She Was In Denial
Dr. Burcot, a well-known doctor, validated Elizabeth’s diagnosis and confirmed that she had smallpox. On the other side, the queen was initially adamantly opposed to this. Rather than confronting the facts, she appears to have dismissed Burcot as inept.
She Was In Denial
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People Were Frightened
Given the fear of smallpox in English society, Elizabeth’s reaction was logical. At the time, the most feared epidemic in Europe was the infectious disease, which had overtaken the plague. The king had every reason to be concerned, despite the fact that smallpox would not reach its peak for hundreds of years.
People Were Frightened
