On the next day King Philip himself rode into the camp; he had left Brussels and was at Cambrai when the battle took place. He was received with all the honours of war—with unbounded enthusiasm!
The unhappy prisoners were paraded before him in long procession, and the captured standards were placed at his feet—the camp was delirious with joy.
A council of war was forthwith held to decide on future operations.
With fiery zeal Egmont and Gonzaga urged that an immediate march on Paris should be made.
"Send me on with the cavalry, sire, and I promise you that in four days you shall sup in Paris!" cried Egmont.
But Philip was as cautious as his renowned father, Charles the Fifth, was adventurous.
When the news of the battle reached the abdicated Emperor, his first inquiry was "whether Philip was in Paris."
There were many difficulties to be surmounted ere that glorious consummation could be reached, and Philip laid them before the council.
"St. Quentin must first be taken! Between them and Paris there existed many a strong fortress, and wide rivers which must be crossed. Moreover, Paris would not surrender lightly—its citizens could man the walls with forty thousand men at least.
"Again, Condé and Nevers, with the relics of the broken army, must be reckoned with. Ere long Guise would come to their support."