Even in the seventh century, the monks were generally laymen: they 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, etc., (Thomassin, Discipline de l'Eglise , tom. i. p. 721 - 758, especially p. 737, 738).