Losing Antwerp to Spain would have been catastrophic for England's economy through trade disruption and would have removed a critical buffer against Spanish invasion. ✦ AI generated
Tom Holland · The Rest Is History · 2026-08-10 · original ↗
starts at this moment · 33:55
However, she and her government do appreciate that they can't really just leave the rebels to the fate. It is existential for England as well as for the Dutch and in particular the impending fall of Antworp is a nightmare for English strategists. First of all, it risks the collapse of the entire Dutch revolt. And if the Dutch revolt collapses, then as we've said, that means that Palmer and his terrifying army will be free to cross the sea. Yeah. And land in England. More broadly, it's a nightmare for the entire cause of Protestantism in Europe. And for Leicester, for Walssingham, for Sydney, definitely this is probably the major consideration.
verbatim transcript · starts at 33:55
33:42to get his brother Henry III of France to um to take over the sovereignty of the low countries and come in against Spain. But as we've said, Henry III is the king of a country that is now collapsing into civil war. So he doesn't have time to um intervene in uh foreign squables. And this really leaves the rebels with just the one port of call. And this, of course, is a queen who is,
34:05as we've said, instinctively cautious, hates spending money on wars, hates wars, full stop, very much disapproves of revolts against anointed monarchs. And this, of course, is Elizabeth of England. And so, unsurprisingly, when the Dutch rebels go to London and offer her um sovereignty over the low countries, she turns them down. However, she and her government do appreciate that they can't really just leave the rebels to the fate. It is
34:36existential for England as well as for the Dutch and in particular the impending fall of Antworp is a nightmare for English strategists. First of all, it risks the collapse of the entire Dutch revolt. And if the Dutch revolt collapses, then as we've said, that means that Palmer and his terrifying army will be free to cross the sea. Yeah. And land in England. More broadly, it's a nightmare for the entire cause of
35:08Protestantism in Europe. And for Leicester, for Walssingham, for Sydney, definitely this is probably the major consideration. you know, this is the future of what God wants for Christrysendom is at stake as they see it. >> And what about the economics of it? Because you mentioned how wealthy um the Flemish cloth towns are, how important that trade link is between the Low Countries and England in particular. I
35:36mean surely if Antwart was lost, if the Low Countries were lost, wouldn't that be disastrous for England's economy? >> Yeah, a complete disaster. I mean there have been blockades going on and off throughout this period but the thought of losing Antwerp kind of straits of hummus cubed basically for the for the English I mean it's a it's it's a massive massive disaster they they cannot basically they cannot afford to