After months of delay came conditional consent from Madrid to the conventions, but with express condition that there should be absolute undertaking on the part of the United Provinces never to send or maintain troops in the duchies.

Tedious and futile correspondence followed between Brussels, the Hague, London, Paris.

But the difficulties grew every moment.

It was a Penelope's web of negotiation, said one of the envoys.
Amid pertinacious and wire-drawn subtleties, every trace of practical business vanished.

Neuburg departed to look after his patrimonial estates; leaving his interests in the duchies to be watched over by the Archduke.