were following, the lord of Brefne, attacked them, and killed a great many. The combat -continued obftinate before the cathe- dral^and many were, killed and wounded. Among thefirft were the vidame and two of his fons : nor did any knight or efquire efcape death or being madç prifoner, but thofe who had followed the lord of Brefne. Upwards of two thoufand men were taken in the town, which was pillaged of all the riches it con-, tained; many waggons and carts were laden with it, and fent to Chimay. The town was afterwards burnt to the ground ; and the Hainaulters took up their quarters on the river fide. After the deftru&ion of Aubenton, they marched toward Maubert-Fontaine, which they took on their arrival, for it was defenceleis, and then pillaged and burnt it. They did the fame to Aubencheul aux Bois, toSigny l'Abbaye, Signy le.Petit, and all the villages thereabouts, amounting to upwards of forty. The earl of Hainault, * after this, retired towards Mons, where he difmified all his bands, after returning then\ thanks in fo gracious a manner for their aflSftance, that they all left him well pleafed. He then "formed the defign of paifing over to England to amufe himielf, and at the fame time form a ftrift alliance with the king; his brother-in-law, in order to $rengthen himfelf; as he naturally imagined, that what he had done would not be taken quietly, but that the kin& of France, his uncle, would make foiiie incurfions into his country ; for which re^fon he was anxious to have the fupport of the £ngli(h, ^Vj&» I. Ν the