Psellos wrote to five friends in central Anatolia, most of them with with the army of Romanos IV, asking them to reconcile his friend the bishop of Gordiason with the bishop of Matiane. The first, a krites, was responsible for introducing Psellos to the bishop. Neither the latter nor Psellos blamed the krites for the dispute. Both sought a compromise, which Psellos would arbitrate. Psellos welcomed the krites' gift, though no lover of food. The second was Aristenos, whose claims of friendship (Psellos said) brought no letters, though Psellos asked travellers for messages from him. Yet if Aristenos freed the bishop of Gordiason from his problems and then wrote, Psellos' frowns would disappear. The third was the epi ton deeseon, who was going where Psellos could not trap him, just chase him with letters. He was asked for aid for Psellos' friend the bishop, who needed it. The letter ended with a verbal game over willingness and ability to help. The fourth was Basileios, the epi tou kanikleiou, who (Psellos feared) might change, living brilliantly near Romanos IV. He did not write, and Psellos had no access to Romanos till disfavour ceased. To win Psellos' undying affection, Basileios was to reconcile the two bishops. The fifth was Eustratios Choirosphaktes, who would (Psellos knew) lamely excuse his failure to write by claiming to prefer speech. He should write simply to Psellos, who loved simple letters. Psellos' friend the bishop of Gordiason was under attack by the bishop of Matiane; Eustratios should reconcile them