Desmond did not remain long at the marshal's camp, but accompanied expeditions that were sent to Bruges, Ghent, and Ypres.

The inhabitants of these towns had, for some time, been in communication with the marshal.

They were hostile to the English, and had a standing feud, of many years' duration, with the Dutch.
As soon, therefore, as the French columns approached, they opened their gates.

The weak garrisons that had been placed there, finding themselves unable to at once control the population and defend the walls, evacuated the town before the French arrived.
Beyond writing confidential reports to Berwick, Desmond had had little to do, and spent most of his time with his own regiment, by whom he was heartily welcomed, and with the other Irish battalions encamped near them.

He and the other officers captured in the Salisbury had been given up as lost by their comrades; and the appearance of Desmond, in his staff uniform, was the first intimation they had received of his escape, of which he had more than once to give a detailed account.
In doing this, he made no mention of the seizure of Lord Godolphin.