they paid fevcrely, as did the whole * country jf Flanders. Affairs at that time were not fo bad as they af-terwards became, nor the great diftrefs pf Flanders at its height, as I lhall hereafter relate. After the defeat of Rafle de Harzelle. and John du Launoy, the earl of Flanders was informed, that Peter du • Bois with an army of Ghent men were in the field, and on their march to that city. The earl halted, and called a council, in which he demanded from his knights whether he fhould not purfue them and offer battle : they replied, that he had done enough that day s that his men were tired, and that it was proper they fiiould have fome reft ; but that he would do well to fend off five or fix hundred men at arms, to obferve their motions, for they might perhaps fix their quarters in fuch a fituation that they could come up • with them at their difiodging. The earl apr proved of this advice, and followed it : thofe who were to be of this detachment were direétly or-dered out, and the lord d'Anghien was appointed to the command. About five hundred lances being mounted, they marched off from Nevele, and followed bye-roads, in order to come up with the Ghent men : they proceeded fo far that they at lafi: faw them defcend a fmall hill : they were in a compaft body, and in good order, marching at a good pace toward Ghent. . The lord d'Anghien and his detachment fol-lowed them, fome time on their flank. Peter du ' Bois • .30?