1571

Elizabeth I excommunicated

Cross and candleWhen Pope Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth I and declares her illegitimate, he merely makes the climate for England's Catholics that bit harsher. While the snail's-pace reticence of Catholic strongholds to embrace Protestantism has been largely tolerated, now powerful Protestants like the Queen's favorite Robert Dudley are free to pile pressure on Catholic sympathizers amongst the nobility. Areas like Warwickshire become awash with spies and informers.