Bess Raleigh Had A Rough Start—And An Even Darker Downfall
Hoping to elevate their status among the English nobility, the family of Bess Raleigh couldn’t have been happier when she married a man of great influence and grew closer to the Queen. However, the rebellious streak that had followed her family for ages eventually caught up with her.
Still, she clearly had no regrets about anything that led to this ultimate fall from grace—especially since she did it all for love.
William Segar, Wikimedia Commons
1. She Was Royalty
There was likely no shortage of people who wanted to get close to the King or Queen of England, but at least in Bess's case, her family already had a bit of a leg up. Born in 1565 to Anne Carew and Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, Bess already had the privilege of a noble family, but her father also had his own connection to the royals, as his cousin was Queen Catherine—the last wife of Henry VIII.
Unfortunately, the family was about to hit a major setback—and it was all because of her father.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
2. Her Father Got Into Deep Trouble
It wasn’t long before Elizabeth—or as her family called her, Bess—would hit the first snag in her plan to gain status and influence, even though it was before she even had that ambition. When she was only four years old, she watched her father being taken away under suspicion of conspiracy with the Duke of Norfolk, who was hoping to oust Queen Elizabeth I from the throne.
Luckily, the charges didn’t stick—but that didn’t mean he was off the hook completely.
Unidentified painter, Wikimedia Commons
3. She Never Trusted Him Again
Whether or not Nicholas was actually involved in the plot to overthrow the Queen, she believed it enough to sentence him to a brief imprisonment at Windsor, but she didn’t take it much further than that. In a strange foreshadowing of Bess’s own fate, while he did regain his freedom after the Crown decided not to try him, he never returned to the Queen’s good graces.
To make matters worse, his daughter now had a whole new problem to worry about—money.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Had A Measly Inheritance
Fallen from grace, Sir Nicholas wasn’t in any position to properly provide for his family, which posed an even bigger issue when he sadly passed in 1571. Bess’s inheritance was measly at best, amounting to just about £500, though it was about to shrink even more. Before Bess even had a chance to grow up and put her inheritance to good use, her mother loaned it to a friend—and likely never got it back.
Now that her family had fallen into disrepute, Elizabeth would need all the help she could get.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
5. She Had An Education
In an age when only women of a certain social class could learn to read and write, Bess was determined to set herself apart. She began studying at an early age, and her mother watched her grow into a clever, diligent, and literate young woman. Luckily, someone else in her family was still looking out for her—and finally had the funds to help.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
6. He Paid For Her Spot In Court
While Bess’s family had fallen out of the Queen’s favor and her mother had lost her inheritance, she hadn’t completely run out of options to improve her station—all she needed was some cash. Fortunately, her older brother, Arthur, had made enough money to pay Bess’s way into becoming a courtier, and she took a position as a lady-in-waiting for Queen Elizabeth.
As the cherry on top, she was about to receive her first proposal—but that didn’t mean she was happy about it.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
7. She Received An Offer
Aside from paying to become a courtier, another path to greater power and influence would have been through marriage—if Bess’s mother hadn’t given away her dowry. Nonetheless, Bess had made enough connections among the other courtiers by 1582 that she received her first marriage proposal that year, from a nobleman named Bassingbourne Gawdy.
However, she had other things to worry about—and she wasn’t the only one who thought so.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
8. She Turned Down A Proposal
Although marriage would have been a smart move, and likely something that Bess’s father had intended for her, she was already doing more than okay on her own. Without a husband, she had managed to gain access to the Queen’s court, and her mother agreed that getting married would only be a setback for her—so Bess refused.
Of course, things would soon become even more difficult for her, especially as history repeated itself in a devastating way.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
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9. Her Family Was On The Queen's Bad Side
Sir Nicholas had already sullied the Throckmorton name once before, but Bess had thankfully left that all in the past—or so she thought. Adding one more blemish on her family’s record, it came to light that Bess’s cousin, Francis Throckmorton, was plotting against the Queen as well, earning him his execution.
Luckily, this didn’t seem to matter in the long run—and Bess got exactly what she wanted.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
10. She Got A Promotion
Rather than marry or try to achieve her goals through coup attempts like others in her family, Bess stayed her course and waited patiently for her time to arrive—but she wouldn’t have to for long. By 1584, all her hard work had paid off as the Queen appointed Bess a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber, meaning she became one of the personal attendants that Elizabeth I trusted most.
