ABSTRACT
In Golden Summa of 1251-52, Hostiensis saw the Trinity reflected in the Church's three orders: layfolk, regular and secular clergy. Clergy in the seven or eight orders were the core of the Church. Around 1300, clerks in major orders were perhaps one in ninety of England's population, parish rectors being rare enough to be like belted knights among the laity. Layfolk under canon law protection performed many duties in cathedrals, parishes and hospitals. Those trained as lawyers or notaries did well. The new bishop's judges or officials, first seen in north France about 1178, were often lay, as were many notaries and judges at the papal court. Another half-lay, half-clerical group consisted of students in parish and monastic schools and universities. The second principal segment of the clergy was the religious. Some canons were regular, and some of these lived in independent houses such as those of the Premonstratensian order.
