Walter Raleigh is executed

“Elizabeth I did not like to share her favourites, but Raleigh chose to stray”

Stepping onto the scaffold that had been erected in the Old Palace Yard at Westminster, Sir Walter Raleigh prepared to face his death. An assortment of lords, many of whom Raleigh had once rubbed shoulders with, watched the disgraced courtier from a window that overlooked the scene. And countless commoners were thronged around the scaffold itself, all eager to witness an execution.

How had his life come to this? Raleigh had carefully manoeuvred himself to the upper echelons of Elizabethan society – and now he was cast down into the mud, to die a traitor’s death. His meteoric rise had begun 37 years ago, when he first settled at the English court and drew the attention of Elizabeth I. His handsome looks, propensity for adventure – he helmed several expeditions to the New World, and is widely credited for bringing the potato and tobacco back to England – and love of poetry no doubt all helped curry favour with the Virgin Queen, who soon looked upon him as one of her favourites.

Indeed, one particularly famous tale is associated with the pair: while they were enjoying a, which was published around 80 years after this act of chivalry supposedly took place – Elizabeth’s affection for Raleigh has been extensively documented.