THE degrees of nobility in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland are five, viz. Dukes, Marquesses, Farls, Viscounts, and Barons; to which may perhaps be properly added a sixth, viz. the Archbishops and Bishops, who as spiritual lords are entitled to a seat in the house of peers, and possess for their lives all the faculties and privileges of the peerage.

It is proper to advert to a mode of creation and advancement of peers in use in ancient times, viz. in full parliament; on which occasion it does not appear that any writ was used, but that the person advanced or recently created, after undergoing the usual ceremonies of investiture, had his patent delivered to him, and did homage to the king.

The following instances, amongst many others, of the above mode of creation, appear in the Rolls of Parliament:

The marquess of Juliers, created earl of Cambridge, in full parliament, 14 Edw. III. The lord chancellor notified the king's pleasure to create his son, Lionel, then in Ireland, duke of Clarence to him and his heirs male, his son, John, duke of Lancaster, and Edmund, earl of Cambridge, in fee accordingly. The Commons pray the Lords that the king would create Richard de Bourdeaux, (son of Edward the Black Prince, late Prince of Wales,) Prince of Wales, to which the Lords answer, that he could only be created by the King, 50 Edw. III. Richard, prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall, and earl of Chester, opened the parliament by commission, sitting in the King's own place, the Lord Chancellor, in notifying the causes for calling the parlia ment, said that the King, agreeably to their desire, had created Richard de Bourdeaux, prince of Wales, &c., 1376. Edmund, earl of Cambridge, advanced to the dignity of duke of York, by the king himself in full parliament, by girding him with a sword, putting a crown of gold on his head, and delivering him his patent of creation, 1385. The earl

of Buckingham and Essex advanced to the dignity of duke of Gloucester in the like manner. Upon request of the Commons, sir John Holland, the king's brother, created earl of Huntingdon, in full parliament, in tail male special. John, duke of Lancaster, created duke of Aquitaine for life, in full parliament, and did homage to the king as king of France. Edward, eldest son of the duke of York, created earl of Rutland in full parliament, during the LIFE OF HIS FATHER, 1389. Sir Aubrey de Vere created earl of Oxford to him and his heirs male, in full parliament, and did homage accordingly. 16th Rich. II., John de Beaufort created earl of Somerset, and his heirs male, in full parliament, and did homage, and was placed between the earl marshal and the earl of Warwick. 20 Rich. II., the earl of Derby created duke of Hereford, the earl of Rutland created duke of Albemarle, the earl of Kent created duke of Surrey, the earl of Huntingdon created duke of Exeter, the earl of Nottingham created duke of Norfolk in tail male, Margaret, countess of Norfolk for life, in her absence created duchess of Norfolk, and her patent of creation sent to her, all in full parliament. The earl of Somerset created marquess of Dorset, lord le Despencer created earl of Gloucester, lord Neville created earl of Westmorland, Thomas de Percy created earl of Worcester, William le Scroop created earl of Wiltshire, in tail male, and all in full parliament 21 Rich. II.

Henry, eldest son of the king, created prince of Wales, duke of Cornwall, and earl of Chester, in full parliament, 1 Henry IV.; declaration that the king's eldest son, at the time of his birth, is by placing on his head a circle or coronet, and putting a gold ring on his finger, and placing in his hand a rod of gold, and after kissing his said eldest son, Henry, and giving him a charter, and being so invested was, by his uncle, the duke of York, conducted to his seat in parliament, appointed for the principality. Cotton's

Abr. Records. 1 Hen. IV. p. 391. Duke of Cornwall, Lords' Journals, vol. 6, p. 9, confirmation in full parliament of the grant of the dignity of prince of Wales, and earl of Chester to the king's eldest son; and also of his right to the title of duke of Cornwall from his birth, pursuant to stat. 11 Edw. III., and livery of the duchy to him accordingly.

