Instead, Harcourt marched into the Boulonnais to head off an attack on Calais, with Guiche based near Le Catelet to prevent the Spanish garrison of Cambrai raiding into Champagne.

His right flank was anchored by Honnecourt Abbey and a wooded area known as the Bois Maillard; on the left, which had fewer natural obstacles, he constructed a number of strong earthworks,[3] still visible in the mid-19th century.

Assuming they were seriously outnumbered, Josias von Rantzau and other senior officers felt this required more troops than were available, so Guiche decided to hold his current positions and await an attack.

[2] As predicted by Puységur-Chastenet, early on the morning of 26 May the Spanish placed their artillery on the two hills and began battering the French defences, concentrating their fire on the abbey.

Since most of the French cavalry was stationed around the Bois Maillard, Melo was concerned they might attempt to outflank him and assigned the bulk of his forces to Jean de Beck, commander of the left wing.

[12] The cavalry fled in disorder before Guiche rallied them and although Bucquoy was driven back three times, they pursued him too far and were exposed to fire at close range from the Spanish artillery.

[13] Guiche reached Saint-Quentin accompanied by less than 1,600 men, mostly cavalry, and since the main French army was at Perpignan with Louis XIII, the road to Paris appeared open, causing panic in the capital.

[18] Guébriant and his Franco-Weimarian troops now proposed to link up with a Dutch force under the Prince of Orange, and co-ordinate an attack on the important Spanish-held town of Geldern.

[19] The Dutch withdrew in the face of his advance and abandoned the siege; at the end of 1642, the Spanish had retaken most of northern Artois and their position in Flanders appeared as strong as ever.