In the 1590s, Elizabeth I's response to the Puritan threat became significantly harsher and more legally punitive. While earlier she focused on enforcing conformity through figures like Archbishop Whitgift, the 1590s saw the introduction of severe legal measures and capital punishment for religious dissent. A specific example is the passing of the Act Against Seditious Sectaries in 1593. This act made it illegal to deny the Queen's authority in religious matters or to attend unauthorized religious meetings, effectively criminalizing radical Puritan and Separatist practices. Those who refused to conform faced imprisonment, exile, or even death, as exemplified by the execution of Separatist leaders Henry Barrow and John Greenwood in the same year. This marked a clear escalation from previous efforts to simply suppress or control Puritanism to actively persecuting and eliminating its most extreme forms. 3 done, 2 left today. You're making progress.