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from scholars since Augustin Thierry, availing himself of Brial's edition, cited it in the early nineteenth century. 18 To the very excellent Louis, by the grace of God king of the French, Owain, prince of Wales, his very faithful man and friend, [sends] very devoted service with [his] greeting. Although the report of all, most serene king, proclaims you to be conspicuous as one in whom all can and should have complete trust, the clemency known to me by experience, and the kindness towards subjects and those having complete trust in you, make me choose you as the sole adviser to whom in difficulties I may complain loudly of my necessity. For as often as I have informed you about myself and my cares by the writing of letters, you have received not only the letters but their bearers benevolently and treated them kindly. Through the latter you have counselled me, thanks be to God and you, as a pious king should counsel someone having complete trust in him. Now that, therefore, difficulties are all around me at present, I do not wish my kind adviser to be ignorant of the situation. Preceded by no evil deeds of mine, in the past summer the king of England has waged against me the war which, as is known to you, he has planned for many days with the harshness of his tyranny. But when in the conflict the five armies of our side came together, thanks be to God and you, more of his men fell than mine. Having seen this, he wrongfully and harmfully mutilated my hostages, although he had not presented them previously for the keeping of peace. But, because all things are disposed of not by the wishes of man but by the will of God, he moved the army towards England, not through our merits, perhaps, but through the prayers of the humble to the saints, and by the saints' intercession to God; however, he left me uncertain of the outcome to the end, because he arranged neither a peace nor a truce with us. Angered therefore because the result had not turned out as he had hoped, on his departure he ordered the foreigners and all whom he had gathered together to defeat us to come with him against us again after next Easter. On that account I vigorously entreat your clemency that you will inform me through the bearer of this present letter whether you are resolved to wage war against him, so that in that war I may both serve you by harming him according to your advice and take vengeance for the war he waged against me. But if you do not propose this, inform me by this 18 Above, n. 3.