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Page 174
allied himself, Llewelyn wished to be sure that Richard was really committed to this war and would not yield at the first offer of compromise. Now Simon was not at all sure that this was true. Richard's distress over the broken vow of fealty was very great. Simon understood; he would have felt the same and could only be grateful that his homage had been given to Llewelyn, so he had no vows to break.
This, however, made very strong the possibility that Richard would compound with the king. Undoubtedly the earl was an honorable man and would not make any truce in which Llewelyn was not included once Llewelyn was his ally. But this was not sufficient. Llewelyn did desire the overthrow of ministers who fed Henry ideas of grandeur and absolutism, because such ideas might engulf Wales, but his nation was too poor to engage in a war that would bring no real profit and might bring a massive and disastrous retaliation. Simon was sure that the Bishop of Winchester was every bit as skillful as any Welsh princeling at finding "honorable" reasons why a truce should not be kept. Unless Richard was ready to fight until Winchester was dismissed from office, Llewelyn could not afford any formal alliance. It was thus imperative that Simon stay in Usk until Henry made his move and Richard responded to it.
Two days later Simon's doubt of Richard's willingness to fight was confirmed. Word was brought to Pembroke that King Henry and his army had paused in an open valley some three miles north of Usk. Plainly they were inviting attack. Philip Bassett, a keen soldier who knew the area and was very hot against the king because of his brother Gilbert's injuries, pointed out that there were several approaches to that valley. He was sure the King's men did not know all of them, and Richard would have an advantage in both attack and, if necessary, retreat, despite the fact that he had fewer men.

 
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