Michael Brooks
Queen Elizabeth I's 45-year reign (1558-1603) was marked by religious upheaval and persecution of Catholics in England. Elizabeth's religious views were Protestant, and she sought to establish the Church of England as the official religion, independent of the Pope's authority. Elizabeth's government passed laws, such as the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity in 1559, requiring all subjects to acknowledge her as the head of the Church and attend Church of England services. Catholics who refused to conform were fined, imprisoned, or even executed for treason. The nature of Catholicism in England changed during Elizabeth's reign, with Catholic priests dependent on gentry families for protection and the faith eventually becoming confined to those social circles. Elizabeth's persecution of Catholics was influenced by political concerns, particularly the threat of invasion from Catholic countries like Spain and the presence of a potential rival to the throne, Mary, Queen of Scots.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Queen Elizabeth's religious views | Protestant, "peculiarly conservative" |
| Queen Elizabeth's views on clergy | Disliked married clergy |
| Religious views kept private? | Yes |
| Main religious aim | To secure her position as the spiritual leader |
| Religious views on worship | Preferred the more ceremonial 1549 prayer book |
| Religious views on worship | Preferred the 1552 Book of Common Prayer |
| Religious views on worship | Opposed idolatry |
| Religious views on worship | Opposed veneration of religious images and relics |
| Religious views on worship | Opposed the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation |
| Religious views on worship | Promoted the Reformed teaching of Christ's spiritual presence |
| Religious views on worship | Opposed the elevation during the coronation Mass |
| Religious views on worship | Opposed the use of torches by monks |
| Religious views on worship | <co: 15>Outlawed all forms of worship other than the |
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What You'll Learn
Catholics branded 'public enemy number one'
During her long reign (1558-1603), Queen Elizabeth I persecuted Catholics, earning her the moniker Good Queen Bess. Her sister, Queen Mary I, was known as Bloody Mary for burning Protestants she considered heretics during her short reign (1554-1558). However, Elizabeth's persecution of Catholics, who did not accept laws that made her the secular and spiritual ruler of England, was considered shrewd.
Elizabeth's religious views were Protestant, though "peculiarly conservative". She kept her religious beliefs private, making it challenging to ascertain her exact convictions. Nonetheless, her principal goal upon ascending the throne was to solidify her position, and one of her first critical decisions involved the English Church. She chose to make the Church of England Protestant and independent of the Pope, aligning with the practices during the reign of her brother, King Edward VI.
In April 1559, the English House of Lords passed bills abolishing papal supremacy over the Christian church in England and establishing the supremacy of the English monarch. These bills, known as the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, mandated that all citizens acknowledge Elizabeth as the head of the Church and attend Church of England services. Failure to comply was considered an act of treason, punishable by hanging, drawing, and quartering.
The Mass, a central Catholic worship practice, was condemned as idolatry and replaced with a Protestant communion service. The veneration of religious icons, statues, and relics was also suppressed, marking a significant shift in religious practices.
Catholics in Elizabethan England faced harsh persecution, with their Masses banned and their priests executed. They were branded public enemy number one, and their loyalty to the queen was questioned. In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth, declaring her a heretic and releasing English Catholics from their allegiance to her. This incident, coupled with a failed rebellion in the north of England where rebels held Mass in Durham Cathedral, heightened suspicions of Catholics as dangerous traitors.
Elizabeth's persecution of Catholics extended beyond religious practices. Sir Thomas Tresham, a Catholic gentleman during her reign, faced heavy fines and penalties for his recusancy, amounting to £7,717. Additionally, in 1585, a law was enacted stating that being a priest in England (unless ordained before Elizabeth's accession) was an act of treason. This resulted in the execution of approximately 183 Catholics during Elizabeth's rule, with many more imprisoned or exiled.
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Catholic priests executed
During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, Catholics were persecuted and considered "public enemy number one". Their Masses were banned and their priests were executed. Campion, for instance, was one of about 130 priests executed for religious treason during Elizabeth's rule. A further 60 of their lay supporters were also put to death. Torture was used more than in any other English reign.
