She had managed to evade the blockading fleet, and bore an urgent letter from the king, praying Peterborough to come to his assistance.

The earl did not hesitate a moment, but determined to set sail at once to find the fleet, and to bring it on to Barcelona with all speed.
The astonishment and dismay of his officers at the news that their general was about to leave them and embark on such an enterprise were very great, but the earl explained to the leaders the reasons for his anxiety to gain the fleet.

His commission appointed him to the command at sea as well as on land, and on joining the fleet he would be its admiral in chief.

He feared that at the sight of so powerful an armament the Count of Toulouse would at once decline battle and make for France.
He determined, therefore, to advance only with a force considerably inferior to that of the French, in which case Toulouse, rather than abandon the siege of Barcelona just when success seemed assured, would sail out and give battle.
Should he do so the earl, however inferior his force, had no doubts as to obtaining victory.

Accompanied only by Jack Stillwell and by Captain Humphrey, who had taken the place of Graham, he embarked on board the little felucca and put to sea.