In foreign policy Elizabeth plays against each other the major powers of France and Spain, as well as the papacy and Scotland.

These are all Catholic and each want to end Protestantism in England.

Elizabeth is cautious in foreign affairs and only halfheartedly supports a number of ineffective, poorly resourced military campaigns in the Netherlands, France and Ireland.

She risks war with Spain by supporting the "Sea Dogs," such as Walter Raleigh, John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake, who prey on the Spanish merchant ships carrying gold and silver from the New World.

The major war comes with Spain, 1585–1603.

When Spain tries to invade and conquer England it is a fiasco, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 associates Elizabeth's name forever with what is popularly viewed as one of the greatest victories in English history.

Her enemies fail to combine and Elizabeth's foreign policy successfully navigates all the dangers.