In 1559, the English House of Lords passed a bill abolishing papal supremacy over the Christian church in England, establishing the supremacy of the English monarchs over it. This bill also abolished the Mass and imposed an English-language Book of Common Prayer liturgy. These 1559 bills made English Catholics guilty of high treason, a crime punishable by hanging, drawing, and quartering for men, and burning for women. As a result, Catholics were killed for refusing to accept the Act of Parliament that changed a centuries-old Christian tradition that recognised the Church as a universal institution led by the Bishop of Rome.
To attend Catholic Mass became a criminal act, punishable by fines and imprisonment. All parishioners were mandated to attend Church of England services on Sundays and holy days, with a shilling penalty for each absence. Additionally, any priest found in England was automatically deemed guilty of treason and sentenced to death. It was also a capital offence to shelter a priest.
The majority of Catholics wanted to remain loyal subjects while practising their religion. However, they were distrusted, especially as England was at war with Catholic Spain. Catholics who refused to attend their parish church were suspected of being Spanish spies or plotting to kill the queen and replace her with a Spanish king. Catholic priests were viewed as potential terrorists, and their presence in England was considered a security threat to the realm.
The persecution of Catholics during Elizabeth's reign was part of a broader context of religious wars and struggles between Protestantism and Catholicism. Elizabeth's predecessor, Mary I, had burned Protestants she considered heretics, and Elizabeth's reign aimed to establish Protestantism as the dominant faith in England.
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Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as Good Queen Bess, persecuted Catholics during her long reign (1558-1603). Catholics were killed because they did not accept laws that established the English monarch as the supreme head of the Church of England, instead of the Bishop of Rome. This was considered treason, punishable by hanging, drawing, and quartering.
In 1569, there was an attempt to overthrow Elizabeth I and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. This attempt, known as the Northern Rebellion or the Northern Rising, was supported by Pope Pius V. On 25 February 1570, Pope Pius V issued a bull of excommunication against Elizabeth I. The bull, called Regnans in Excelsis ("Reigning on High"), declared Elizabeth I a heretic and illegitimate pretender, and absolved her subjects from their allegiance to her. It also excommunicated anyone who obeyed her orders. The bull was issued in support of the Northern Rebellion, as well as the first Desmond Rebellion in Ireland, which broke out in June 1569.
The excommunication of Elizabeth I was an act of retaliation for the religious settlement in England, which established the English monarch as the supreme head of the Church. It was also a response to the regicide of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1587, and other offenses against the Catholic Church. The bull contributed to the growing fear and distrust of Catholics in England and was seen as an act of war.
Pope Pius V, born Antonio Ghislieri (and later called Michele Ghislieri), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1566 until his death in 1572. He was known for his zeal and opposition to nepotism. The excommunication of Elizabeth I was one of the most significant acts of his papacy.
The impact of the excommunication was mitigated by the fact that enforcement of anti-Catholic laws could be patchy on the ground. Additionally, in 1580, Pope Gregory XIII issued a clarification stating that Catholics should obey the queen outwardly in all civil matters until a suitable opportunity for her overthrow presented itself.
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Catholics: traitors and loyal subjects
Elizabeth I's persecution of Catholics in England was driven by a complex interplay of religious, political, and personal factors. The queen's decision to establish the Church of England as Protestant and independent from Rome set the stage for tensions with Catholics, who found themselves in a difficult position. While some Catholics sought to remain loyal subjects while practising their faith, they were increasingly viewed with suspicion and distrust, particularly as England's relations with Catholic countries like Spain deteriorated.
The 1559 Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, which made it compulsory to acknowledge Elizabeth as the head of the Church and attend Church of England services, marked a turning point. Catholics who refused to comply were now guilty of high treason, punishable by harsh penalties, including hanging, drawing, and quartering. This political offence was a matter of conscience for Catholics, who struggled to reconcile their belief in the universal church under God with the new laws.
The Mass, central to Catholic worship, was banned, and priests were executed or forced into exile. The persecution intensified in 1581, and by the time of Elizabeth's death, Catholicism had been reduced to "the faith of a small sect", largely confined to gentry households. The priests who remained depended on the support of these gentry families, and as they died out, Catholicism collapsed among the lower classes.
