Sir Walter Raleigh, the dashing English courtier, explorer, poet, and soldier, is a figure etched into the annals of history for his ambition, charisma, and tragic end. His life was one of soaring highs and crushing lows, from winning the favor of Queen Elizabeth I to meeting his demise under the axe of King James I. Yet, perhaps the most haunting and poignant chapter of his story lies not in his own deeds but in the devotion of his wife, Elizabeth “Bess” Throckmorton, who, after his execution in 1618, is said to have preserved his embalmed head as a cherished relic, carrying it with her for nearly three decades. This macabre act, steeped in love and grief, weaves a dark yet compelling tale of loyalty that transcends death itself.
A Love That Defied the Crown
The story of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bess Throckmorton begins in the glittering court of Queen Elizabeth I, where Raleigh was a favored figure, knighted in 1585 and granted the prestigious role of Captain of the Queen’s Guard. His charm, wit, and bold exploits made him a standout, but it was his secret romance with Bess, one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting, that would alter the course of his life. In 1591, the couple married in secret, a bold and dangerous move, as such unions required the Queen’s explicit permission. When their marriage was discovered—compounded by the fact that Bess was pregnant—the Queen’s wrath was swift. Both Raleigh and Bess were imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1592, a stark fall from grace for the once-favored courtier.
Though they were eventually released, this episode marked the beginning of Raleigh’s turbulent relationship with the English monarchy. Despite the scandal, the bond between Raleigh and Bess only grew stronger. Their marriage endured through Raleigh’s subsequent imprisonments, expeditions, and political intrigues, a testament to their unshakable devotion. Bess proved to be not only a loving wife but also a steadfast partner, managing their affairs and advocating for Raleigh during his long imprisonments.
Why would Sir Walter Raleigh’s head end up in a bag?
While Raleigh was at one time a favorite confidante and advisor of Elizabeth, he failed to impress the next in line, James, who ruled Scotland as James VI before his mother died. When James became king he immediately stripped Raleigh of his royal privileges and evicted him. Before the eviction James accused Raleigh and others of having conspired with Spain to do away with James and installed his cousin Arabella on the throne in a scheme called the ‘Main Plot.’ For this Raleigh was beheaded. West Horsley Place told The Guardian that “evidence suggests Bess, Raleigh’s wife, kept her husband’s dismembered head with her, just as the legends say.”
Sir Walter Raleigh’s execution via decapitation of his head. (Public Domain)
Historically verified accounts of Raleigh’s execution day detail that his head was displayed to the crowd before being presented to his wife Bess “in a red leather bag.” The story goes on to say that the widow embalmed her husband’s head and subsequently brought it with her when she and her family moved to West Horsley. An article about the discovery in Smithsonian says, “After Bess’ death in 1647, family lore alleges the head was placed in a cupboard under the stairs.” Then in 1660, when Raleigh’s third son and Carew’s three children had all died the head was “buried alongside them at the nearby St. Mary’s Church.”
18th Century Diary Surprise: Raleigh’s head and none of his bones in family burial plot
Under normal circumstances academic historians would disregard ‘all’ of these spurious lines of logic as no more than old wives tales, but in 1703 a diary entry after the family plot was dug up during another burial stated: “Raleigh’s head was found, with no other bones and no room for other bones.” Having no good reason to doubt the validity of this record, many experts have looked further into the discovery of the ‘red velvet bag’ at West Horsley. For example Peter Pearce, director of the Mary Roxburghe Trust told reporters, “It was assumed the bag that contained it [Raleigh’s head] was buried, too, but the find opens up the possibility that it was not. The velvet bag is currently out for analysis to look for signs that it once held an embalmed head.”
But, But… How does leather transform into velvet?
An embalmed head would fit in the red velvet bag. Image: The Mary Roxburghe Trust
Let us stand back from this tide of speculative observations and remember that every single discovery that has ever been made, brings with it skeptics, and this instance is no different. Anna Beer is a Cultural historian and author of the book Patriot or Traitor: The Life and Death of Sir Walter Raleigh, and she told reporters at The Guardian that “she doubts the story”, as she has “not come across any eyewitness accounts that Bess kept a mummified head in her possession.” Beer pointed out that what we know about Raleigh is in a great part mythological, “including the story that he brought the first potato to Europe and that he once placed his cloak over a puddle for Elizabeth I.” Supporting her suspicions, Beer reminds that “almost every source on Raleigh’s execution has wonderful detail of the full horror of it and that Lady Raleigh took his head away in a red leather bag.” “It’s almost definitely not the bag,” she says.
