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Reasons for the Armada In 1587, King Philip of Spain saw England as a dangerous nuisance. King Philip had many reasons to want to get rid of Queen Elizabeth: Attacks by English Privateers For nearly twenty years, English ships had been attacking Spanish treasure ships and raiding Spanish towns in the Americas. Queen Elizabeth refused to punish the privateers and would not return the riches they had stolen. Actions Against English Catholics Queen Elizabeth had made England an awful place for English Catholics to live. Catholics were fined for not attending the Church of England’s services and could be imprisoned if they were found hearing or saying Mass. Since 1581, over a dozen English Catholics had been executed for 'religious crimes'. Helping Spain's Enemies Queen Elizabeth encouraged Protestant ideas and was willing to help the enemies of Catholic Spain. English soldiers had been fighting alongside the Dutch rebels in their war against their Spanish rulers for a number of years. In 1585, Queen Elizabeth had promised to send thousands of Dutch government hold back King Philip's Spanish army. Refused to marry Phillip Phillip was married to Mary, Queen of England, making him king. But when she died in England was passed on to her younger sister Elizabeth. Phillip asked for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage but she refused, so the only other way to get England was to invade.