13. Correct: Elizabeth I of England did contract smallpox in the years following Mary’s return to Scotland, suffering lifelong facial scarring symptomatic of the illness
Coinciding in Mary, Queen of Scots with Elizabeth’s attempts to wed her Scottish cousin to a Protestant Englishman, even prompting Mary’s acceptance of the offer on condition she is named the heir to the throne of England, Elizabeth I is shown afflicted with smallpox. Depicted in gruesome fashion, with a veiled Elizabeth secluded in convalescence and descending into madness, whilst the particulars of the event are less clear it is widely accepted by the historical community the Queen of England did indeed contract the highly contagious and deadly virus. Believed to have infected Elizabeth in either 1562 or 1563, her affliction prompted the succession question to be raised in Parliament.
Resulting in Parliament urging the sick monarch to either marry or nominate a successor to avert civil war upon her death, it appears a significant portion of the English elite genuinely feared Elizabeth would succumb to the incurable condition. In response, a furious Elizabeth prorogued Parliament, with the legislative body not reconvening until summoned to raise taxes three years later. Although defying her critics and recovering, Elizabeth bore signs of her infection for the rest of her life. Causing noticeable facial scarring, portraits of the Virgin Queen after this event became increasingly unrealistic, attempting to compensate for her aged and damaged complexion.