Foreign Policy - Elizabeth (1558-1572)

1559 - Cateau Cambresis Return of Calais to the British after 8 years or 500,000, if they kept the peace.Rebellion of the Protestant lords in Scotland John Knox came from Geneva preaching to people to destroy imagery etc. Took as call to rise up against Guise family rule (Mary of Guise was regent) 1560 - Treaty of Berwick - England to provide military and financial support to rid of Guise Family. Treaty of Edinburgh - Removal of all foreign forces in Scotland, Scottish Lords of Estates General to form Provisional Government. The intervention with Scotland was a success for England - they had secured the Northern border from foreign threats.

1562 - Outbreak of religious wars in France Ultra-Catholic Guise Family v. House of Bourbon, who supported French Huguenots.  Council members such as Cecil, Throckmorton and Dudley persuaded Elizabeth to act upon this and support Prot. She needed little persuading after the Scottish victory/didn't like the idea of Guise Victory. Treaty of Hampton Court 6,000 troops support and £3,000 loan. Upon the death of The Duke of Guise, both French parties worked together to drive England out/plague in the English held Le Havre led to the English surrendering. 1564 - Peace of Troyes Hostilities brought an end. The English intervention led to them forfeiting the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis. Reinforced Elizabeth's conservative belief that intervention into European diplomacy should be avoided.

1563 - Granvelle bans cloth imports to the Netherlands vital to the economy as cloth was huge business (economy/finance) Granvelle was Philips ruler in Spanish ruled Netherlands - plague was blamed for stopping imports, most likely due to piracy in channel which Philip believed E1 sanctioned. Elizabeth retaliated by banning imports from Netherlands. Economic consequences severe for both Nations, so they backed down. Underlying hostilities between the two nations remained.

1566 - Revolt in Netherlands Outbreak of Calvinist revolts in Netherlands. Philip had policy of religious toleration, however he despatched Duke of Alba in 1567 - crush protestantism there. Both Elizabeth and the council were concerned that Spain would have a significant force across the channel.  Also concerned about Protestant refugees coming to England from the Netherlands, making it look like England was harbouring rebels. 1568 - Duke of Alba's victoryBy 1568 Alba has seized the Netherlands - executed leading rebels and defeated William of Orange (protestant). Elizabeth didn't intervene because she didn't have a force which could help bring independence in the Netherlands. Also could lead to French dominance of the Southern shores of the channel.

1568 - Policy of Harassment Francis Drake attacked Spanish ships in the New World.  E1 seizes 400,000 gold florins which were given on loan to the Spanish from Geonese bankers. Took it as own loan. This had repercussions -  Alba seized and attacked English ships. Within a few weeks a trade embargo is in place once again. 

ELIZABETH EXCOMMUNICATED IN 1570!!

1568 - MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS ARRIVES IN ENGLAND, SHE HAS CLAIM TO THE THRONE - SUPPORTED BY CATHOLICS ON CONTINENT. 

1572 - Expulsion of the sea beggars Elizabeth kicked the sea beggars out of English ports - they went to the Port of Brill in Netherlands and helped stir up rebellion. This caused much trouble for Elizabeth - it is unsure if she kicked the sea beggars out due to unruly behaviour or because she knew they would harass the Spanish - this made Anglo-Spanish relations deteriorate even further. Despite the deterioration of Anglo-Spanish relations, neither were particularly on course or desired a war.Elizabeth found new trade routes for the booming cloth trade in Russia and the Baltic - friendly relations with Spain was no longer vital for Trade.

1572 - Treaty of BloisElizabeth and France in talks to marry Duke of Anjou and E1.  Under the terms of the treaty: France abandoned claims of Mary, Queen of Scots to the throne of England. France and England formed a defensive league against potential Spanish aggression.

1572 - St Bartholomew's Day MassacreAlliance with France was shortlived - Catherine de Medici instigated the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.  French wars of religion to end with marriage between French King's sister and Protestant Henry of Navarre. Catholics started to slaughter French Protestants (Huguenots) who had gathered to celebrate the marriage.  Estimated 3,000-15,000 Protestants died. 

1569 - Northern RebellionPlot to dispose of Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Northern Catholic Nobles behind plans.Elizabeth executed 700 rebels, but couldn't dispose of M,QoS following the rebellion as she had considerable Catholic support in Europe, from both Monarchs (Philip II) and the Pope. 

1571 - Ridolfi PlotPlot to dispose of Elizabeth and replace with Mary, Queen of Scots, once again.Conspirators - Ridolfi - Florentine banker Philip II - offered financial support and 10,000 troops. Duke of Alba Norfolk - planned for him to marry Mary, QoS if she ascended to the throne; Catholic rule in both England and Scotland.

Ridolfi Plot, Northern Rebellion and the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre showed their was a considerable Catholic conspiracy to remove Protestantism and Elizabeth, an advocate of Protestantism.

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