Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, had been a popular and active courtier during the reign of Elizabeth I, following in the footsteps of his father, John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, a high-ranking councillor during the reigns of the three previous monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I.

On This Day (21 April) in 1509, Henry VII died at Richmond Palace, aged 52, with his 17-year-old son Henry, succeeding him as Henry VIII.

On This Day (17 Nov) in 1558, Mary I, Queen of England, died at St James's Palace, possibly from uterine cancer.

On This Day (25 Oct) in 1562, Elizabeth I resumed her normal duties whilst at Hampton Court Palace.

On This Day (24 Oct) in 1537, Jane Seymour died at Hampton Court Palace, 12 days after giving birth to her only child, Prince Edward.

On This Day (10 Oct) 1562, Elizabeth I was at Hampton Court when she started to feel unwell.

On This Day (29 Aug) in 1588, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester wrote to Elizabeth I from Rycote, Oxon, less than a week before his death

On This Day (27 Aug) in 1562, Margaret St John, Lady Russell, Countess of Bedford, died from smallpox at Woburn Abbey.

On This Day (06 Jul) in 1553, Edward VI died at the ‘Palace of Placentia’, Greenwich, at around 8pm.

Elizabeth I had reigned as Queen of England for 44 years, when her health started to further decline in February 1603, whilst her court...