With this new position, though, came a whole new set of standards—and now all eyes were on her.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
11. She Had To Be Perfect
Bess was already used to the demands of the court and presenting herself in a specific way, but now she was in the big leagues, and the Queen would be watching even more closely. As a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber, the Crown required her to be both obedient and modest at all times, but the attribute that the Queen valued most was loyalty.
Sadly, while her life had greatly improved, tragedy would visit her once again.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
12. She Lost Someone
Although Bess’s new position certainly demanded more from her, it wasn’t without its perks, as Queen Elizabeth’s court was lively with performances and other amusements—but things at home weren’t as cheery. She had already lost one parent when she was still quite young, but in 1587, she had to endure the passing of her mother as well.
Still, not everything was doom and gloom, especially once he came along.
Attributed to Hieronimo Custodis, Wikimedia Commons
13. She Fell For The Queen's Favorite
Bess became acquainted with many of the most affluent people in the Queen’s court, and while most of them were stuffy nobles whom she had no interest in romantically, Sir Walter Raleigh was different. As one of the Queen’s favorites, Sir Raleigh spent a lot of time around Bess, and the two grew closer until, before long, they fell head over heels in love—and were expecting a child.
By doing so, they risked more than just a dismissal from court, but that didn’t stop them.
14. They Kept It A Secret
Bess had little interest in marriage when she was first climbing her way up the social ladder, but she was now in a much better position—and had found a much better suitor. Unfortunately, it would have been the ultimate scandal if the Queen learned that one of her most trusted attendants was sneaking around with her favorite. So, when Bess and Sir Raleigh married in 1591, they did so behind closed doors and without the Queen's permission.
Keeping this a secret would only become more challenging, especially since it wouldn’t be just the two of them for long.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
15. They Made A Family
It was hard enough for Bess and her new husband to keep the Queen in the dark, especially since they both spent so much time with her, but this was nothing compared to what was next—parenthood. Although it posed an even greater risk to them, the couple was still over the moon at the birth of their first child in 1592, whom they named Damerei.
Of course, they couldn’t keep everyone out, but they chose their confidantes wisely.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
16. She Trusted Him To Keep Quiet
Although both Bess and Sir Raleigh had each other to rely on as they covered up their relationship, they couldn’t do it alone, and fortunately, they had at least one person they could trust. While he would later face execution for treason himself, the Earl of Essex, Robert Devereaux, was another favorite of the Queen at the time, and a good friend of the couple’s. Not only did they confide in him, but they also named him their son’s godfather.
Meanwhile, something horrible was on the horizon, and Bess would face a grief worse than any she had before.
William Segar, Wikimedia Commons
17. Her Child Was Doomed
Bess had to make sure she gave the Queen no reason to be suspicious of either her or Sir Raleigh, so even though she should have taken more time to recover after the birth of her son, she didn’t have that luxury. Returning to court shortly after, she entrusted her child to a wet nurse at Enfield, painfully unaware of the misery to follow. While she was still away, the plague came to England, and it tragically claimed the life of the newborn Damerei in October 1952.
But even before this tragedy came to pass, Bess and Raleigh were playing a very dangerous game at court.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
18. They Played With Fire
Bess and Sir Raleigh continued their illicit relationship—even though their own lives were at risk. Bess would have needed royal permission to marry in general, but the Queen would likely see her marriage to one of her own favorites as the ultimate act of disloyalty. As expected, it was only a matter of time before all their luck ran out.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
19. She Caught On
Bess and Sir Raleigh did everything they could to keep their relationship on the down low, but while they thought they covered all their tracks, it was impossible to do so forever. Queen Elizabeth was no fool, and while she may have even suspected something between them at one point, it wasn’t until early 1592 that she found concrete proof of their union.
However, she didn’t confront them right away—and instead watched them dig their own graves deeper and deeper.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
20. They Put On An Act
For the Queen, it wasn’t enough that Bess and Sir Raleigh had gone behind her back to marry, finding it all the more insulting that they were still keeping up with the charade. It would have been one thing if they came clean and begged for her forgiveness, but as the two of them continued their duties in court, the Queen only grew more and more infuriated.
