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[snip] orderic vitalis mentions a certain physician (forgot his name) who was a canon of Chartres, and who also happened to be married and was not, apparently, a cleric of any kind. We need to be clear about our terms here (with due respect, Christopher). The physician may not have been a "cleric" in the modern sense but if he was a University-trained physician (as opposed to a barber-surgeon) then he was definitely "Clericus" in the Neck-Verse, benefit-of-the-Clergy sense. As I understand it, the post-Gregorian position was that a Canon could be in Minor as opposed to Major Orders; a man in Minor Orders MIGHT marry BUT if a Canon married he was expected to forfeit his prebend. Possibly where such a canon had family influence his matrimonial status might be overlooked ..... BMC