He deliberately aimed to reach a readership throughout Italy including laymen, clergymen and other poets. Other superintendents were medical doctors, laymen and members of the clergy. Elizabeth and later Protestant monarchs hanged and mutilated hundreds of Catholic priests and laymen. Newman maintains that English Catholic priests are at least as truthful as English Catholic laymen. Education was available to laymen; it was not restricted to the clergy. Some scholars and interested laymen make concrete language proposals. Along with the Visitandines, priests, religious, and laymen espoused the devotion, particularly the Capuchins. Educators, scientists, and other distinguished laymen favored evolution. Living or deceased, his work was immensely popular among scientists and laymen alike. Public worship was given over to associations of Catholic laymen who controlled access to churches. Magistrates had only an administrative function and were laymen. Common names are used in the writings of both professionals and laymen. A number of prominent educators and laymen agreed with him. Juries were composed primarily of "laymen" from the local community. The imam is elected by a council of prominent laymen or "shaykhs".