Editing Elizabeth I (section)

===France===
[[File:England Queen Elizabeth I sixpence 1593.jpg|thumb|Silver [[Sixpence (British coin)|sixpence]] struck 1593 identifying Elizabeth as "[[by the Grace of God]] Queen of England, [[English claim to the French throne|France]], and Ireland"]]

When the Protestant [[Henry IV of France|Henry IV]] inherited the French throne in 1589, Elizabeth sent him military support. It was her first venture into France since the retreat from Le Havre in 1563. Henry's succession was strongly contested by the Catholic League and by Philip II, and Elizabeth feared a Spanish takeover of the channel ports.

The subsequent early English campaigns in France, however, were disorganised and ineffective.<ref name="haigh142">Haigh, 142.</ref> [[Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby|Peregrine Bertie]], largely ignoring Elizabeth's orders, roamed northern France to little effect, with an army of 4,000 men. He withdrew in disarray in December 1590 following the failure of the [[Siege of Paris (1590)|Siege of Paris]]. The following year, John Norreys, led 3,000 men to campaign in Brittany, which despite [[Battle of Château-Laudran|victory at Quenelec]] in June ended inconclusively.

In July, Elizabeth sent out another force under [[Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex]], to help Henry IV in [[Siege of Rouen (1591–1592)|besieging Rouen]] which Norreys joined. Essex however accomplished nothing and returned home in January 1592, and Henry abandoned the siege in April.<ref>Haigh, 143.</ref> As usual, Elizabeth lacked control over her commanders once they were abroad. "Where he is, or what he doth, or what he is to do," she wrote of Essex, "we are ignorant".<ref>Haigh, 143–144.</ref> Norreys left for London to plead in person for more support. Elizabeth dithered, and in Norreys' absence in May 1592, a Catholic League and Spanish army almost destroyed the remains of his [[Battle of Craon|army at Craon]], north-west France. As for all such expeditions, Elizabeth was unwilling to invest in the supplies and reinforcements requested by the commanders.

In March 1593, Henry converted to Catholicism in Paris to secure his hold on the French crown. Elizabeth was distraught and shocked at this move, and she resented any further attempts by Henry to win her over and ordered all of her forces home.{{sfn|Rowse|1950|p=419}} Despite this, the Catholic leaguers did not trust Henry and still opposed him - their Spanish allies meanwhile continued to [[Brittany campaign|campaign in Brittany]] and advanced on the major port of [[Brest, France|Brest]]. King Philip of Spain was intent on establishing advanced bases in western France from which his rebuilt navy could constantly threaten England. Norreys wrote to Elizabeth warning her about this threat - and after some hesitation saw the danger and so sent another force in 1594. Norreys with 4,000 men worked with his French counterpart [[Jean VI d'Aumont]]. This time success was achieved; after taking a number of towns, they laid siege to an encroaching Spanish fort near Brest [[Siege of Fort Crozon|which was overrun and destroyed]]. This was a decisive victory ending the threat, and not long after the Catholic league collapsed. Elizabeth hailed Norreys a hero, but then ordered him back to England along with his troops.{{sfn|MacCaffrey|1994|pp=189-91}}

In 1595 Henry [[French Wars of Religion#War with Spain (1595–1598)|declared war on Spain]] and wanted England to form an alliance with France. Elizabeth however was not interested, owing to her mistrust of Henry and the fear that France was becoming more dominant. The Spanish however [[Siege of Calais (1596)|captured Calais in 1596]], and with Spain now in sight of England once more, Elizabeth relented – [[Triple Alliance (1596)|the triple alliance]] was formed along with the Dutch Republic. Elizabeth however still hesitated, attempting to barter for either Boulogne or an indemnity in money, the latter of which was agreed. When Spanish forces seized [[Amiens]] in March 1597, Elizabeth sent a force of some 4,200 men under [[Thomas Baskerville (general)|Thomas Baskerville]] to Picardy, joining Henry's forces.{{sfn|MacCaffrey|1994|p=207}} The Anglo-French force arrived, then [[Siege of Amiens (1597)|besieged Amiens and drove off a relief army]]. The town then surrendered, following which French overtures for peace with Spain began. Henry wanted Elizabeth to be part of this peace but she refused, reminding him of the alliance with the Dutch. Henry ultimately went behind Elizabeth's back to sign the [[Peace of Vervins|peace with Spain at Vervins]]. She thus accused the French king of 'perfidy and double-dealing'.{{sfn|Wernham|1994|p=235}}