Elizabeth helped Protestant Rebels in France in order to gain Calais back. This failed when the Protestants and Catholics made peace and angered Philip II
Trade Embargo (1563):
Philip II banned import of English cloth to the Netherlands as he took the view that English merchants had encouraged Protestantism there
The Dutch Revolt (1566):
Due to growing discontent in the Netherlands about Spanish involvement (Philip reorganised Dutch Government and Church), the Catholics and Protestants untied against Spain but were taken down when Philip sent the Duke of Alba and an army of 10,000. Thousands of Protestants fled to England
Who were sea beggars?
Dutch privateers who fled through the sea
Genoese Loan 1568:
Spanish ships carrying gold took refuge in English Ports to hide from sea beggars. Elizabeth took the gold claiming it did not belong to Spain as it was a loan from Italy.
