Princesses Elizabeth and Mary Commiserate on their Menstrual Woes.

The subject of the following letter is more than a little surprising. Elizabeth has been made aware that Mary is having a difficult period. The Jane Russell mentioned was a servant in Elizabeth's household at the time. Elizabeth residing at Ashridge, as attested by the sign-off of this letter, and Mary residing at Hunsdon House, Mary's servant would have had to travel above 30 miles along primitive country roads to request Russell accompany him back.

Another unnamed servant of Elizabeth's household refused Mary's request for one reason or another. Perhaps because no one wished her to undertake such a journey.

The Princess Elizabeth to the Princess Mary. October 27,1552¹

Good Sistar as to hire [hear] of your siknes is unpleasant to me, so is it nothinge feareful, for that I understande it is your olde gest that is wont oft to viset you, whose comminge thogth it be oft, yet is it never welcome, but notwithstanding it is comforttable for that " jacula praevisa minus feriunt." And as I do understande your nede of Jane Russels service, so am I sory that it is by my mans occasion letted, wiche if I had knowen afore, I wold have caused his wil give place to nide [need] of her service, for as it is her duty to obey his commandement, so is it his part to attende your pleasure; and, as I confesse, it wer miter [meter] for him to go to her, sins [since] she attendes uppon you, so indide [indeed] he required the same, but for that divers of his felowes had busines abrode, that made his tarijnge [tarrying] at home. Good Sistar thogth I have good cause to thanke you for your oft sendinge to me, yet I have more occasion to rendre you my harty thankes for your gentil writinge, wiche how painful it is to you, I may wel gesse by my selfe, and you may wel se by my writinge so oft, how pleasant it is to me. And thus I ende to troble you, desiring God to sende you as wel to do, as you can thinke and wische [wish], or I desire or pray. Frome Hasherige [Ashridge] scribled this 27th of October.

Your lovinge sistar

ELIZABETH.²

There is the suggestion, in the letter, that the two princesses might have shared Mrs. Russell's company and comfort. It appears that she was quite well-known for homeopathic treatments for female complaints. She became a lady-in-waiting to Mary upon becoming queen. RHIP, presumably, and Elizabeth had to make do.

Reports by and about both Mary and Elizabeth indicate that they shared difficulties menstruating. Their periods were irregular. Elizabeth went long intervals without. When she developed an ulcer on her ankle, in 1569, which remained open for some 9 years, it was suggested by some close to her that it was her body's way of allowing her obstructed menstrual blood to escape her body via an alternate route. Mary often suffered considerable discomfort from her “olde gest“.

Elizabeth is well-known to have used negotiations, when queen, for marriages she never intended to undertake. A letter of the Spanish ambassador, Álvaro de Quadra, of January 22, 1561, to King Philip, ex-husband of Mary, and suitor for the hand of her sister, may tell us a bit more.

I must not omit to say also that the common opinion, confirmed by certain physicians, is that this woman (Elizabeth) is unhealthy, and it is believed certain that she will not have children. . . . This being the state of things, perhaps some step may be taken in your Majesty's interests towards declaring as successor of the Queen, after her death, whoever may be most desirable for your Majesty.³

Her physicians were aware, of course, that, among her many illnesses, her periods were erratic.

1   The date for this letter is provided from The Collected Works of Queen Elizabeth (no date). Edited by Leah S. Marcus, Janel Mueller, and Mary Beth Rose. 37.

2    Ellis, Henry. Original Letters Illustrative of English History (1824). II.163-4. Citing ms. lansd. 1836. foL 89.

3   Chamberlin, Frederick. The Private Character of Queen Elizabeth (1921). 50.

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