Seeking a Protestant Alliance and Liberty of Conscience on the Continent, 1558–85

Sovereignty and Solidarity: Moral Obligation, Confessional England, and the Huguenots

“…76 Thus, already in 1562, England had sent envoys to the German Lutheran Princes in order to obtain support for the Huguenot cause in France. 77 On the Huguenot side, a defensive alliance was also of great concern, as witnessed by the argument of Louis of Bourbon, Prince of Cond e (1530-69), the closest of the French Huguenot leaders to the Crown, who maintained that 'as those princes professing the false religion spare no pains in assembling a league to exterminate the true religion, it is necessary and most just that the kings and princes professing the true religion join themselves in one accord and union, of a will to aid each other against the violence of our enemies.' 78 The same arguments were maintained by other Protestants, including William of Orange and Henry of Navarre.…”

“…He argues that when The International History Review 9 'True Faith' and 'National Interest' did conflict, 'the confessional, rather than the national, interest consistently took precedence for Elizabeth and her ministers'. 61 The common strand through all these arguments is that they reveal a false dichotomy between national interest and religious commitment. By emphasising the central role played by religion, we are not saying that religion trumped political interests, but rather that Elizabeth's religious beliefs and values were constitutive of her foreign policy.…”

“…82 The English push towards a Protestant alliance was again resumed in 1585 in support of the Calvinists in the Low Countries and Huguenots, and Elizabeth sent envoys to Denmark, Sweden, and several Lutheran German princes. 83 Later in 1593 when Henry IV (previously known as her ally Henry of Navarre) converted to Catholicism, Elizabeth sent Sir Robert Sidney to France to remind Henry of the support she had previously lent him: '[He] hath often tasted of the good of such her succors.' She also made it clear in the message that she would assist the Huguenots directly if necessary.…”