pierce them through with their fpears. They retreated, and falling back on each other, were followed by the French, who paarched through them or around them, always attacking the thick-est bodies, ^hey no more fpared killing them than if they had been fo many dogs; and they were in the right, for, had the Flemings conquer-ed, they would have ferved them the fame. The Flemings, finding themfelves thus driveii back,and that the men at arms had won the caufe-way and bridge, counfelled together, to fet fire to the town, in hopes it would caufe the French to retreat, or enable them to collect their people. This \yas executed, and fire fet to feveral houfes, which were inftantly in flames ; but they were difappointed in thinking by this to frighten the French, for they purfued them as valiantly as before, fighting and flaying them on the ground, Or in the houfes whither they had retreated. Upon this the Flemings made for the open plain, where they collected in a body. They fent to Vertain, Poperingue, Bergues, Rollers, Mefieres, Warneton and the other neighbouring towns, to urge them to come to their aflistance at Commines. Thofe who fled, and the inhabitants of the villages near Commines, began to fet their bells a-ringing, which clearly ftxewed there was an engagement going forward. Some of them, however, began to flacken, and others to occupy themfelves in faving what they could of their goods, and to carry them to Ypres or Courtray. Women and children ran thither, leaving their houfes full of furniture, cat- 190