Francis Poyntz was Esquire of the Body to the King for life. In 1527 he was sent to Spain to solicit the deliverance of the children of the King of France, who were detained as hostages under the Treaty of Madrid.[1] His father, Sir Richard Poyntz, was Chancellor to Queen Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII.[2]

In 1527, Henry VIII visited Hunsdon House to escape the sweating sickness, ‘a disease of unknown cause that appeared in England as an epidemic on five occasions – in 1485, 1508, 1517, 1528, and 1551.’[3] These epidemics had an extremely high mortality rate and usually victims died within 24 hours of the first onset of symptoms. If they survived for longer than 24 hours, they would usually make a full recovery.[4]

While at Hunsdon House, eight members of the King’s household got ill from the sweating sickness, seven recovered but Francis Poyntz died from it.[5] He seems to have had no further connection to Hunsdon, but a memorial was placed in Hunsdon Church which reads ‘The dutiful and loving wife Lady Joan erected this monument to her dear husband, Sir Francis Poyntz knight, who was conspicuous for learning, prudence, friends, the favour of his sovereign, and piety. 1528.’[6][7]

Research by Amber Dunstan

[1] Hunsdon Parish Registers, p. 43.

[2] Hunsdon Parish Registers, p. 43.

[3] Sweating sickness | disease | Britannica accessed on 21/08/2021 at 15:20.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid, p. 42.

[6] Original inscription is in Latin.

[7] Hunsdon Parish Registers, pp. 41-42.