amounted - to near .twenty thoufand men, being four times the number of their enemies.. The Ghent men, unable to withftand therh, were thrown into diforder, and retreated into the town. Upon this, the knights and fquires advanced, and, break-ing their ranks, put them in confufion, and killed them in heaps. , The men of Ghe^t retired to-warQs the chuijch of Nevele, which was ftrong j ^n^., . î[uving collected tjhejnfejves there* a hard om\ù enfued, And grept (laughter was made of them.. John de Launçy, like one diftrafted, rulhed in|p the chiiççh^ and ported himfclf, and as many men as he could, in the large tower of the fteepïe* ' Raffe de Harzelle remained behind, and, with his rrçen, performed many valorous dçeds at the door: of the church ; but at laft he was overpowered, J»d pierced with a fpear, which inftantly killed hi/n. 1 Thus ended Rafle de Harzelle, who had been a great commander of the Ghent men againft the earl : he was much beloved by his townfmen for his good fenfe and prowefs j but this was his re-compenfe at laft for all his valour. When the earl of Flanders arrived at the fquarc before the church, and faw that the Ghent men had retreated into it, lie ordered the church to be fet on fire : his order was obeyed, and a fire was kindled with great quantities of ftraw and fag-gots, which they placed all round the church. The flames foon afcended to the roof, when the Ghent men periflied miferably ; for they were fure of being, burnt if they ftaid in the church, and if \ they • " . SOS