Here begynneth the first volum of sir Iohan Froyssart of the cronycles of Englande, Fraunce, Spayne, Portyngale, Scotlande, Bretayne, Flau[n]ders: and other places adioynynge. Tra[n]slated out of frenche into our maternall englysshe tonge, by Iohan Bourchier knight lorde Berners: at the co[m]maundement of oure moost highe redouted souerayne lorde kyng Henry the. viii. kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, [and] highe defender of the christen faythe. [et]c.

¶ Of the scrimysshe that the barrois of Barres and Almery of Clyssone made on Christmasse euyn / agaynst the englysshmen beyng at Nauntes. Cap CCC .lxxi. (Book 371)

THe monday before the ••y∣gyll of Christmas / there ys∣sued out of Nauntes in the euenyng at the gate of Sa∣uetout•• sir Barrois of Bar∣res and the lorde of Solette with sixscore men of armes. They came and dasshed in to the erle of Buc∣kynghams lodgynge / and the same nyght the erle of Domestre kept the wathe. There was a great scrimysshe and many a mā ouerthrowen but the englysshmen were byggerr thanne the frenchmen / wherfore they were driuen backe in to their baryers / and in at the gate byforce. and ther were slayne and taken of them about .xvi. and there was slayne an englysshe knight / cal∣led sir Hughe Tytiell / he was stryken through his bassenet / wherof he dyed. Than euery man drewe to their lodgynges / and no more done y^t nyght. Than all the frenchmen determyned a∣gayne to make a scrimysshe on christmas night withall their power / and so kept their en••prise secrete. Therle of Buckyngham and the other englysshmen were awaked often tymes by the bretons & frenchmen beyng w^tin Naūtes. and also the foragers in the feldes had great payne / in serchyng for vitayle and forage for their hor∣ses / and durst nat ryde out but in great compa∣nyes. Therle and his company had great mar¦ueyle of the duke of Bretayne who cāe nat / nor herde no maner of ridynges fro him / wher with they were nat content for they foūde euer worse and worse / and feble couynaunt kepte by hym / and wyst nat to whome to complayne / nor who shulde do them right. And so they determyned that about Christenmas to sende agayne to the duke / sir Thomas Tryuet / sir Robert Canoll / and sir Thomas Percy to Uannes or to Hany¦bout / and they to shewe to the duke fro the erle that he dothe yuell his deuoyre / that he hath nat acquyted him selfe otherwyse thā he hath done agaynst them. Howbeit this apoyntment was broken / and they sayd among them. all thyng{is} consydered and ymagined / they thought they might nat ••eblysshe their hoost nor siege / nor y^t they coude nat go to the duke without they wēt all toguyder / for if they went a fyue or sixe hun∣dred speres togyder / and happe to mete a thou∣sande / it shulde be for them but an yuell matche and for that dout they wolde nat depart fro the hoost / but kept them selfe toguyder.

ANd on Christmas euyn at night y^e bar∣rois of Barres / sir Almary of Clysson /

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〈…〉〈…〉orde Damb〈…〉〈…〉 / the lorde Destolet / the cha¦〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Clysson John̄ of Castelmorant / and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈…〉〈…〉ns within Naūtes / issued at the 〈…〉〈…〉te sayut ••e••t / in gret desyre to trouble their 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ and had in their company a .vi. hun∣dred men of armes. and whan they were with∣out the gate in two partes the one toke the way by the strete / and the other through the feldes / and let on the lodgynge of the lorde Latymer / and of the lord Fitzwater who kept the watche the same nyght / and sir Wylliam Renton. And at their first comyng they wan the bayles of the watche / and droue them backe with great force to the constables lodgynge the lorde Latymer. And ther taryed before the lorde of Uertaynes lodgyng and there was a great skrymishe and a great assaute / for the frenchmen had determy¦ned to haue taken him / and so he was in agreat daūger of takynge. So they of the watche had moche a do or any socour came to thē. Sir you Fitz waren the lorde of Uertayne / and sir Ny∣cholas Trayton / dyd there many a great feat of armes. Than the constable and marshall en¦for••ed themselfe to come thider and sowned the trumpettes and so armed them. Sir Wylliam 〈…〉〈…〉or•••• / and sir Hugh Caurell harde y^e noyse of the trompettes / and knewe that the voward had a sory. Than they sowned trumpettes and made great baners and lyghtes / and displayed their baners / and came thyder with a hundred men of armes and as many archers. Also sir Thomas Triuet / sir Thomas Percy / and the lorde Basset / euery man vnder his owne stan∣derd came to the scrymisshe. y^• same tyme they of the vowarde had great nede of ayde / for they were lykely to haue loste their lodgynges / but whan these lordes & knightes were come / than the frenchmen reculed backe all to gyder right sagely & so drewe a backe towardes the towne skrimysshyng. There was done many a noble dede of armes and some of the frenche knygh∣tes aduentured them selfe to auaunce their re∣nowme / and for their ladyes sake / soo that sir Tristram de la ••aylle was taken prisoner / by his folyshe hasty enterprise / by a squire of Hay¦nalte / called Thierry of Sommayne.

UHus contynued this scrymisshe / and so the moost parte of the frenchmen entred in to Nauntes / howe beit in suche dedes of ar∣mes euer some be slayne / hurt or taken. yet they retourned with no great domage / for they had as many prisoners / as the englisshmen hadde of theirs / and so went to their lodgynges. And whan the gate was cllosed / thā they caused these hurte men to be dressed / in likewyse they of the hoost drewe to their lodgynges. yet they brake nat their watch / but rather made stronger wat¦che than they dyd before. on Cristmas day nor all the feestes after there was nothynge doone / howe beit the englysshmen euery nyght loked to be waked with scryes / yet y^e thyng that most touched thē / was that they coude here no tydin ges of the duke of Bretayne / and their vitayls and forages were soo scant / that it was moche payne to gette any. Howe be it they within the towne hadd ynough / for it came to them by the tyuer of Loyre / oute of the good countreys of Poictou / Xaynton / and Rochell.