Their goodwill had run out, and the Queen could only stand by and watch for so long.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
21. She Locked Them Up
Outraged and humiliated, the Queen couldn’t allow Bess and Sir Raleigh to continue unpunished any longer, so she confronted the couple and issued her judgment. While she initially placed the two of them under house arrest, their ultimate sentence was imprisonment within the Tower of London.
Luckily, this wouldn’t be permanent—especially since the Queen still needed the skills of Sir Raleigh.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
22. She Let Him Out
By this point, Sir Raleigh had already taken charge of several seafaring expeditions, one of which would come as a godsend to him as he and Bess waited out their imprisonment. Returning from an expedition in September 1592, the fleet under his command had captured and brought back a Spanish merchant ship and all its valuables. As it was his right to divide the spoils himself, Sir Raleigh regained his freedom after only a matter of months.
With a heavy heart, he had to leave his beloved behind—but not for too much longer.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
23. She Served Her Time
In truth, Sir Raleigh returned to the Tower of London for a couple more months before the Queen actually let him out, at which point he awaited Bess’s release from their home in Dorset, Sherborne Castle. Luckily, she wouldn’t fare too much worse than her husband, and by December, the Queen released her from the Tower, and she reunited with her love.
Even after everything, though, the Queen couldn’t stay mad at him forever.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
24. Her Husband Crawled Back Into Her Good Graces
The Queen was likely still furious about the unauthorized marriage, but now that Bess and Sir Raleigh had served their time, she couldn’t do much to keep them apart. Fortunately, she eventually got over this fact and seemingly remembered why Sir Raleigh was her favorite, forgiving him and accepting him back at court.
While this was an unexpected relief for him, the same couldn’t be said for Bess.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
25. She Never Won Back The Queen's Heart
As much as Sir Raleigh had been a favorite of the Queen, Bess had also been a trustworthy companion to her, but Elizabeth refused to show the same kind of clemency—for one major difference. Sir Raleigh had owned up to his choices and asked for forgiveness, whereas Bess’s pride kept her from following suit, resulting in her permanent ban from court.
Even so, Bess had little to complain about since she had found a new purpose.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
26. She Loved Her New Life
Bess had spent the better part of her life trying to gain the Queen’s favor, but even though she had since lost all of that, she seemed all the happier for it. Now that she didn’t have to hide her marriage, she could focus on her far more fulfilling role as Lady Raleigh, and every day she spent away from London made her more grateful to live somewhere else.
With the second chance that the Queen had given them, the couple also wanted another shot at happiness.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
27. Their Family Grew
While some historians assert that Bess was an overbearing wife to Sir Raleigh, it’s hard to argue that they had any sort of unhappy marriage, as they still seemed very much in love. They had stayed true to each other throughout secrecy and imprisonment, and now that they could love each other freely, they wanted to create a life together. Thankfully, in 1593, they were ecstatic to welcome their second son, Walter.
Of course, they were still full of uncertainty—especially considering their past.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
28. She Was Terrified Of The Plague
Bess and Sir Raleigh were thriving at Sherborne Castle and celebrating the birth of their second child, but their happiness soon turned to anxiety as history threatened to repeat itself. When their son was only a year old, the plague arrived in Dorset, and they found themselves reliving the trauma of losing Damerei. Fortunately, they all rode out the storm together, and the plague passed by them without taking their baby.
They pushed forward and began planning for the future—even if these plans didn’t always work out.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
29. They Found A New Home
Although the two of them had made a new and comfortable home within Sherborne Castle, the structure was practically ancient, and Sir Raleigh began preparations to restore it. However, these renovations proved more work than they were worth, so he and Bess moved with their baby into a brand new home, which they called Sherborne Lodge.
Within a few years, Bess had another chance to join the royal court—but she had other priorities now.
Sherborne Old Castle by Peter Trimming, Wikimedia Commons, Modified
30. She Paid Her A Visit
Bess may have left all hopes of a position in court behind, but the door opened back up for her in 1603—with the passing of Queen Elizabeth I. After King James I took the throne, his wife, Anne of Denmark, became Queen, and courtiers traveled from all over England to meet her and try to win her favor. While Bess was content with her new life, she thought it would be a good idea to try, at least.
