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.”

After the result of the negotiations of Breda, it is difficult to imagine what method she was likely to devise for accomplishing such a purpose.  The King was not more disposed than during the preceding summer to grant liberty of religion, nor were the Hollanders more ready than they had been before to renounce either their faith or their fatherland.  The envoys, on parting, made a strenuous effort to negotiate a loan, but the frugal Queen considered the proposition quite inadmissible.  She granted them liberty to purchase arms and ammunition, and to levy a few soldiers with their own money, and this was accordingly done to a limited extent.  As it was not difficult to hire soldiers or to buy gunpowder anywhere, in that warlike age, provided the money were ready, the states had hardly reason to consider themselves under deep obligation for this concession.  Yet this was the whole result of the embassy.  Plenty of fine words had, been bestowed, which might or might not have meaning, according to the turns taken by coming events.  Besides these cheap and empty civilities, they received permission to defend Holland at their own expense; with the privilege, of surrendering its sovereignty, if they liked, to Queen Elizabeth-and this was all.

On the 19th of April, the envoys returned to their country, and laid before the estates the meagre result of their negotiations.  Very soon afterwards, upon an informal suggestion from Henry iii. and the Queen Mother, that a more favorable result might be expected, if the same applications were made to the Duc d’Alencon which had been received in so unsatisfactory a manner by Elizabeth, commissioners were appointed to France.  It proved impossible, however, at that juncture, to proceed with the negotiations, in consequence of the troubles occasioned by the attitude of the Duke.  The provinces were still, even as they had been from the beginning, entirely alone.