Elizabeth Raleigh Elizabeth Raleigh Elizabeth, Lady Raleigh ("née" Throckmorton; 16 April 1565 – "circa" 1647) was Sir Walter Raleigh's wife and a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Their secret marriage precipitated a long period of royal disfavour for both her and her husband. Elizabeth, known also as "Bess", was the daughter of the diplomat Sir Nicholas Throckmorton and Anne Throckmorton ("née" Carew). Bess and her brother Arthur were courtiers to Elizabeth I. Bess is said to have been intelligent, forthright, passionate, and courageous. In due course, she and Raleigh, at least 11 years her senior, fell
Throckmorton Plot Throckmorton Plot The Throckmorton Plot was an attempt, in 1583, by English Roman Catholics to murder Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with her first cousin once removed, Mary, Queen of Scots. The plot is named after the key conspirator, Sir Francis Throckmorton (a cousin of Elizabeth "Bess" Throckmorton, Elizabeth's first lady in waiting); Francis confessed to the plot under torture. The plot aimed to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, who had ruled England since 1558. The Roman Catholics wished to free her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who had been held under house arrest in England since 1568,