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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2024
When King Enrique saw this letter, he received the herald well and gave him lengths of cloth of gold and doblas. He took advice as to how he should reply to the prince, because some were saying that, as he had not addressed him as a king, he should write back to him in an uncustomary manner. But they then agreed to write to him courteously, and the letter read as follows:
Don Enrique, by the grace of God King of Castile and León, to the most high and most powerful Prince Edward, first-born son of the King of England, Prince of Wales and of Guyenne, Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester. From your herald we have received your letter containing many arguments put forward by our opponent who is there with you. It seems to us that you have not been well informed, because in times past he governed these kingdoms in such a manner that all those who know or hear about it are amazed at the length of time people suffered under his rule. All the inhabitants of the realms of Castile and León have endured his actions till now, undergoing great harm, travail, deaths, dangers and other afflictions which it would take long to relate and which they have become incapable of concealing or tolerating any further. God by His mercy took pity on all the inhabitants of these kingdoms, so that this great evil should not continue. While nobody on King Pedro's land did anything but duly obey him, and when everybody was with him in Burgos to serve him and to help him to defend his kingdoms, God's verdict went against him, King Pedro of his own free will abandoned them and left. Everybody under his rule was delighted at this, maintaining that God had shown great mercy in freeing them from the harsh and perilous domination that they had undergone.
All the inhabitants of these kingdoms, prelates, nobles, knights and citizens, came to us of their own free will and accepted us as their lord and king, so that we understand from these events that this was the work of God. Therefore, as this kingdom was given to us by the will of God and of all who dwell therein, you cannot have any reason to trouble us.
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