He worked day and night in superintending the works of defense, and in placing the troops in readiness for the expected assault.

Philip and many of his officers were still in favor of an attack upon the city; but Tesse as usual was opposed to anything like vigorous measures, and his views were adopted by a council of war.
At one o'clock on the morning of the 11th of May the besiegers broke up their camp, and in great confusion made their way toward the French frontier, for Tesse preferred even the ignominy of falling back into France with his unsuccessful and dispirited army to retracing his steps toward Saragossa, where his devastations and cruelty had caused the whole population to rise in insurrection as soon as his army had passed into Catalonia.

Besides which, he had received news that Peterborough had caused every pass and town on his way to the west to be fortified and held by the Miquelets.

Philip accompanied the retreating army to Roussillon.

The downfall of his hopes had been utter and complete.