Raleigh's El Dorado Expedition Portuguese possessions and shipping, and conduct illicit trading. Sir Walter Raleigh had enjoyed several years of high esteem from Queen Elizabeth I, which stemmed in part from his previous exploits at sea which included the famous Capture of the Madre de Deus. Soon after, however, Raleigh suffered a short imprisonment for secretly marrying one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton, and bearing her a child. In a bid to restore his influence with the Queen, Raleigh, having promised a "gold-rich empire more lucrative than Peru", had set up an expedition under John Whiddon to find the fabled city of gold
Elizabeth Raleigh "The Virgin Queen" (1955), Elizabeth Throckmorton (referred to as Beth Throgmorton in the film) is portrayed by Joan Collins, Queen Elizabeth by Bette Davis. Elizabeth Throckmorton is the subject of Rosemary Sutcliff's novel "Lady in Waiting" (1956). Sutcliff usually refers to her as "Bess". She appears briefly in "A Dead Man in Deptford" (1993), Anthony Burgess' speculative fictional account of the life of playwright Christopher Marlowe. Elizabeth "Bess" Throckmorton, portrayed by Abbie Cornish, was a featured character in the film "" (2007). This sequel to "Elizabeth" (1998) focuses on the relationships of Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) and Bess with Walter