He asked counsel of Sir John of Hainault, who was near him and who said to him, 'Truly, sir, I can give you no better counsel than that you should withdraw and place yourself in safety, for I see no remedy here.

It will soon be late; and then you would be as likely to ride upon your enemies as amongst your friends, and so be lost.' Late in the evening, at nightfall, King Philip left the field with a heavy heart--and for good cause; he had just five barons with him, and no more! He rode, quite broken-hearted, to the castle of Broye.

When he came to the gate, he found it shut and the bridge drawn up, for it was fully night, and was very dark and thick.

The king had the castellan summoned, who came forward on the battlements and cried aloud, 'Who's there?
who knocks at such an hour ?' 'Open, castellan,' said Philip; 'it is the unhappy King of France.' The castellan went out as soon as he recognized the voice of the King of France; and he well knew already that they had been discomfited, from some fugitives who had passed at the foot of the castle.

He let down the bridge and opened the gate.