DUKE, in Latin Dux, à ducendo, signifying the leader of an army, noblemen being anciently either generals and commanders of armies in time of war, or wardens of marches, and governors of provinces in peace. This is now the first rank of the nobility; but it was the 18th of Edward III. 1336, before this dignity was introduced into England, when his eldest son, Edward, commonly called the Black Prince, was created duke of Cornwall. The only ceremony at this investiture was girding him with the sword. When John of Gaunt, son of king Edward III., was created duke of Lancaster by the same monarch, he had investiture, not only by the king's girding him with a sword, but by putting on him a cap of fur, under a coronet of gold set with precious stones. In the 21st of king Richard II., 1397, the duke of Hereford and several others were created by putting a cap of honour on their heads, and by delivering a rod into their hands; then the surcoat, mantle, hood, and patent, were introduced with much ceremony; all of which are at this day omitted. The mantle and surcoat which a duke wears at the coronation of a king or queen is of crimson velvet, lined with white taffeta, and a mantle is doubled from the neck to the elbow with ermine, having four rows of spots on each shoulder; his parliamentary robes are of fine scarlet cloth, lined with taffeta, and doubled with four guards of ermine at equal distances, with gold lace above each guard, and is tied up to the left shoulder by a white riband; his cap is of crimson velvet, lined with ermine, having a gold tassel on the top; and his coronet, which is also of gold, is set round with golden strawberry leaves. He is styled His Grace; and by the king or queen in public instruments, Our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin; and if of the privy council, then with the addition of Counsellor. His general style is the most Noble: all his sons are by courtesy styled Lords, and his daughters Ladies.

This

MARQUESS (Marchio) was first styled so from the government of marches or frontier provinces, by the Saxons, Markin Reeve, and by the Germans, Markgrave. title, which has the next place of honour to that of a duke, was introduced several years subsequent to the establishment of that dignity in England; and the first on whom that honour was conferred was the great favourite of King Richard II., Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, who was created marquess of Dublin, and by him placed in parliament between the dukes and earls. The creation to this dignity was with nearly the same ceremony as that of a duke; but they are now created by patent under the great seal without any additional ceremony. His coronation robes are of crimson velvet lined with taffeta, and have four guards of ermine on the right side, and three on the left, set at equal distances, with gold lace above each guard, and tied up to the left shoulder by a white riband; his cap is of crimson velvet, lined with ermine, having a gold tassel at top; his coronet is of gold, and has pearls and golden strawberry leaves mixed

alternately round, of nearly equal height. His general style is, Most Honourable; and he is styled by the king or queen, Our right Trusty and entirely Beloved Cousin. His sons, by courtesy, are styled Lords, and his daughters, Ladies.

EARL, anciently called Comes, being in the habit comitari regem, to wait on the king for counsel and advice. The Germans call them Graves, as Landgrave, Margrave, Palsgrave, and Rheingrave. This honour, which was derived from the Saxon, was of great dignity and power, and for many ages continued the highest rank in England, till king Edward III. created dukes and marquesses, both of whom had precedency assigned above earls. They had anciently, for the support of their state, the third penny out of the sheriff's court, issuing out of the pleas of the shire from whence they assumed their title; as in ancient times, there was no count or earl but had a county or shire for his earldom; subsequently the number of earls increasing, they have frequently taken their titles from some eminent town or village, or even from their own seat or park, and some from illustrious families, as Poulet, Cholmondeley, Ferrars, Waldegrave, Stanhope, Ashburnham, &c.; nor were titles confined to England alone, as some were taken from the kingdom of France, as Albemarle and Tankerville. Upon the increase of earls their revenues ceased, and their powers were much abridged, and it became the custom of the monarchs of England to assign some stated pension to the person whom he ennobled, for the better support of his dignity, and it was commonly done in the following proportion: viscounts, a fee of 20 marks; earls, of 201.; marquesses, 40 marks; and dukes, of 401., out of some particular part of the royal revenue. A creation fee to barons was not settled; but Charles I., when he created Mountjoy Blount, lord Mountjoy, of Thurodston, co. Derby, assigned to him and his issue male a creation fee of 20 marks per annum. Anciently an earl was created with nearly the same ceremony as a duke or marquess, but they now receive merely letters patent. His coronation robe is the same as a duke's or marquess's, except that he has only three guards of ermine and gold lace; his cap is the same as theirs. It is uncertain when the coronets of dukes, marquesses, and earls were settled. Sir Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, viscount Cranbourne, was the first of that degree who wore a coronet. An earl's coronet has pearls raised upon points, and strawberry leaves low between them. His style is Right Honourable, and he is addressed by the king or queen, Our right trusty and right well Beloved Cousin. His sons, by courtesy, are styled Honourable, and his daughters, Ladies.

VISCOUNT (Vicecomes) was anciently the name of him who held the chief office under an earl, who, being oftentimes at court, was his deputy to look after the affairs of the country; but in the reign of Henry VI., 1439, it became a degree of honour, and was made hereditary. The first viscount in England, created by patent, was John, lord Beaumont, who was by the above monarch created viscount Beaumont, and he gave him precedence above all barons. His coronation robes are the same as an earl's, with the exception that he has only two rows of plain white fur on his parliamentary robes; his cap is the same, and the golden circle of his coronet is surmounted by fourteen pearls. His style is Right Honourable, and he is addressed by the king or queen, Our right

Trusty and well Beloved Cousin. His sons and daughters, by courtesy, are styled Honourable.

