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 334 General History of Europe make way with the Dutch patriot. After several unsuccessful attempts, William, who had been chosen hereditary governor of the United Provinces, was shot in his house at Delft, 1584. He died praying the Lord to have pity upon his soul and "on this poor people." 564. Independence of the United Provinces. The Dutch had long hoped for aid from Queen Elizabeth or from the French, but had heretofore been disappointed. At last the English queen sent troops to their assistance. Elizabeth's policy so enraged Philip that he at last decided to attempt the conquest of Eng- land. The destruction of the "Armada," the great fleet which he equipped for that purpose ( 581), interfered with further attempts to subjugate the United Provinces, which might other- wise 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 she had been drawing from across the sea. But even though Spain had to sur- render the hope of winning back the lost provinces, which now became a small but important European power, she refused for- mally to acknowledge their independence until 1648 (Peace of Westphalia, 589, 590). III. THE HUGUENOT WARS IN FRANCE 565. Beginnings of Protestantism in France. The history of France during the latter part of the sixteenth century is little more than a chronicle of a long and bloody series of civil wars between the Catholics and Protestants. Francis I 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, and Calvin was forced to flee to Basel, where he prepared a defense of his beliefs which he published as a sort of preface to his famous Institute of Christianity ( 543). Francis finally became so in- tolerant that he ordered the massacre of three thousand defenseless