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INTERESTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 379gameIt would be difficult to find a parallel to the politicalwhich she played here, and which surpassed in subtlety eventhat carried on by her in the Netherlands. It was impossible to know how these wars might terminate, but here tooher rivalry with Spain formed her chief inducement to actas she did. As Philip II. supported the leaguein order tofurther his own views, she opposed him by siding withHenry of Navarre ;and when this prince came into quietpossession of his throne, she joined him in the war againstSpain, which, as concerned France, was terminated by thepeace of Vervins (1598). But the pacification of the Hugonotsby the edict of Nantes, and the death of Philip,whichhappened in the same year, were of themselves sufficient todestroy this interest, the very nature of which was buttransient.These were the principal supports on which rested thecontinental interests of England during this reign ; but thegreat and manifold development of the powers of the nationduring the same period, had also an influence upon themwhich must be the less neglected in proportion to its greaterpermanency.It was during the time of Elizabeth that England firstlearnt Tor what she was destined, and became acquaintedwith her proper sphere of action, since it was then that shelaid the foundation of her universal commerce and navigation, italthough was not till a later period that the structurewas brought to perfection.The rivalry with Spain chieflyconduced to this ;and as the possessions of that nation extended over the most remote parts of the earth, Englandwas not wanting in the courage requisiteto seek and encounter its enemies on the most distant seas. In this manner were the seeds of many branches of British commerce,which attained their perfection long afterwards, sown, sinceEngland now sought to appropriate to herself her own carrying trade., which hitherto had been chieflyin the hands offoreigners. While she was seeking a north-eastern passageto India, arose her commerce by way of Archangel withMoscow, and even Persia. Thus originatedthe share whichshe took in the Newfoundland fisheries, which afterwardsbecame of such immeasurable importance. Thus, too, thefirst trial of the African slave trade. It was thus that the