Letter 2031: I have heard reports of difficulties between some of you and the tribune Constantius, who commands you.

Gregory to all the soldiers at Naples. I have heard reports of difficulties between some of you and the tribune Constantius, who commands you. I address you directly because I want there to be no ambiguity about my position: you are to obey the tribune. Military discipline requires that soldiers follow their officers, and this principle does not suspend itself because soldiers disagree with their orders or prefer different leadership. If you have genuine grievances against Constantius — genuine, not merely pretextual — these may be raised through proper channels. But they may not be raised through insubordination. A soldier who refuses to obey his commander is not exercising judgment; he is undermining the structure on which everyone's safety depends. This is as true in a garrison town in the sixth century as it was in the army of the old republic. Obey your tribune. Gregory

AD CUNCTOS MILITES NEAPOLITANOS. De obedientia Constantio tribuno exhibenda, : Gregorius universis militibus Neapolitanis. Summa militie laus inter alia bona merita hec esl, obedientiam $anctz reipublice ' utilitatibus ex- hibere, quodque <ibi utiliter imperatum HY ſuerit, oblemperare ; $icut et nunc devotionem vestram fe- cisse didicimus, quz epistolis nosiris, quibus ma- gnificum virum Constantium tribunum cu<todi#e Civi- tatis deputaviraus preesse, paruit, 6t congruam mi- litaris devotionis obedientiam demon$travit. Unde $cript.s yos presentibus curavimus admonendos, uli predicto viro maghilico tribuno, sicut et ſfecistis, omnem debeatis pro $erenissimorum dominorum ulilitate vel conservanda civitate obedientiam ex- bibere, quatenus quidquid a vobis hactenus bene geslum agnoscitur, per prxsentis temporis vigilantiam ac Sollicitudinem anzmentelis.