which many were killed and wounded : but they paid little attention to this, and being regardlefs of death, they advanced fo boldly that when thofe in the front were flain or difabled, the rear dragged them out, took their places, and kept n handfome countenance. This attack lafted until the evening, when thofe of Oudenardc returned into the town, and fhut the gates and barriers : they then buried their dead, and took great care of their wounded. The Flemings thought they fhould cçrtainly conquer the town by aflault or by famine ; for they well knew they had fo clofely furrounded it by land at?4 water that nothing could enter it § and their remaining before it would not be of any detriment to them, for they were in their own country, and near their own homes. They had alfo every ne-ceffary article for their fupport, with all other things in great abundance and cheaper than they woulcj have had them at Bruges or Ghçnt, The carl of Flanders, being aware of the great number of men at arms that were in the town, fuP-peeled the intentions of the Flemings, that by keep-ing up the blockade, they would in the end ftarve them to a furrender: he would therefore willingly have Kftened to any overture for a negotiation that was honourable for him. To fay the truth, this war agaînft his fubjedls was highly difk^reeable to him, and he had undertaken it contrary to his own opinion. His mother, the lady Margaret countefs of, Artois, blamed him much, and took great pains to put an end to it. The countefs refided in the city of Arras, whence Hie Ï4CF