There was finally a chance she could join her husband as a courtier—even though it was a long shot.
John de Critz, Wikimedia Commons
31. She Didn’t See A Point
Bess traveled to where Anne of Denmark was staying in Northamptonshire to greet her, and while the two exchanged the typical pleasantries, Bess knew it was all for naught. By the time she got home, she realized she hadn’t made enough of an impression on the new Queen and that she should have just stayed home.
However, she would soon learn just how pointless it had been—when their idyllic life was suddenly torn apart.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
32. Her Future Was Uncertain
The couple may have thought they could have a fresh start with the new royals, but since Sir Raleigh had supported another claim to the throne, King James wasn’t a fan of him already. Once again, Bess had to say goodbye to her love as the King placed Sir Raleigh in custody on charges of treason, believing him to have played a part in the Main Plot against him.
After accepting he had finally come to the end of the line—he could only think of one thing.
33. He Wrote To Her
Although Sir Raleigh denied any involvement in the Main Plot against King James, the Crown wasn't having it, and he came to believe he was on course for execution. With his time running out, Sir Raleigh quickly wrote a letter containing his final words to Bess, expressing his undying love for her, but also urging her to find another husband after he was gone.
He had just one more task for her—but this one was a doozy.
Henry Wallis, Wikimedia Commons
34. He Asked Her To Help
Sir Raleigh’s letter was largely full of all the sorrow and longing he felt nearing the end of his life, and his goodbye to Bess and young Walter—but he also had a favor to ask. According to him, he had another child, as he also had an illegitimate daughter somewhere, and he requested that Bess take the girl in.
In a shocking twist, though, King James was more reasonable than expected.
35. He Changed His Mind
Although Sir Raleigh was eventually convicted of treason, King James took some time to think about his punishment and later decided against execution. However, he wasn’t about to just let him go, so Sir Raleigh received his new sentence of life imprisonment. As he was still a nobleman, this punishment wasn’t as bad as it could have been, since the King gave him two rooms to himself where his family could join him at any point.
With all these accommodations, even his imprisonment couldn’t stop them from making the most of their life together.
Paul van Somer I, Wikimedia Commons
36. They Welcomed Another Child
While Bess had to make some adjustments, she was able to enjoy a fair amount of freedom with her husband, considering Sir Raleigh was still serving out his life sentence. As such, they were not only able to stay together as a family, but also welcomed a new addition as she gave birth to their third son, Carew, in 1605.
King James wanted Sir Raleigh to live out a long life in the Tower of London—at least, until he needed something from him.
National Portrait Gallery, Wikimedia Commons, Modified
37. He Gave Him A Quest
King James may have been adamant about Sir Raleigh’s sentence, but he soon came across a dilemma that Queen Elizabeth had faced as well—the nobleman’s services were once again needed. Europe had become electrified with legends of the lost city of gold, El Dorado, and as Sir Raleigh was one of the leading explorers of his time, King James freed him in 1617 under orders to find the city for England.
This newfound freedom promised adventure and prosperity—but all Bess found was more grief.
Daniël Mijtens, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Had Horrible News
Bess happily accepted the terms of her husband’s freedom, and even as Sir Raleigh left for the expedition—bringing their now 24-year-old son, Walter, with him—she cheered them on. Tragically, though, she received one of the worst letters she would ever read a year later, in which Sir Raleigh told her that their son had perished in an unauthorized attack on the Spanish.
While they surely had more hardships to come, they were lucky enough to have a few more moments together.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
39. They Took Him In
Bess had not only lost another son, but her husband was also en route to his execution, all for a grievous mistake. England and Spain had recently signed a peace treaty, so when Sir Raleigh’s men ambushed the Spanish, he was held responsible—despite never giving the order. Unwilling to run, he returned and gave himself up to the Crown, but not before spending one last fortnight with his beloved wife.
This time, however, it wasn’t just him they locked up.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
40. She Went With Him
Just as before, Bess accompanied her husband to the Tower of London, but this time it wasn’t completely of her own volition. Treating her as an accomplice to Sir Raleigh, King James had her imprisoned right alongside him. However, this was more of a symbolic sentence, as she received her freedom a few months later—though he wasn’t so lucky.
