Essay on Queen Elizabeth’s Treatment of Catholics

Queen Elizabeth’s Treatment of Catholics The reformation of England had been a long drawn out affair dating back to King Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy in 1534. By the accession of Elizabeth in 1558, many historians believe that she inherited a country, which was still predominantly Catholic in belief. Although people of South Eastern England were likely to be influenced by the peoples of Europe, who were experiencing reforms, Doran (1994) suggests that the number of Protestants accounted for just 14 per cent of the population of Sussex and less than 10 per cent in Kent. Whether rural lifestyles were largely unaffected by changing religious doctrine due to a primitive communications network or general disinterest, as long as the laity†¦show more content†¦In comparison to Queen Mary’s ruthless policy over Protestant subjects, Elizabeth adopted a cautious if not liberal policy towards Catholicism. The general consensus of many historians is that Elizabeth did not really care about what her subjects beli eved as long as they kept their religious views to themselves. Doran (1994 et al) bring to light instances when Protestants, exiled under the previous reign, were invited to preach on public occasions, while Catholic preachers were simply harassed or arrested. Nevertheless Catholics received far lighter punishments for their beliefs. Following the 1559 Act of Uniformity, Catholics were expected to conform outwardly. The imposition of one-shilling fines on those who did not attend Church of England services on Sundays and various other days were set out to achieve this. Similarly there were penalties imposed on clerics who did not follow the specified rites of the Book of Common Prayer or chose to publicly attack them. Their first offence would result in imprisonment for six months and loss of a year’s income. Successive offences would carry a year’s imprisonment, then life imprisonment if caught a third time. The Act of Supremacy was passed in the same year, which actively encouragedShow MoreRelatedQueen Elizabeth I : The Golden Age Of The Elizabethan Era1000 Words   |  4 PagesElizabethan Era as one of the times when England was very close to achieving a golden age. While living under Queen Elizabeth did bring about troubles, such as an extreme system of punishment and quarrels with the Catholic s, the Elizabethan Era was a time of peace and prosperity, heavily contrasting life before and after Elizabeth’s reign. In a time when England was almost about to tear itself apart, Queen Elizabeth I came to power and improved the situation. Her influence led to political, cultural, and educationalRead MoreQueen Elizabeth: Golden Age1406 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth’s Golden Age Elizabeth was Queen of England from 1558-1603. 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