“This disease… is the easiest in the world to die of”, reported the French ambassador, Cardinal du Bellay, from London in June 1528. “You have a slight pain in the head and at the heart; all at once you begin to sweat. There is no need for a physician… you are taken off without languishing.”

Ad

The terrifying epidemic to which he referred was the Sweating Sickness, also known as ‘the English sweat’ because it originated there before spreading to continental Europe. The sickness hit in a series of epidemics. Between the first outbreak in 1485 (the year the Tudors came to power) and the year 1551, when it suddenly declined, it wreaked chaos among the population, killing tens of thousands with each occurrence. But the Sweating Sickness was not always fatal.

Authors

Tracy Borman
Tracy BormanAuthor, historian, joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces

Tracy Borman is a best-selling author and historian, specialising in the Tudor period. She works part-time as joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and as Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust.

Ad
Ad
Ad