A.D. 1197. TRUCE BET-WEEN KINGS OP PRANCE AND ENGLAND. 403 counsellor of your master's frenzy, but also an accomplice as foolish as insolent ; you sought and you have found ; you struck, and struck again, you have been levelled with the ground ; into the pit which you have made you have deservedly fallen ; where you have been found, there you have been judged- accordingly. According as we understand from the tenor of your letters directed to us, imputing to us the excesses of your country, you strive to throw the fault upon us, asserting that we are luke-warm and dissemblers. "What now, is to be the consequence if the sheep turn upon the shepherd, if the son rises against the father ? There will not be a shepherd who will not have cause to repent that he fed the sheep, not a father who will not regret that he brought up his son. "Wherefore it is a hurtful weapon for a man, to soften down malignant craftiness under the guise of simplicity. Still, we have addressed letters of entreaty to the king of England in your behalf; for after examining most thoroughly the circumstances of your captivity, we cannot and ought not in such a case to command, but only to entreat. The conqueror then must be overcome by the resources of wisdom, for it is written, ' "Wisdom excels folly.'6 1 Eor which reason it is that we entreat in your behalf not importunately, but opportunely. Eor an importunate urging of entreaty is a proof of distrust, and patient waiting gains its object more easily than importunate demands extort the same. But in the meantime, consigned to chains and lamentations, do you resignedly and patiently endure those chains, according to the words of the poet, 1 Whatever you endure deservedly, you must bear resignedly ; the punishment that comes undeservedly, comes as a cause for grief;'6 3 and that deservedly requires to be expiated with lamentations, which the belly has gained at the expense of its shame. Given, &c." In the same year died William, bishop of Poitiers, and, although his life had seemed to,men very reprehensible, still after his death he was distinguished by miracles. In the same year, Philip, king of Prance, and Bichard, king of England, agreed upon a truce for one year from the feast of Saint Hilary, intending once more to make between them a peace and final 6 1 Ecoles, it 13. 6 2 A quotation from Ovid :— " Leniter ex merito quicquid patiare, ferendum est : Qua; venit indigne poena dolenda venit." D D 2