The people believed that they were on the eve of a siege.

The order was revoked; but the feeling became even more intense when it was known that the king was getting ready to start for St.Denis, where his principal allies, the King of Bohemia, the Dukes of Hainault and of Lorraine, the Counts of Flanders and of Blois, "and a very great array of baronry and chivalry," were already assembled.

"Ah! dear sir and noble king," cried the burghers of Paris as they came to Philip and threw themselves on their knees before him, "what would you do?
Would you thus leave your good city of Paris?
Your enemies are already within two leagues, and will soon be in our city when they know that you are gone; and we have and shall have none to defend us against them.

Sir, may it please you to remain and watch over your good city." "My good people," answered the king, "have ye no fear; the English shall come no nigher to you; I am away to St.Denis to my men-at-arms, for I mean to ride against these English, and fight them, in such fashion as I may." Philip recalled in all haste his troops from Aquitaine, commanded the burgher-forces to assemble, and gave them, as he had given all his allies, St.Denis for the rallying-point.

At sight of so many great lords and all sorts of men of war flocking together from all points, the Parisians took fresh courage.