Romancing the Renaissance:
the Feminization of Early Modern Culture in Twentieth Century Mass Media

English 339

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Sir Walter Ralegh
Gordon Bedford

Biography:

Sir Walter Raleigh was born in 1552 when his father was leasing an estate called Hayes Barton from the Duke family of Otterton. Raleigh had two half brothers, from his mother's first marriage named Sir Humphrey and Sir John Gilbert. He grew to a great height (for the times) of six feet, and held onto his regoinal Devonshire accent, both of which singled him out at court. During the reign of Queen Mary I, from 1553 to 1558, Raleigh was raised with a great hatred for the Catholic Church due to the bloody actions of the queen against Protestants. And when Elizabeth came to power in 1558, Raleigh was able to express his hatred in her court. Through battle and brave actions in the name of the queen, Raleigh became a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. There is an uncomfirmed myth reguarding Raleigh and the Queen which has Raleigh laying an expensive cloak in a mud puddle before the queen to allow her to cross without getting mud on her clothes. Whether true or not, he did rise to the position of Captain of the Guard and received a 42,000 acre estate in Ireland.

Raleigh had great desires to explore the "New World" in search of treasure for England as well as fame for himself. Yet, the queen wouldn't let him go at first due to her great need for his company. So, Raleigh organized and sent expeditions over in his name instead. These trips yeilded spices, fruits, tobacco, and other imports for the queen. The greatest and most renowned trip spawned from a suggestion by Sir Humphrey Gilbert. He proposed a solution to problem of the 'surplus' population in England. The plan was to form colonies in America and send people over to populate them. The second half of the plan was to eliminate the natives. Gilbert died in a storm on the way over, so Raleigh took over the mission and led an expedition from a ship named "The Raleigh". He then took possession of Virginia, naming the land after the Virgin Queen. Raleigh was knighted and on the 6th of January, 1585 and was titled "Lord and Governor of Virginia." The colony was formed on Roanoke Island and was populated by many Devon families. Unfortunately, the colony was lost under mysterious and unknown circumstances and is now known as the "first English settlement in North America."

Under the threat of the Spanish Armada, Raleigh built a huge ship called "The Ark Royal" in 1587. This immense ship lead the fleet against the Armada in the following year, and was rebuilt in 1608. It was finally sunk due to an accident in 1636. This great ship kept Raleigh in the favor of the queen as an expert shipsman, despite the episode at Roanoke.

In 1602, Raleigh retired from court to his Irish estate. He had a love affair with one of the queen's Maids-of-Honor, Bessie Throckmorton. Queen Elizabeth was very displeased with this relationship due to her evident affection for him. She threw him in the Tower of London where he remained until his release when one of his ships captured a remarkable treasure from the Spanish ship "Madre De Dios". He then married Bessie and retired to his new estate in Sherborne, Dorset. Queen Elizabeth died shortly after in 1603 and King James I came to power. Raleigh was then framed as a member of a conspiracy against the throne and sentenced to life imprisonment. Again, Raleigh was released, but he was involved in another expedition against the Spanish. The Spanish influences at court managed to get him re-arrested for his previous crimes and sentenced to death in 1618.

Bibliography:

Andrews, K.R., Canny, N.P. and Hair, P.E.H. The Western Enterprise: English Activities in Ireland, The Atlantic and America, 1480-1650. Liverpool, 1979.

Ashton, Robert. Reformation and Revolution. The Paladin History of England, 1985.

Neale, J.E. Queen Elizabeth I. 1934

Palliser, D.M. The Age of Elizabeth:England Under the Late Tudors. Longman Social and Economic History of England, 1983.

Films Found In:

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

Elizabeth R.

Elizabeth

The Virgin Queen

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