Ioannes Tzetzes wrote to Leon, the bishop of Klokotinitza, about a rumour which was circulating that Basileios the didaskalos had been appointed metropolitan of Philippopolis. This was extremely unlikely, but nothing like so unlikely as the other part of the rumour, that Ioannes Tzetzes himself would leave Constantinople and follow him to take up a salaried post. He expressed (ironical?) contentment with his independent life, free of ties as well as money