Hic Jacet - Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) - Life in Elizabethan Times

During the reign of King James I, Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned in the Bloody Tower for Treason, 1603-1617.

Raleigh was pardoned and Letters Patent issued (26th August 1617) enabling him to embark on a private expedition to Guiana in search of gold.

Raleigh was betrayed in advance and was ambushed in Guiana.

See Raleigh's letter to Sir Ralph Winwood, Secretary to King James I, dated 17th November 1617.

Raleigh's son, Wat was murdered, and Lawrence Kemish, Raleigh's dear friend, slew himself.

Reduced to failure, Sir Walter Raleigh was committed to The Wardrobe Tower on 10th August,1618.

Thomas Wilson joined Raleigh on the 9th September, 1618 posing as a prisoner under strict orders to extract information from Raleigh, reporting to his superiors everything he knew.

Both men were moved to the Brick Tower on 14th September and Sir Thomas Wilson was rewarded for his efforts in betraying Raleigh's trust and was liberated on the 16th October 1618.

Sir Walter Raleigh was executed on 29th October, 1618.