In Europe during Elizabeth’s day, in the midst of the Protestant Reformation, violence over religious differences frequently occurred between Catholics and Protestants over what most modern observers would likely consider relatively small matters of ceremony and belief. In today’s world, we are all too familiar with terrorism carried out by people who claim to be acting out of religious principle. Our governments carefully monitor the activities of certain groups that are known to commit violent acts in the name of their religion. Like our contemporary leaders, Elizabeth was also aware of the existence of potentially dangerous religious sects, and she warned others to be on the lookout for them:
“[L]et me warn you that there is risen both in your realm and mine a sect of perilous consequence. . . . [L]ook well into them.”
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