The Wars of Religion 631 The Dutch had long hoped for aid from Queen Elizabeth or Reasons why from the French, but had heretofore been disappointed. At finally "won last the En2^1ish queen decided to send troops to their assistance. ^^^'^ ^"*^^" ^ ^ ^ pendence While the English rendered but little actual help, Elizabeth's policy so enraged Philip that he at last decided to attempt the conquest of England. The destruction of the " Armada," the great fleet which he equipped for that purpose,^ interfered with further attempts to subjugate the United Provinces, which might otherwise have failed to maintain their liberty. Moreover, Spain's resources were being rapidly exhausted, and the State was on the verge of bankruptcy in spite of the wealth which it had been draw- independ ing from across the sea. But even though Spain had to surrender the hope of winning back the lost provinces, which now became a small but important European power, she refused formally to edged by ence of the United Provinces acknowl- acknowledge their independence until 1648 (Peace of Westphalia). Spain, 1648 Section hi. The Huguenot Wars in France The history of France during the latter part of the sixteenth Beginnings century is little more than a chronicle of a long and bloody tentism^n series of civil wars between the Catholics and Protestants. France Protestantism began in France in much the same way as in England. Those who had learned from the Italians to love the Greek language turned to the New Testament in the original and commenced to study it with new insight. Lefevre, the most Lefevre, conspicuous of these Erasmus-like reformers, translated the ^45o-i537 Bible into French and began to preach justification by faith before he had ever heard of Luther. The Sorbonne, the famous theological school at Paris, soon Persecution began to arouse the suspicions of Francis I against the new tants under ideas. He had no special interest in religious matters, but he was shocked by an act of desecration ascribed to the Protestants, and in consequence forbade the circulation of Protestant books. About 1535 several adherents of the new faith were burned, 1 See below, p. 644. Francis I
