Rachel Evans
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Roman Catholics in England faced persecution and death. While the exact number of Catholics killed under Elizabeth I is unknown, it is estimated that around 123 Catholic priests were martyred, with nearly 150 executed, and many more imprisoned or exiled. The persecution of Catholics in Elizabethan England was driven by a combination of political, religious, and international factors, including the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth by Pope St. Pius V in 1570, the presence of Mary, Queen of Scots, and worsening Anglo-Spanish relations. Elizabeth's government viewed Catholics as a threat to the Queen and the realm, and enacted laws that made it a treasonous offence to practice Catholicism, resulting in the execution, imprisonment, and exile of many Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholic priests executed under anti-Catholic legislation | 183 |
| First Catholic priest to be put to death | St. Cuthbert Mayne |
| Year of St. Cuthbert Mayne's death | 1577 |
| Year in which it became an offence to convert to Catholicism | 1581 |
| Year in which Catholic priests were given 40 days to leave England or be executed | 1585 |
| Total number of Catholic priests executed | Nearly 150 |
| Number of Catholics executed for treason | Several |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic priests were executed
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Catholics were widely considered to be dangerous traitors. This was due in part to Pope St. Pius V's excommunication of Queen Elizabeth in 1570, which released English Catholics from their allegiance to her. With England at war with Catholic Spain, Catholics were widely distrusted and considered a threat to the crown. As a result, Catholic priests became targets of persecution and execution.
Under Elizabeth I, it became a capital offence for a priest to be ordained in England, and any priest found in the country was automatically guilty of treason and sentenced to death. St. Cuthbert Mayne, who was executed in 1577, became the first of approximately 123 English Catholic priests to be martyred during Elizabeth's reign. One source claims that the number of priests executed for religious treason was around 130.
The famous priest Edmund Campion, who had once been favoured by the queen, was captured, tortured, and hanged alongside two other priests in 1581. Campion was falsely convicted of plotting against the queen, highlighting the climate of suspicion and persecution surrounding Catholic priests during this time.
Priests who were arrested often faced harsh treatment, with some sources mentioning the use of torture and imprisonment. It was also considered a capital offence to shelter or support a priest, and lay supporters of Catholic priests were also executed. The exact number of Catholic priests executed under Queen Elizabeth I may be difficult to ascertain, but it is clear that their presence in England during this period was fraught with danger and often ended in martyrdom.
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Catholics were fined for not attending church
Under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, Catholics faced intense persecution, with many executed, imprisoned, or exiled. Elizabeth's government passed new Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity in 1559, making it compulsory to acknowledge the queen as the head of the Church and to attend Church of England services. This was a significant shift, as previously, most people had muddled through, with some indifferent to the Catholic Church, some continuing Catholic practices alongside attendance at the Church of England, and others glad to see the changes.
The new laws had a substantial impact on Catholics, who became known as "recusants" if they refused to conform. Recusancy laws imposed various punishments on Catholics who refused to attend Church of England services, including fines, property confiscation, and even imprisonment. These laws remained in force from Elizabeth I's reign to that of George III, though they were not always enforced uniformly.
The fines for recusancy, or not attending Church of England services, were initially set at twelve pence, but they were later increased to twenty pounds, representing a significant 4000% increase. This substantial increase in fines reflects the growing suspicion and distrust directed towards Catholics during Elizabeth's reign. It is important to note that these fines were specifically targeted at Catholics, as the legislation was titled "An Act for restraining Popish recusants".
The refusal to attend Church of England services was seen as an act of disobedience and even potential treason, especially as England was at war with Catholic Spain. There were fears that Catholics who did not attend their parish church might be Spanish spies or plotting to kill the queen and replace her with a Spanish king. This perception further fueled the persecution of Catholics and the increasing severity of the laws and punishments imposed on them.
While the exact number of Catholics fined for non-attendance at Church of England services is unknown, it is clear that this was a common occurrence during Elizabeth I's reign. The imposition of fines, along with other penalties, contributed to the challenging and dangerous environment faced by Catholics during this period.
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Catholics were persecuted
In 1559, the English House of Lords passed a bill abolishing papal supremacy over the Christian church in England, establishing the English monarch as the supreme head of the Church of England. This bill also abolished the Mass and imposed an English-language liturgy, the Book of Common Prayer. Failure to adhere to these new laws was considered an act of treason, punishable by death. However, initially, Queen Elizabeth I was relatively tolerant of Catholics. She blocked attempts to increase punishments for recusancy (Catholics refusing to attend Church of England services) and turned a blind eye to Catholics who practised their faith in secret.
The situation changed over time, as Elizabeth's government increasingly viewed Catholicism as a threat. This shift was influenced by several factors. Firstly, in 1570, Pope St. Pius V officially excommunicated Queen Elizabeth, declaring her a heretic and releasing English Catholics from their allegiance to her. This was followed by a failed rebellion in the north of England, where rebels had Mass said in Durham Cathedral, reinforcing the perception of Catholics as dangerous traitors. The presence of Mary, Queen of Scots, in England also contributed to the association between Catholicism and treason, as she was the focus of several plots to overthrow Elizabeth. Additionally, worsening Anglo-Spanish relations and the arrival of Jesuit priests in England heightened fears of Catholic plots and conspiracies.
