19. Imprisoned for more than a decade, Raleigh took to writing
Sir Walter Raleigh was sent to the Tower under a sentence of death, but James VI and I was hesitant to allow the execution of a man who was so well regarded throughout his realm. There was also the perceived threat that the execution of a man aligned with Spain could lead to further armed conflicts with the Spanish Empire. Raleigh remained a prisoner in the Tower for over a decade, during which time he resided in comparatively luxurious apartments rather than in the dungeons which the image of the Tower of London brings to mind. He occupied his time by writing religious and political tracts, poetry, and a monumental work which he called The Historie of the World, an historical piece which argued against the divine rights of kings and monarchical governments in general.