While Elizabeth may not have been personally anti-Catholic, her priority was securing her position and maintaining the stability of the realm. The threat of conspiracy and invasion from Catholic powers and the presence of a Catholic heir presumptive, Mary, Queen of Scots, further fuelled the persecution. The link between Catholicism and treason was solidified in the minds of Elizabeth's government, and those who continued to practise their faith in secret faced alienation, constant surveillance, and harsh penalties.
The impact of the persecution extended beyond the religious sphere, shaping the social and political landscape of England. The enforcement of the laws was often uneven, and many Catholics were forced to muddle through, publicly conforming while privately maintaining their beliefs. The persecution drove a wedge between Catholics and Protestants, creating an environment of fear and suspicion that had lasting repercussions, including the infamous Gunpowder Plot, planned by a relative of a Catholic gentleman who had paid a substantial sum in recusancy penalties.
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Elizabeth's religious views
Elizabeth I's religious views were Protestant, though "peculiarly conservative". She kept many of her religious views private, but she disliked married clergy, held Lutheran views on Eucharistic presence, and preferred the more ceremonial 1549 prayer book. Her principal secretary, Sir William Cecil, was a moderate Protestant, and her Privy Council was filled with former Edwardian politicians. Only Protestants preached at Court.
Elizabeth's coronation took place on 15 January 1559 at Westminster Abbey, and there was no elevation during the coronation Mass. When the Queen returned to Westminster Abbey, she was greeted by Abbot Feckenham and other monks bearing candles in procession. Signaling her disapproval of what she considered Catholic superstition, Elizabeth told the monks, "Away with those torches, for we see very well".
Elizabeth's decision regarding the Church of England was that it should be Protestant, with services in English. In 1559, her government passed new Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity, making it compulsory to acknowledge the queen as the head of the Church and to attend Church of England services. All but one of the bishops who had served under Queen Mary refused to take the Oath of Supremacy, and probably around three hundred priests lost their jobs. In April 1559, a bill abolishing the Mass and imposing an English-language Book of Common Prayer liturgy was passed in the House of Lords and implemented on 24 June of that year. The doctrines of purgatory, prayer for the dead, and the intercession of saints were rejected, and the Mass, the central act of Catholic worship, was condemned as idolatry and replaced with a Protestant communion service.
Elizabeth did not seem to have been particularly anti-Catholic, as long as Catholics did not make any trouble. However, in 1570, Pope St. Pius V officially excommunicated Queen Elizabeth, declaring her a heretic and releasing her Catholic subjects from their allegiance to her. This, along with a failed rebellion in the north of England in which the rebels had Mass said in Durham Cathedral, led Elizabeth and her subjects to see Catholics as dangerous traitors. Elizabeth's war with England's Catholics led to the persecution of Catholics through fines, imprisonment, and execution. By the time of Elizabeth's death, Catholicism had become "the faith of a small sect", largely confined to gentry households.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queen Elizabeth I persecuted Catholics during her reign. She passed laws that made it compulsory to acknowledge her as the head of the Church of England and attend Church of England services. Catholics who refused to comply were fined, imprisoned, or executed.
Queen Elizabeth I's religious views were Protestant, and she wanted to make her position as the head of the Church of England secure. She also wanted to distance herself from her half-sister, Mary I, who was a Catholic and had persecuted Protestants during her reign.
Queen Elizabeth I passed a series of laws, including the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity in 1559, that made it a crime to practice Catholicism in England. Catholics who refused to take the Oath of Supremacy and acknowledge the Queen as the head of the Church were considered traitors. Catholic Masses were banned, and Catholic priests were executed.
The persecution of Catholics by Queen Elizabeth I had a significant impact on the nature of Catholicism in England. Many Catholics were executed, imprisoned, or exiled, and Catholic priests were dependent on the protection of gentry families. As a result, Catholicism collapsed among the lower classes and became confined to gentry households by the end of her reign.
