He had promised to give this place to the Flemings; the burghers were getting a taste for conquest, in company with kings.
They found Philip of Valois better informed, and also more hot for war, than perhaps they had expected.

It is said that he learned the defeat of his navy at Ecluse from his court fool, who was the first to announce it, and in the following fashion.

"The English are cowards," said he.

"Why so ?" asked the king.

"Because they lacked courage to leap into the sea at Ecluse, as the French and Normans did." Philip lost no time about putting the places on his northern frontier in a state of defence, he took up his quarters first at Arras, and then three leagues from Tournay, into which his constable, Raoul d'Eu, immediately threw himself, with a considerable force, and whither his allies, the Duke of Lorraine, the Count of Savoy, the Bishops of Liege, Metz, and Verdun, and nearly all the barons of Burgundy came and joined him.