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
Arthur Throckmorton He was elected the Member of Parliament for Colchester, Essex in 1589. He was knighted in 1596 whilst on a military expedition to Cadiz and appointed High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1604. He married Ann, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lucas of Colchester, Essex, with whom he had four daughters. Arthur Throckmorton Sir Arthur Throckmorton (ca. 1557 – 21 July 1626) was an English courtier and politician. He was the second son of the diplomat Sir Nicholas Throckmorton of Beddington, Surrey and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. His sister Elizabeth incurred the Queen's displeasure by secretly marrying Sir Walter