Letter 7024: Anyone who holds the military rank of princeps [chief of staff] is adorned with a great prerogative among his...

Anyone who holds the military rank of princeps [chief of staff] is adorned with a great prerogative among his colleagues. He is recognized as holding the primary position, since in human affairs a large part of a title's significance asserts the excellence of the office. This is proven by your own example: without you, neither access to the governor's private chambers is granted nor the ceremony of petitions conducted, and the entire operation of the judge's court is so legally entrusted to you that without you it cannot function properly. The comes [governor] holds the power, but the judge himself is committed to your care. You hold the rod [of discipline] that threatens the disorderly. You guard the rules amid the proceedings. You have the right to restrain the insolence of advocates, which the presiding judge himself may not directly punish. The official records of every proceeding are completed with your signature, and your consent is required even after the judge's decision has been announced. See to it that you, who are placed over such responsibilities, are deemed to have fulfilled them worthily. Therefore, for the designated indiction we order you to proceed to the designated province, to serve alongside the judge's office and carry out what your position requires. You who leave us as princeps should not be accused of any baseness -- you make yourself reverend to all if what your title promises is also felt in your conduct.

XXIIII. FORMULA PRINCIPIS DALMATIARUM. [1] Magna inter collegas suos praerogativa decoratur, quisquis gerit militiam nomine principatus. cognoscitur enim locum agere primarium: quando in rebus humanis magna pars nominum asserit excellentiam dignitatum. hoc etiam tui loci probatur exemplo, sine quo nec secretarii praestatur accessus nec postulationis pompa peragitur, totusque ille iudicis genius ita tibi legibus probatur creditus, ut sine te nequeat esse perfectus. [2] Comiti quidem provinciarum potestas data est, sed tibi iudex ipse commissus est. tu vitem tenes improbis minantem: tu disciplinam inter iura custodis: tibi insolentiam perorantis fas est distringere, quam praesuli non licet vindicare: gesta quin etiam totius actus te subscribente complentur et consensus tuus quaeritur, postquam voluntas iudicis explicatur. age, ut qui talibus praeponeris, ea implesse merito sentiaris. [3] Itaque per indictionem illam ad illam te provinciam iubemus excurrere, ut mixtus iudicis officio competentia loco tuo peragas et qui princeps a nobis egrederis, nullis vilitatibus accuseris. reverentissimum enim te omnibus facis, si quod de nomine tuo creditur, et in moribus sentiatur.