The relations between England and the Flemings were at this time very close, for the latter regarded England as her protector against the ambition of the King of France.
But while King Edward had laid aside all thought of war, such was not the case with Phillip of Valois.

He had retired after the signature of the treaty full of rage and humiliation; for hitherto in all their struggles his English rival had had the better of him, and against vastly superior forces had foiled all his efforts and had gained alike glory and military advantage.

King Edward had hardly set sail when Phillip began to break the terms of truce by inciting the adherents of Charles of Blois to attack those of De Montford, and by rendering assistance to them with money and men.

He also left no means untried to detach Flanders from its alliance with England.

Several castles and towns in Brittany were wrested from the partisans of De Montford, and King Edward, after many remonstrances at the breaches of the conditions of the truce, began again to make preparations for taking the field.
Several brilliant tournaments were held and every means were taken to stir up the warlike spirit of the people.
One day Walter had attended his lord to the palace and was waiting in the anteroom with many other squires and gentlemen, while Sir Walter, with some other noblemen, was closeted with the king, discussing the means to be adopted for raising funds for a renewal of a war with France, when a knight entered whom Walter had not previously seen at court.
"Who is that ?" he asked one of his acquaintances; "methinks I know his face, though it passes my memory to say where I have seen it." "He has been away from England for some two years," his friend answered.
"That is Sir James Carnegie; he is a cousin of the late Sir Jasper Vernon; he left somewhat suddenly a short time after Dame Vernon had that narrow escape from drowning that you wot of; he betook himself then to Spain, where he has been fighting the Moors; he is said to be a valiant knight, but otherwise he bears but an indifferent good reputation." Walter remembered the face now; it was that of the knight he had seen enter the hut of the river pirate on the Lambeth marshes.