If, as many have suggested, Shakespeare was a Catholic, he would have risked his freedom, legacy, and perhaps his life to practice his religion openly. Thus it should not surprise us if he did not leave us solid proof of his Catholicism. What if he did though? A Tale Told Softly examines the hidden religious allegory within The Winter's Tale, from first scene to last. Relying on primary sources, this book reveals the underlying story of one of Shakespeare's last plays. As the tale unfolds, we get an astonishingly clear vision of Shakespeare's thoughts on some of the most important religious topics of his day: James I and the Oath of Allegiance, the persecution of Catholics, the primacy and authority of the Pope, the Catholic sacraments, the nature of the Church and the Mystical Body of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the role of Divine Providence. The hidden tale within The Winter's Tale is a complete and beautiful story of the Catholic hardships under James I and the hopes for an eventual restoration of the Faith. A Tale Told Softly presents the evidence, allowing the reader to decide if Shakespeare really did leave us proof of his Catholicism.