Houses

Ordinands had to be able to claim self-sufficiency by their own or others’ patrimony, or to be sponsored by an abbey, friary, nunnery, or some other house of religion. The ‘religious’ – monks, friars &c – would naturally be supported by their own institution, but most such houses of religion also sponsored the host of ‘secular’ clergy with whom they had some connection: the budding clerk would often have been educated in their schools, or be from their estates. Some secular clerks gained benefices as vicars, rectors &c., but the majority served as educated men in the various other professions that required a degree of Latinity. Celibacy was not a requirement.