Pius V
The pope who in February 1570 declared Elizabeth I of England a heretic, pronounced her deprived of her crown and released her subjects from their oaths to her.
His bull Regnans in excelsis is dated at Rome on 25 February 1570, in the fifth year of his pontificate. It calls Elizabeth I “the pretended queen of England”, lists what the pope holds against her, declares her a heretic and her adherents excommunicated, and absolves her subjects from their oaths to her (Pius V, Regnans in excelsis sections 1–5 and the closing date). The English historian William Camden, whose account was printed in 1615, says that the sentence was given “without any admonition or citation” beforehand (Camden, Annales 1570, section 13).
A paper printed in the English government’s tract The Execution of Justice records that on 14 April 1580 two Jesuits about to leave for England asked the reigning pope to explain the bull, and were granted the answer that as things stood it did not bind Catholics (Cecil, Execution of Justice pp. 19–20). See Regnans in Excelsis and the Execution of Catholic Priests under Elizabeth I.
In the timeline
- 25 February 1570, firm dateRegnans in Excelsis and the Execution of Catholic Priests under Elizabeth I
In 1570 Pope Pius V declares Elizabeth I deposed. Parliament makes reconciliation with Rome treason, and priests such as the Jesuit Edmund Campion are executed: as traitors, says the government; for their religion, say Catholic writers.
Primary sources
Regnans in excelsis
- Pius V, Regnans in excelsis sections 1–5 and the closing datepapalencyclicals.net
Annals of the Reign of Elizabeth
- Camden, Annales 1570, section 13philological.cal.bham.ac.uk