But Albert, proud of his achievements in Aachen, refused to pause in his career.

Let them make the deposit first, he said.
Both belligerents, being now satiated with such military glory as could flow from the capture of defenceless cities belonging to neutrals, agreed to hold conferences at Xanten.

To this town, in the Duchy of Cleve, and midway between the rival camps, came Sir Henry Wotton and Sir Dudley Carleton, ambassadors of Great Britain; de Refuge and de Russy, the special and the resident ambassador of France at the Hague; Chancellor Peter Pecquius and Counsellor Visser, to represent the Archdukes; seven deputies from the United Provinces, three from the Elector of Cologne, three from Brandenburg, three from Neuburg, and two from the Elector-Palatine, as representative of the Protestant League.
In the earlier conferences the envoys of the Archduke and of the Elector of Cologne were left out, but they were informed daily of each step in the negotiation.

The most important point at starting was thought to be to get rid of the 'Condominium.' There could be no harmony nor peace in joint possession.

The whole territory should be cut provisionally in halves, and each possessory prince rule exclusively within the portion assigned to him.