Psellos wrote to a suppliant detailing successes in a campaign on his behalf. The other might think Psellos lax in helping him, but eyewitnesses disagreed, as a monk who was friend to both of them would write. As a result, Konstantinos IX was increasingly favourable, Ioannes the logothetes was his supporter and other courtiers joined in his praise. Psellos did not cause changes of heart at court, he just made the contacts. But he needed to hear more from the suppliant - not better letters, just more - and it was no excuse that he lacked skill in philosophy or rhetoric