The Queen listened graciously to the envoys, and appointed commissioners to treat with them on the subject.  Meantime, Requesens sent Champagny to England, to counteract the effect of this embassy of the estates, and to beg the Queen to give no heed to the prayers of the rebels, to enter into no negotiations with them, and to expel them at once from her kingdom.

The Queen gravely assured Champagny “that the envoys were no rebels, but faithful subjects of his Majesty.”  There was certainly some effrontery in such a statement, considering the solemn offer which had just been made by the envoys.  If to renounce allegiance to Philip and to propose the sovereignty to Elizabeth did not constitute rebellion, it would be difficult to define or to discover rebellion anywhere.  The statement was as honest, however, as the diplomatic grimace with which Champagny had reminded Elizabeth of the ancient and unbroken friendship which had always, existed between herself and his Catholic Majesty.  The attempt of Philip to procure her dethronement and assassination but a few years before was, no doubt, thought too trifling a circumstance to have for a moment interrupted those harmonious relations.  Nothing came of the negotiations on either side.  The Queen coquetted, as was her custom.  She could not accept the offer of the estates; she could not say them nay.  She would not offend Philip; she would not abandon the provinces; she would therefore negotiate—­thus there was an infinite deal of diplomatic nothing spun and unravelled, but the result was both to abandon the provinces and to offend Philip.

In the first answer given by her commissioners to the states’ envoys, it was declared, “that her Majesty considered it too expensive to assume the protection of both provinces.”  She was willing to protect them in name, but she should confer the advantage exclusively on Walcheren in reality.  The defence of Holland must be maintained at the expense of the Prince and the estates.

This was certainly not munificent, and the envoys insisted upon more ample and liberal terms.  The Queen declined, however, committing herself beyond this niggardly and inadmissible offer.  The states were not willing to exchange the sovereignty over their country for so paltry a concession.  The Queen declared herself indisposed to go further, at least before consulting parliament.  The commissioners waited for the assembling of parliament.  She then refused to lay the matter before that body, and forbade the Hollanders taking any steps for that purpose.  It was evident that she was disposed to trifle with the provinces, and had no idea of encountering the open hostility of Philip.  The envoys accordingly begged for their passports.  These were granted in April, 1576, with the assurance on the part of her Majesty that “she would think more of the offer made to her after she had done all in her power to bring about an arrangement between the provinces and Philip.”