, and that an extra place would be set at table for unexpected guests.

...
Wikipedia