What we have here is a classic historical stalemate where two factions of academics have presented two sets of observations, each one apparently as valid as the other. In the red corner, West Horsley Place has presented a red ‘velvet’ bag, while in the blue corner Cultural historian Beer falls just short of asking ‘when in history has leather ever transformed into velvet?’ Hopefully, if CSI is anything to go by, a fragmentary piece of 17th century scalp, hair or blood will soon be found by forensic scientists, or as the case may be, they find absolutely nothing whatsoever. By settling this debate, once and for all, Mr Raleigh may rest in peace(s).
The Fall of a Legend
Raleigh’s fortunes took a darker turn with the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. Her successor, King James I, harbored little affection for the flamboyant adventurer who had been so favored by his predecessor. Accused of treason in a plot against the King, Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he spent over a decade under a suspended death sentence. During this time, he wrote his ambitious History of the World, a work that showcased his intellect and resilience. Bess remained by his side, even living with him in the Tower, where they raised their family in the shadow of his uncertain fate.
In 1616, Raleigh was released to lead an expedition to find the fabled El Dorado in South America, a venture meant to restore his standing and secure wealth for the crown. However, the expedition violated orders by attacking a Spanish outpost, an act that enraged King James I, who was seeking peace with Spain. Upon his return to England, Raleigh’s earlier treason sentence was invoked, and on October 29, 1618, he was beheaded at Westminster. His final moments were marked by characteristic wit and courage; inspecting the axe, he reportedly remarked, “This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries.”
A Widow’s Macabre Devotion
Following Raleigh’s execution, the story takes a turn into the realm of the macabre. According to historical accounts and enduring legends, Bess, devastated by her husband’s death, took possession of his severed head. It was embalmed and placed in a red velvet bag, which she reportedly kept with her for the remaining 29 years of her life. This act, shocking by modern standards, was not entirely unusual for the time, when preserving relics of loved ones or significant figures could be seen as an act of reverence or mourning. Yet, Bess’s dedication to carrying her husband’s head through London and beyond speaks to a profound and almost mythic love.
The red velvet bag, discovered centuries later in a loft at West Horsley Place, the manor linked to Raleigh’s son Carew, adds a tangible element to this eerie tale. Experts, including historical costume specialist Mark Wallis, have confirmed that the bag dates to the period of Raleigh’s execution, lending credence to the story. While some scholars remain skeptical about whether it truly held Raleigh’s embalmed head, the artifact’s connection to Bess and the manor makes the possibility tantalizingly plausible.
Bess’s act of preserving and carrying Raleigh’s head was not merely a morbid curiosity but a symbol of her refusal to let go of the man she loved. She carried it as a relic, a physical reminder of their shared life, their defiance of royal disapproval, and their enduring partnership. For nearly three decades, until her death in 1647, Bess kept this grim memento close, a testament to a love that neither imprisonment nor death could sever.
A Legacy of Love and Loss
The story of Sir Walter Raleigh and Bess Throckmorton is one of passion, ambition, and tragedy, culminating in an act that captures the imagination with its blend of devotion and darkness. Raleigh’s contributions to exploration—most notably his role in founding the ill-fated Roanoke Colony, the first English settlement in the New World—are well-documented, but it is this personal tale that adds a human dimension to his legacy. The image of Bess, a grieving widow, carrying her husband’s head through the streets of London, evokes both horror and awe, encapsulating the extremes to which love can drive us.
The red velvet bag, whether it truly held Raleigh’s head or not, remains a powerful symbol of their story. It speaks to a time when love could manifest in ways that seem unfathomable today, yet it also underscores the timeless nature of devotion in the face of loss. As historians and archaeologists continue to uncover artifacts and stories from the past, the tale of Raleigh and Bess endures as a haunting reminder that even in the darkest moments, love can find a way to endure—sometimes in the most unexpected forms.