Elizabeth Throckmorton

Bess and Sir Walter Raleigh

While England was preparing for war with Spain, Bess found out that she was pregnant and made plans to ask the Queen's permission to leave court. She would go to her mother's house. Bess was a ward of the Queen and as such she was not allowed to court a man without the Queen's permission and she could not marry without her permission. Bess asked Sir Walter Raleigh for nothing. She wanted him to forget her, go to his ship and do his duty.

However, Sir Walter Raleigh did not want to forget Bess and they ended up marrying that night in secrecy without the Queen knowing.

The next day the Queen found out that Bess was with child and that it was Sir Walter Raleigh. She was angry that Bess kept secret from her. The Queen flipped when Bess told her that they were also married. The Queen then had Sir Walter Raleigh arrested for seducing a ward of the Queen and Bess for marrying without royal consent no longer had the protection of the Queen.

Bess went to live with her mom while she was pregnant and while England was at war. When the war was won, Sir Walter Raleigh and Bess were united to share the joy that Bess gave birth to a son.