Why did Elizabeth of England start helping Protestants in the Netherlands so late?

Queen Elizabeth did not like the Republican rebels and feared a quarrel with the mighty Philip II. Only after the English fleet began to successfully plunder the Spanish possessions and ships, Elizabeth was convinced: England can defeat Spain, so it is worth supporting all the enemies of Philip II, even the Gueuze.

Remember: The process of learning a person lasts a lifetime. The value of the same knowledge for different people may be different, it is determined by their individual characteristics and needs. Therefore, knowledge is always needed at any age and position.