As a result of these developments, the persecution of Catholics intensified. Surveillance and arrests of English Catholics increased, and in 1585, an act was passed giving Catholic priests 40 days to leave England or face execution. This legislation led to the execution of nearly 150 Catholic priests, although most were simply imprisoned. Overall, about 183 Catholics were executed under the anti-Catholic legislation during Elizabeth's reign, while many others were imprisoned or exiled.
The persecution of Catholics under Elizabeth I was shaped by the complex dynamics of the time, including religious reforms, political plots, and international tensions. While Elizabeth herself may not have been strongly anti-Catholic, the changing political and religious landscape left her government with little choice but to take a harsher stance against Catholics as her reign progressed.
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Jesuits were executed
During the reign of Elizabeth I, Catholicism was largely viewed as a threat to the security of the crown. In 1570, Pope St. Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth, declaring her a heretic and releasing her subjects from their allegiance to her. This was seen as evidence of Catholics' treasonous intentions, and the English government began to associate Catholicism with treason.
The Jesuits, etc. Act of 1584 was enacted to suppress Catholicism in England. The act imposed harsh penalties on Jesuits, including those educated abroad in Jesuit seminaries, who were given six months to return to England and swear allegiance to the Queen. Those who failed to comply were considered traitors, and the punishment for treason at the time was death. The act also targeted those who harboured Jesuits, who could be fined, imprisoned, or executed for treason.
The exact number of Jesuits executed under Elizabeth I is unclear, but several notable Jesuit priests were martyred during her reign. These include Edmund Campion, Ralph Sherwin, Alexander Briant, and Robert Southwell. Campion, a former favourite of the Queen who had converted to Catholicism, was tortured and hanged alongside two other priests in 1581. Overall, about 183 Catholics were executed under anti-Catholic legislation during Elizabeth's reign, and many more were imprisoned or exiled.
After Elizabeth's death in 1603, the Jesuits, etc. Act gradually fell into disuse, and the persecution of Catholics lessened under the more religiously tolerant Stuart dynasty. However, the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 briefly revived anti-Catholic sentiment, leading to the execution of several more priests, including Father John Sugar.
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Catholics were seen as a threat
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Catholics were increasingly seen as a threat. This was due to a variety of factors, including the presence of Mary, Queen of Scots, who was seen as a potential replacement for Elizabeth, as well as the excommunication of Elizabeth by Pope St. Pius V in 1570, which released English Catholics from their allegiance to her.
Elizabeth's tolerant approach initially seemed to work, but it did not satisfy everyone, and she faced numerous threats, particularly as England went to war with Catholic Spain. The threat was intensified by the existence of an English Catholic support network abroad, which provided money and plotting opportunities. The main figurehead for these plotters was Mary, Queen of Scots, who had a claim to the English throne and was seen as a potential replacement for Elizabeth.
The threat was further exacerbated by the arrival of missionary priests from Europe in the 1580s, who began proselytising and making new converts. This led to the enactment of laws in 1581 that made it an offence to convert someone to Catholicism, with the legislation framed as punishment for treason. The security of the realm depended entirely on Elizabeth's survival, and the threat of Catholic plots against her was taken very seriously.
To strengthen her position and minimise the Catholic threat, Elizabeth passed laws that targeted Catholics and their practices. The Mass, central to Catholic worship, was banned, and anyone who heard it risked a fine or prison. Catholic priests were outlawed, and reconciliation with Rome was made treason. From 1585, any priest ordained abroad since 1559 and found in England was deemed a traitor, as was their host, and both were punishable by death.
The threat of Catholic plots against Elizabeth was so feared that an entire espionage network was built by her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, to intercept letters and root out conspiracies. The perception of Catholics as a threat was so strong that torture was used more during this period in English history than any other, as agents sought to weed out priests and disrupt plots.
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Frequently asked questions
Nearly 150 Catholic priests were executed under Elizabeth I, although most were simply imprisoned in a specially built jail. In total, 183 Catholics were executed under anti-Catholic legislation during her reign.
Elizabeth I's government saw Catholics as a threat to the Queen and the realm. This was due to several plots against Elizabeth's life, as well as the continuous flow of Jesuit priests into the country.
Catholicism was effectively illegal under Elizabeth I. While Catholics were not fined for being Catholic, they were fined for refusing to attend Church of England services. The penalty for saying mass was death, although Elizabeth ensured that this was not implemented until 1577.
Elizabeth I did not seem to be particularly anti-Catholic, as long as Catholics did not make any trouble. She tried to accommodate Catholic beliefs in her religious settlement and often turned a blind eye to Catholics who had secret services in their homes. She also blocked attempts to increase punishments for recusancy.
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