12 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About William Shakespeare

1. Shakespeare Was A Protestant... But There Is Evidence To Suggest He Was Actually A Practising Catholic

Once the English Church had splintered from the Papacy and the Roman Catholic Church during the reign of King Henry VIII in the early-16th Century, Protestantism became the legal religion throughout the nation. Practising Catholicism was against the law, and so any active papal supporter had to hide their religious leanings. Because of this it has long been assumed that Shakespeare was a Protestant, but there is strong evidence to suggest that he was actually Catholic. His mother, Mary Arden, was brought up in a pious Catholic family - and his father, John Shakespeare, even signed a Catholic statement of faith during his lifetime (although this document has now been lost). In 1591, authorities also reported that John Shakespeare missed church "for fear of process for debt" - which was an excuse commonly used by Catholics. Also, William Shakespeare's daughter, Susanna, appears on a list of those who failed to attend Easter communion in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1606. Although evidence suggests Shakespeare privately was likely a practising Catholic, publicly he conformed to Protestantism - with his will using a Protestant formula and the fact he got married as a confirmed member of the Anglican Church of England. No-one can ever be sure what exactly the Bard's religious beliefs were, but it is likely he held at least some Catholic sympathies.