26 nOGEK OF WENDOVEU. [A.D. 1173. lages, and slaying both men, women, and children, carried off an incalculable booty. To repel the invader, the Knglisli nobles assembled together, and forcing William to retire, followed him into Lothian, and devastating the whole of that country with fire and sword, made spoil of all they found in the fields, and at last, at the instance of the Scottish king himself, they made a truce until the feast of Hilary, and returned victorious to England. How the earl of I^ciccster and thr count tf Flanders vere taken and imprisoned. When Robert earl of Leicester heard what had happened to his city, he was filled with grief, and crossing through Flanders with his wife on his way to England, assembled there a large number of Normans and Flemings, both horse and foot, and setting sail, landed at Walton in Suffolk on the 29th of September, lie immediately laid siege to the castle, but without success, and marching thence on the 13th of October, assaulted and burned the castle of Ilagenet, where he captured thirty knights, and compelled them to pay ransom. He then returned to Fvemingham ; but as his sojourn gave umbrage to Hugh Bigod lord of the castle, he turned his thoughts towards Leicester, and marched in that direction. On his way he endeavoured to surprise St. Edmundbury, but was prevented by the king's army that was stationed to guard that part of the country. The earl, therefore, surrounded by a strong force, and having with him three thousand Flemings, in whom he placed especial confidence, determined to risk a battle. The engagement began accordingly, and after various vicissitudes, the earl, his countess, with all the Flemings, Normans, and French, were taken prisoners. This happened on the 16th of October. The countess had on her finger a beautiful ring, which she flung into the neighbouring river, rather than suffer the enemy to make such gain by capturing her. At length the greater part of the Flemings were slain, others of them were drowned, and the remainder made prisoners. How ktng Henry tottk prisoners many of his enemies. Whilst king Henry the father was stopping in Normandy, it was told him that his own troops with the men of Brabant