Born near [Budleigh Salterton]? in Devon, England. Raleigh's family were fundamentally protestant in religious orientation and had a number of near escapes during the reign of the catholic queen Mary I of England. During childhood, Raleigh developed a hatred of catholicism, and was quick to express it when Elizabeth I came to the throne.
By 1581?, after a number of naval engagements, he had become established as a courtier and Elizabeth's favourite.
His position of influence was greatly extended as he became one of Elizabeth's spymasters, along with [Thomas Walsingham]?, and was largely responsible for the uncovering of the [Babington Conspiracy]?, which was a catholic plot to dethrone Elizabeth and replace her with [Mary, Queen of Scots]?; as a result of this Elizabeth granted him a 40,000 acre estate in Ireland. Mary was implicated in the Babington Conspiracy and was subsequently executed.
[.. to be continued]
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