The ten commissioners, who were appointed by the estates for the peace negotiations, were all his friends.

Among them were Saint Aldegonde, Paul Buis, Charles Boisot, and Doctor Junius.

The plenipotentiaries of the Spanish government were Leoninus, the Seigneur de Rassinghem, Cornelius Suis, and Arnold Sasbout.
The proceedings were opened at Breda upon the 3rd of March, 1575.

The royal commissioners took the initiative, requesting to be informed what complaints the estates had to make, and offering to remove, if possible, all grievances which they might be suffering.

The states' commissioners replied that they desired nothing, in the first place, but an answer to the petition which they had already presented to the King.