Psellos wrote to Zomas, krites of Opsikion, over the latter's retirement plans. Zomas had a high reputation with Konstantinos IX for competence, which was good in itself, but negative to his plans for early retirement (for health resons) and tonsure. His letter had caused an argument between Psellos and Ioannes the logothetes on the one hand, who wanted to relieve him, and Konstantinos on the other, who decided to keep him as a good manager. Psellos' advice: if death was near he must insist; if not, he should ask again calmly for tonsure - which, in fact, needs long preparation, as Psellos himself knew