On Thursday 19 November the army took advantage of fine weather to rest for the first time since leaving Narbonne. They now had no major obstacles between them and a return to friendly territory, and the march would regain a more measured pace interspersed with days of rest again. They lodged in Carbonne, with the prince, as was his habit, remaining outside. As they rested in welcome fine weather and contemplated the days ahead they must have wondered why yet again Armagnac had not taken the opportunity to oppose the crossings of the Garonne, particularly as scouts would have brought them news that the French army was gathering nearby. Indeed, sometime before midnight news came to the prince that Armagnac, the constable, Marshal Clermont, and the prince of Orange had come out from Toulouse and were camped about six miles from the Anglo-Gascon rearguard. It also seems from the prince's account to the bishop of Winchester that there may have been skirmishing at this stage, since he reports that the French ‘lost some of their men and wagons at their camping’.

On the Friday morning the prince's army moved out from camp and was drawn up in battle order to face the French army organised in five large divisions. Baker tells us that the army was drawn up about a mile away, the Anglo-Gascon rearguard, which had initially remained at Noé, having now presumably moved closer to Carbonne. However, it is not clear whether he means a mile away from their camp or from the French position.