To this precaution the safety of their army was entirely owing; for at day-break the duke of Marlborough sent a large detachment of horse and foot, under the lieutenant-generals Bulau and Lumley, to pursue the fugitives; but the hedges and ditches that skirted the road were lined with the French grenadiers in such a manner, that the cavalry could not form, and they were obliged to desist.

The French reached Ghent about eight in the morning, and marching through the city, encamped at Lovendegen on the canal.

There they thought proper to cast up intrenchments, upon which they planted their artillery, which they had left at Gavre with their heavy baggage.

About three thousand were slain on the field of battle; two thousand deserted; and about seven thousand were taken, including a great number of officers, together with ten pieces of cannon, above an hundred standards and colours, and four thousand horses.

The loss of the allies did not amount to two thousand men; nor was one officer of distinction killed on their side during the whole engagement.* * Among the officers who were engaged in this battle, old general d'Auverquerque and the duke of Argyle distinguished themselves by the most extraordinary valour and activity.
After the confederates had rested two days on the field of battle, a detachment was ordered to level the French lines between Ypres and the Lys; another was sent to raise contributions as far as Arras; they ravaged the country, and struck terror even into the city of Paris.
While the allies plundered the province of Picardy, a detachment from the French army, under the chevalier de Rozen, made an irruption into Dutch-Flanders, broke through the lines of Bervilet, which had been left unguarded, and made a descent upon the island of Cadsandt, which they laid under contribution.
THE ALLIES INVEST LISLE.
The generals of the allies now undertook an enterprise, which, in the opinion of the French generals, savoured of rashness and inconsiderate self-sufficiency.