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.