Letter 12026

From: Pope Gregory I To: Maurentius, Master of Soldiers Date: ~602 AD Context: Gregory asks Maurentius not to dismiss others from service while retaining only the son of Domitius I must raise with you a matter of fairness in your military dispositions. I have heard that when you make personnel decisions, you have been retaining the son of Domitius while dismissing others who have served equally well. Whatever personal regard you have for Domitius's family, you must not allow it to produce unjust outcomes for others. Treat all those under your command with the same standard, and do not make exceptions that others will rightly regard as unfair. The respect of those under your command depends in part on their trust that your decisions are made on merit.

AD MAURENTIUM MAGISTRUM MILITUM. Ne dimissis aliis, Domitii filium retineat. Gregorius Maurentio magistro militum. | Petiit Domitius vir magniſicus, ut vestre gloriz 8cribere deberemus, quatenus, navigantibus aliis, et ſilio $uo similiter esset licentia navigandi. Et quam- vis de gloria vestra certi sumus quia nihil quod indi- scretum est ſaciat, sed omnia $apienter intendat; hortamur tamen ut 8i alii relaxantur, ille non debeat retineri, ne forsitan non ex ratione, ® sed sola fra- trum inimicitia relineri videatur. Vos tamen qui presentes eslis, 2quitatis consideratione generalem etiam utilitatem attendentes, melius quid expediat potestis advertere.