[Footnote 47: Even in the seventh century, the monks were
generally laymen: 'hey wore their hair long and dishevelled,
and shaved their heads when they were ordained priests. The
circular tonsure was sacred and mysterious; it was the crown
of thorns; but it was likewise a royal diadem, and every
priest was a king, &c., (Thomassin, Discipline de l'Eglise,
tom. i. p. 721 - 758, especially p. 737, 738.)]