Changes

Apart from a second attempt to find El Dorado in 1617 he spent his last 15 years imprisoned in the Tower of London. He wrote poetry, mostly lost but some in print today, and wrote the first volume of his "History of the World". His second El Dorado expedition had caused further anger in Spain with the burning of the settlement of San Tomas; and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador he was beheaded on 29 October 1618. His last words, according to many biographers, were "Strike man, strike!" urging his executioner to decapitate him.  

Apart from a second attempt to find El Dorado in 1617 he spent his last 15 years imprisoned in the Tower of London. He wrote poetry, mostly lost but some in print today, and wrote the first volume of his "History of the World". His second El Dorado expedition had caused further anger in Spain with the burning of the settlement of San Tomas; and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador he was beheaded on 29 October 1618. His last words, according to many biographers, were "Strike man, strike!" urging his executioner to decapitate him.  

   

   

In later years he often spelt his name "Rauley", which gives some indication of its pronunciation.

In later years he often spelt his name "Rauley", which gives some indication of its pronunciation; and although he spelt his name various ways, he never used the common modern spelling of "Raleigh".

 

He appears as a character in Sir Walter Scott's 1821 Waverley novel, Kenilworth. In 1940, [[Errol Flynn]] played a character based on Raleigh in the movie ''The Sea Hawk''.

He appears as a character in Sir Walter Scott's 1821 Waverley novel, Kenilworth. In 1940, [[Errol Flynn]] played a character based on Raleigh in the movie ''The Sea Hawk''.