* Religious Differences: The Jesuits were a Catholic order founded to promote the Counter-Reformation, which aimed to combat the Protestant Reformation. Elizabeth I, a Protestant, saw the Jesuits as a threat to her religious authority and the stability of the Church of England.
* Political Threats: The Jesuits were seen as agents of the Pope, who was seen as a rival to the English monarchy. They were suspected of plotting to overthrow Elizabeth and restore Catholicism to England.
* Spies and Subversion: Jesuit priests were highly trained in espionage and often disguised themselves as ordinary people to gain access to English society. This further heightened suspicion and fear.
* Recusancy: Catholics who refused to attend Protestant services were called "recusants." Jesuit priests were instrumental in supporting recusants, further enraging the government.
Here's a breakdown of how Elizabethan England dealt with Jesuits:
* Legal Persecution: The Act of Supremacy of 1559 made it illegal to be a Catholic priest in England. Jesuit priests were subject to arrest, imprisonment, and execution.
* The "Jesuit Plot": In 1605, the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow up Parliament, was blamed on Catholic extremists, further strengthening the perception of Jesuits as dangerous and subversive.
* The "Papal Bull": In 1570, Pope Pius V issued a Papal Bull excommunicating Elizabeth and releasing English Catholics from their allegiance to the Crown. This further intensified religious tensions and reinforced the view of Jesuits as agents of the Pope.
* Secret Missions: Jesuits often travelled in disguise to England to minister to Catholics and establish clandestine networks. This made them difficult to track and contributed to the fear and suspicion surrounding them.
In summary, Elizabethan England treated Jesuit priests with extreme hostility due to their religious beliefs, their perceived political threat, and their suspected involvement in espionage and subversion. This led to a climate of fear and persecution, with Jesuits being hunted down, imprisoned, and even executed.