While there was no question that his fate was sealed, Bess wasn’t about to just stand by and do nothing.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
41. She Tried To Help Him
Beyond taking Sir Raleigh back into custody, the Crown had also seized all his estates, meaning that Bess had even more to worry about than simply losing the love of her life. Still, she devoted her every waking moment to changing the King’s mind again, hoping to save her husband from execution.
She used every resource and pulled every string—but it wasn’t enough.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
42. He Lost His Life
None of Bess’s efforts were enough to sway the King’s decision, and while Sir Raleigh had already survived a few brushes with death, he would have no such luck this time. Fortunately, the two of them had at least one moment to say goodbye before the authorities took Sir Raleigh to the Old Palace Yard and finally beheaded him.
She stayed with him until the end, and since the Crown had taken so much from her, she kept one thing for herself.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
43. She Took His Head With Her
Bess’s love for her husband was truly unending, so even as he went to his demise, she stood by him and watched—and she wasn’t leaving empty-handed. While the truth of this is a bit more vague, at least one account mentions that Bess and her attendants retrieved his decapitated head and left the premises with it.
As a thin silver lining, she and her son weren’t in as dire straits as she thought.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
44. He Provided For Her
Bess was at risk of losing another inheritance, and although she pleaded with the King that her and her son’s livelihoods depended on the estates Sir Raleigh left behind, she couldn’t sway him on that either. Ultimately, though, the King took pity on her and instead granted her £8,000 for her trouble, along with an annual pension of £400 for the rest of her life.
However, even with all of that, she had one prized possession above everything—her one remaining connection to her beloved.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
45. She Kept It With Her
After losing two of her children and her husband, Bess wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her days with her remaining son, Carew—and the last heirloom from her husband. Having embalmed Sir Raleigh’s head, Bess reportedly placed it inside a red velvet bag and kept it in a cupboard next to her bed, refusing to part with it.
Still, she wasn’t simply wallowing away in her sorrow—she had work to do.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
46. She Fought For Him
While Sir Raleigh had given both Queen Elizabeth and King James plenty of reasons to dislike him, the act that finally sealed his fate had been out of his control—and Bess wasn’t going to let it be his legacy. Almost immediately after his execution, she began fighting to clear his name and restore the reputation he once had.
After years of fruitless efforts and disappointment, she could finally rest in relief.
Joseph Simpson, Wikimedia Commons
47. He Was Vindicated
Bess had unfortunately been at the mercy of the royals her entire life and had found out many times that even if she fought tooth and nail for something, it could slip away from her all the same. However, in an unexpected twist, all her struggles were worth it as the 1628 Bill of Restitution finally recognized Sir Raleigh’s legacy, ultimately allowing Carew to inherit his father’s assets.
Of course, she would have to give up his head at some point—but only once they were truly reunited.
Edmond ou Georges Lechevallier-Chevignard (?), Wikimedia Commons
48. She Met Her End
Bess lived for another several decades after Sir Raleigh perished, and even though it had been his wish at one point, she never found another suitor to remarry. She ultimately passed in 1647, and it was only then that her family saw fit to return Sir Raleigh’s head to the rest of his body, now entombed in St Margaret's, Westminster.
Although she devoted much of her energy and time to the man she loved, he hadn’t been her only priority.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
49. She Had A Lot On Her Plate
As Lady Raleigh, Bess had certainly enjoyed many of the benefits that came with being the wife of a nobleman, but she also got a bit more than she signed up for. Considering Sir Raleigh was usually either off on one of his expeditions or locked up in a cell, she frequently had to pick up the slack as the regular duties of his position fell to her.
All the while, she never lost one of her greatest attributes—her kindness.
Screenshot from Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Universal Pictures (2007)
50. She Helped Where She Could
Although Elizabeth Raleigh eventually gained a position of power and influence, as her family had hoped, she never forgot her roots—specifically what it was like to lose everything. Such compassion for the less fortunate was especially useful in her position as Lady Raleigh. Through any hardships Sherborne faced, whether it was the plague or natural disasters, she never shied away from acting charitably.
Screenshot from The Virgin Queen, 20th Century Fox (1955)
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