and the Germans led the van, the king of England the centre, and the duke of Brabant the rear : they advanced not more than three or four leagues a day, halting, early, but burning and pillaging a^T the country they paffed through. A troop of Engliih and Germans crofled the river Sommç, a little below the abbey of Vermans, to which they did much damage ; another troopj, under the command of fir John of Hainault, and the lords of Fauquemont and Bacqueghen, wextf by a different road, and dame to Origny St. Benoîte *, a tolerably good town, but weakly enclofed ; fo that it was foon taken by affault, robbed, and pillaged, an abbey of nuns violated, and the whole town burnt. They then marched forward towards Guife and Ribemont. The king of England came and lodged at Vehories where he remained a whole day, whilil his .people overran all the country thereabouts, and Jaid it wafte. The king then took his road to la Flamengrie, in his way to TEfchelle, in Tierache : the marihals, with the biihop of Lincoln, accompanied by upwards of five hundred lances, crofled the river Trifagee, entered the Laonnois, near the reflate of the lord of Coucy, and burnt St. Gouvin and the town of Marie. They lay one night at VjMi, below Laon, and the next day returned to the main army, as they had learnt from fome of their prifoners that king Philip of France was come * A finali town in Picardy, three leagues from St - Quentin. L 4 to