THE DUKE OF BRITTANY PUTS HIS BROTHER, THE LORD GILES, TO DEATH.—THE GENOESE SEND AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF FRANCE, TO OFFER HIM THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.—THE EVENT.
IN the year 1446, the lord Giles of Brittany was arrested in the castle of Guilledon[137], by order of his brother the duke, who suspected him of intending to favour an invasion of the English on his coasts. This arrest was made by four hundred of the king's lances, under the command of sir Regent de Coetivy admiral of France, sir Regnault de Dresnay bailiff of Sens, and sir Pierre de Brésé seneschal of Poitou. They delivered their prisoner to the duke of Brittany, to do with him as he should please,—and he soon after had him murdered in his prison.
In the month of September, the bishop of Exeter, keeper of the king of England's privy seal, and the lord Dudley[138], waited on the king of France on an embassy, at a house in Touraine called Rassilé, near to Chinon; and on their departure, king Charles sent to his nephew of England master Guillaume Cousinot and Jean Havart, to prolong the truce for a year.
In this year, the families of Doria and Fregoso sent a fleet of five vessels to Marseilles from Genoa with ambassadors, to offer the sovereignty of their country to the king of France, if it were agreeable to him to accept of it. The king dispatched as ambassadors the archbishop of Rheims and others, to examine into the matter, and to proceed accordingly, who went to Marseilles to practice for the reduction of Genoa. At this time, John Fregoso had gained possession of Genoa, Pisa, and other places, in the king's name, having many family-connexions in the first town. He in consequence of a concerted plan, came before Genoa in a single galley, with no more than four hundred men; and on his landing, he raised the king's banner, when he was instantly surrounded by his friends in arms, and marching to the palace, was proclaimed doge of Genoa. Bernabo Adorné fled on his approach, who, a little before, had been raised to the same dignity.
Fregoso had been accompanied by one of the king's esquires, called the bastard of Poitiers, who had assisted him in gaining Genoa, thinking he would restore it to the king; but no sooner had Fregoso succeeded than he put the esquire out of the town. When news of this reached the archbishop of Rheims and the others, they embarked on board a galley at Villa-franca, near Nice, and came to Genoa, where they remonstrated with Fregoso on his treachery, and summoned him to restore the place to the king of France as he and his friends had promised under their hands and seals. Fregoso replied, that as he had conquered the town by his sword, by his sword he would keep it[139]. On hearing this, the archbishop and his companions returned to Marseilles, and thence went to the king at Bourges.
In the month of February following, pope Eugenius died,—and on the 28th instant, Nicholas V. was elected pope[140]