Truth and Falsehood

One of the major themes in the poem is the nature of truth. This represented a common anxiety in the early modern era, particularly during Elizabeth’s reign. Throughout most of the medieval period, lying was considered to be one of the gravest imaginable sins. Under Catholic doctrine – a doctrine adopted by the early Protestant churches – lying was never acceptable, not even to save one’s own life. However, in the 17th century, around the time this poem was written, the Catholic Church issued a doctrine permitting “mental reservation” – allowing people to say one thing while meaning another, if strictly necessary. This doctrine was a result of the English persecution of Catholics, intended to give Catholics a way to navigate Protestant beliefs without either committing the sin of lying or risking their lives.

This doctrine was issued just as a new wave of conflict...