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King Phillip, informed of these alliances, and of the influence which the king of England had acquired on that side of the water, would most willingly have attached the Flemings to his party; but Jacob von Artaveld had so entirely subjected them, that none dared to act contrary to his will: even the earl, their lord, could not remain there in safety, and had sent his wife, with Lewis their son, into France. However, certain knights and esquires in garrison on the island of Cadsant, which lies between the havens of Sluys and Flushing, among whom were sir Dutres de Halluyn, sir John de Rhodes, sir Giles, son of the lord de l'Estrif, kept possession of it as lords paramount, and defended the passage. They made war underhand upon the English of which the lords that were in Hainault had information, and also, that if they passed that way into England, they might be encountered, the consequences of which might be disagreeable to them. Notwithstanding this, they rode over the country of Flanders according to their pleasure, and to all the large towns; but they were indebted for this to Jacob von Artaveld, who showed them every honour and support. These lords went afterwards to Dordrecht, where they embarked to cross the sea, and to avoid the passage of the isle of Cadsant, where the aforesaid knights and Flemings were in garrison, under the king of France and the earl of Flanders, as has been already related.
The Englishmen returned in the best manner and as privately as they could, to their own country, and to king Edward, who was right glad to see them, and happy in the success of their mission. When he heard how the garrison of Cadsant had harassed his people, he said he would shortly settle that business, and immediately ordered the earl of Derby, sir Walter Manny, and some other English knights and esquires, to make themselves ready. They collected a number of men at arms and archers, and embarked them in vessels upon the Thames at London.: there might be six hundred men at arms, and two thousand archers. When they were all on board, they weighed anchor, and with that tide came to Gravesend, where they lay that first night. The next day they weighed and came to Margate. At the third tide, they hoisted and set their sails, and took to the deep, and passed over to Flanders when, having assembled and properly arranged their vessels, they approached near Cadsant.