BISHOPS. The precedence of bishops was settled by stat. 31 Henry VIII., 1539, chap. X., to be next to the viscounts. They have the style of Lords, and Right Reverend Fathers in God. Previous to the Saxons coming into England, there were in that kingdom three archbishoprics, viz. London, York, and Caerleon-upon-Usk, each of which had many suffragans; but soon after St. Augustine's arrival in England, he, from the great kindness he received from the king of Kent, settled the metropolitan see at Canterbury, where it has continued to the present time. York continued archiepiscopal, but London and Caerleon lost that dignity. The latter was situated too near the Saxons to be much at ease; so that one of its bishops removed the see to St. David's, in South Wales. The archbishop of Canterbury is the first peer in Great Britain next to the blood royal ;the lord high chancellor is the next; and the archbishop of York is the third; they take precedence of all dukes, and have the title of Your Grace given them. The archbishop of Canterbury styles himself, By Divine Providence: but the archbishop of York, and the other bishops, By Divine Permission. The bishops of London, Durham, and Winchester, have precedence of all the other bishops; the others ranking according to the seniority of their consecration.

BARON. This dignity is either by writ or patent: in the former case descendible to heirs general; in the latter, according to the limitations of the patent. It is extremely ancient; and its original name in England was, Vavassour, which by the Saxons was changed into Thane, and by the Normans into Baron. Many of this rank are named in the history of England, and undoubtedly had assisted, or been summoned to parliament; but from the deficiency of public records, it has so happened that the first precept to be found bears no higher date than the 49th Henry III., 1264, which, although it was issued out in the king's name, yet was neither by his authority nor by his direction; for not only the king himself, but his son, prince Edward, and most of the nobility who continued loyal to the monarch, were then prisoners in the hands of the rebellious barons; having been so made in the month of May preceding, at the battle of Lewes, and so continued until the memorable battle of Evesham, which took place in August, in the subsequent year, when by the fortunate escape of prince Edward, he rescued the king and his adherents out of the hands of Simon Montfort, earl of Leicester. It cannot be doubted but that several parliaments were held by king Henry III., and by king Edward I., yet no record has been handed down to us by which we are enabled to ascertain this circumstance, (except the 5th Edward I. 1276,) until the

22d year of this last-mentioned sovereign, anno 1293. Some of the barons were summoned but once. When a baron is called up to the house of peers by writ of summons, the writ is in the king's name, and usually runs in these terms: "Whereas, by reason of certain arduous and urgent af fairs concerning us, the state and defence of our kingdom of Great Britain and the church, we strictly enjoin you, under the faith and allegiance by which you are bound to us, that the weightiness of the said affairs, and eminent perils considered, (waiving all excuses,) you be at the said day and place personally present with us, and with the said prelates, great men, and peers, personally present at our parliament, Westminster, (or elsewhere,) with us, and the prelates, nobles, and peers of our kingdom, to treat of the said affairs, and to give your advice; and this you may in no wise omit, as you tender us and our honour, and the safety and defence of our said kingdom and church, and the despatch of the said af fairs." The ceremony of the admission of a baron, as well of all other orders of the temporal peerage, into the house of peers, is thus: He is brought into the house between two peers of his own rank, who conduct him up to the lord chancellor; his patent and writ of summons being carried by Garter king of arms, who presents it to the lord chancellor, who directs the same to be read; which being done, the oaths are adminis tered, and the peer takes his seat, from which he again rises and returns to the chancellor, who congratulates him on becoming a member of the house of peers, or on his elevation, as the case may be. The first who was advanced to the dignity of baron, by patent, was John de Beauchamp, of Holt Castle, created baron of Kidderminster, co. Worcester, to him and the heirs male of his body, by Richard II. 1387. He invested him with a mantle and cap. The robes of a baron have but two guards of white fur, with as many rows of gold lace; in other respects they are the same with those of other peers. King Charles II. granted a coronet to the barons, who till his reign wore only a plain circle of gold; it has now four pearls set at equal distances on the circle. His style is Right Honourable, and he is styled by the king or queen, Right Trusty and well Beloved. His sons and daughters, by courtesy, are styled Honourable.

SCOTS AND IRISH PEERS.

Scots Peers take precedence of British Peers of the same rank, created since the Union with Scotland; and Irish Peers created before the Union with Ireland, in like manner, take place of British Peers created since. Irish Peers of later creation than the Union, rank, according to the dates of their patent, among the Peers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.