ON THIS DAY - 25 October 1562

On This Day (25 Oct) in 1562, Elizabeth I resumed her normal duties whilst at Hampton Court Palace, rapidly improving from the potentially deathly smallpox that she had been suffering from over the past 2 weeks.

‘Queen Elizabeth I’. Unknown English Artist, c1560 ©️ National Portrait Gallery, London

Smallpox, a highly contagious viral disease, had ravished London and the Royal Court during the summer of 1562; Margaret St John, Countess of Bedford (and mother to Anne Russell, later the Countess of Warwick) had fallen victim to it in Aug 1562. It had a high mortality rate (approx 30%), particularly with the young, elderly and vulnerable, and could leave those who survived permanently disfigured.

‘Aztec Smallpox Victims’, 16thc, from ‘Viruses, Plagues and History: Past, Present and Future’ (2009)

Smallpox was identified by early symptoms, including a high fever, fatigue, severe back pain, abdominal pain and vomiting, with the characteristic rash of bumps full of clear liquid (which would then fill with pus) forming 2-3 days later. The rash would start on the face and hands, and then spread to the rest of the body, which would then ulcerate and scab. The incubation period for the virus would last 7-10 days, with a person being infectious once the fever developed, and remaining so until the last scabs felll off.

'View of Hampton Court Palace from the South, with the River in the Foreground' Artist: Anthonis van den Wijngaerde, Year: 1558 © Ashmolean Museum Oxford

On 10 Oct, Elizabeth first started feeling unwell whilst at Hampton Court; she reportedly took a bath and went for a 'bracing' walk outside to try and feel better, but ended up 'catching a chill'. This was unsuccessful, as within an hour she had taken to her bed with a fever. Her German physician, Dr Burcot was called, and he gave the initial diagnosis of smallpox; however, this theory was dismissed by others, due to the lack of other symptoms, including the rash.

‘Elizabeth I’ Unknown Artist, c1560 ©️Queen’s College, Cambridge

Elizabeth's health continued to decline over the next few days, with her fever continuing to worsen, and by 16 Oct, she was presenting with fluctuating levels of consciousness. It was at this time that the queen's cousin, Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon persuaded Dr Burcot to resume his treatment - according to historian Alison Weir, Elizabeth was 'wrapped in red flannel', 'laid on a pallet beside a fire' and 'given a green potion', all with good effect. Lesions started to appear on her hands, being the natural progression of the illness; Elizabeth started to improve quickly, although she remained in bed for a further 6 days.

‘Mary Dudley, Lady Sidney’. Artist: Hans Eworth (circle of), c.1578 ©️ National Trust Images

During her illness, Elizabeth had been cared for by one of her primary ladies-in-waiting, Mary Dudley, Lady Sidney, the wife of Sir Henry Sidney and sister of Elizabeth's 'favourite' Robert Dudley. Mary herself contracted smallpox; unlike Elizabeth, who reportedly was able to cover her pock-marked skin with heavy makeup for the rest of her life, Mary retreated from court life, due to her disfigurement, although would continue to greet the queen in private.