Blois, treaty of

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Blois, treaty of, 1572. Elizabeth I, excommunicated by the pope in 1570, was in a very vulnerable position and in 1571 the Ridolfi plot against her life was exposed. To protect herself, she sought reconciliation with the French, who had supported Mary, queen of Scots, but were in rivalry with Spain. Walsingham conducted negotiations and on 21 April 1572 Charles IX of France agreed at Blois to a treaty of mutual defence. The main result was that the French ceased to support Mary's followers in Scotland, preparing the way for a protestant settlement there.

J. A. Cannon

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