Final answer:
Henry II and Elizabeth I outlawed religious and political performances in response to the rise of the Protestant Reformation, as it presented a threat to their political authority and the established religious order.
Step-by-step explanation:
National leaders such as Henry II and Elizabeth I were involved in the turbulent religious and political environments of their times, particularly during the Protestant Reformation, which was initiated by Martin Luther's critique of the Roman Catholic Church. This movement led to widespread creation of Protestant sects across Europe, influencing political decisions and causing monarchs to question and sometimes suppress religious practices that were seen as threatening to their authority. The religious performance bans by these leaders were thus in response to the rise of the Protestant Reformation.