All opposed to the Church of England, whether Papists or Puritans, were denounced as heretics, and as such imprisoned or banished.

"To allow churches with contrary rites and ceremonies," said Elizabeth, "were nothing else but to sow religion out of religion, to distract good men's minds, to cherish factious men's humours, to disturb religion and commonwealth, and mingle divine and human things; which were a thing in deed evil, in example worst of all; to our own subjects hurtful, and to themselves--to whom it is granted, neither greatly commodious, nor yet at all safe."-- [Camden] The words were addressed, it is true, to Papists, but there is very little doubt that Anabaptists or any other heretics would have received a similar reply, had they, too, ventured to demand the right of public worship.

It may even be said that the Romanists in the earlier days of Elizabeth's reign fared better than the Calvinists.

The Queen neither banished nor imprisoned the Catholics.

She did not enter their houses to disturb their private religious ceremonies, or to inquire into their consciences.