CHAP, LVIII. THE EARL OF HAINAULT ATTACKS THE FORTRESS OF MORTAGNE IN VARIOUS MANNERS. •JTHE king of France was much rejoiced at the arrival of fir Robert de Bailleul, and his defeat of the Hainaulters, v ' . Shortly afterwards, the earl of Hainault, fir John his uncle, the fenefchal of Hainault, with full fix hundred lances, Hainaulters and Germans, fet out from the fiege before Tournay, The earl had fent orders for thofe of Valenciennes to take another rout, and place themfelyes between the Scarpe and the Scheld, to attack the town of Mortagne. They came there in a large body, and brought with them piany engines, to throw things into the place. . I have before told how the lord of Beaujcu had been fent thither as govenor; He had expe&ed an attack, from the fituation of Mortagne upon the Scheld, and bordering upon Hainault, and had driven upwards of twelve hundred piles into the bed of the river, to prevent its navigation. It was not long before the earl, and his HainailUers, arrived on one fide of the town, and the Valenciennois on the other : they made preparations fpr an immediate attack. The Valenciennois ordered their crofs-bowmen to ihoot, and advance to thç barriers j but they were unable to do fo, for the wide and deep trenches which had been made before them. They then bethought themfelves to crofs theSc&rpe, at any rate, below chateau TAbbaie, and