Despite the initial acceptance of the ‘middle way’, the Catholic threat increased from the late 1560s. This would eventually lead to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots and war with Spain. Why were the Catholics a threat to Elizabeth?
The Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 was meant to provide religious stability to Wales and England, and to a considerable extent it did so in the 1560s. Elizabeth had been shocked by the opposition to her plans by Catholic nobles in the House of Lords. She realised many people were still Catholic, possibly the majority, so she trod carefully in the years following the Settlement.
As a result, a policy of toleration towards Catholics was followed. Protestantism was not rigorously enforced, and recusancy fines were not always imposed. There were several reasons for this.
However, by the late 1560s, a series of events began to challenge Elizabeth’s policy of toleration, resulting in a harsher stance being taken. This would be the main threat to Elizabeth for the next 20 years.