Canterbury, the Bishop of Durham, as Earl of Sedburg; and the Bishop of Winchester, as prelate of the order of the Garter.

All bishops (as spiritual barons) are said to be three ways barons of the realm, viz. by writ, patent, and consecration; they precede all under the degree of viscounts, having always their seat on the sovereign's right hand in the parliament-house; and being the fathers and guardians of the church, they are styled fathers in God.

As the two archbishops are called most reverend, and have the title of grace, so the inferior bishops are called right reverend, and have the title of lordship given them.

A bishop's robe, in parliament, is of fine scarlet cloth, having a long train, and is doubled on the shoulders with miniver, edged with white ermine, as is the bosom; and when he goes to the House of Lords (the sovereign being there), his train is supported by four chaplains to the door of the house; after which, by a red riband fixed to the end of the train and tied in a loop, he supports it himself, the loop being put over his right wrist; and in that form he takes his seat, having a four-square cap on his head.

BARONS.

A temporal baron is an hereditary dignity of nobility and honour next to a bishop; and of this degree there are two sorts in England, viz. a baron by writ, and a baron by patent.

A baron by writ is he unto whom a writ of summons in the name of the sovereign is directed, without a patent of creation, to come to the parliament, appointed

to be holden at a certain time and place, and there to treat and advise with his sovereign, the prelates, and nobility, about the weighty affairs of the nation.

The first institutor of a baron by patent was King Richard II., who in the year 1388, the eleventh of his reign, created John Beauchamp, of Holt Castle, Baron of Kidderminster, and invested him with a surcoat, mantle, hood, cape, and verge. The newly-created baron is now brought into the House of Lords in his robes, between two peers of the same degree, and introduced by Garter King-of-arms, who carries the letters patent, the baron himself bearing the writ. A baron has but two guards and laces on each shoulder; and his coronation mantle has but two rows of spots on each shoulder.

A baron had no coronet till the reign of King Charles II., when he was adorned with a circle of gold, and six silver balls set close to the rim, but without jewels, as now borne. Pl. XLIII., n. 10.

A barony by patent goes to the heir-male, being almost universally so limited. But a barony by writ goes to the heirs-general; and in case of more female heirs than one, it becomes in abeyance, when the king may make his option, and grant it to which of them he thinks fit.

PRIVILEGES OF PEERS.

The nobility of England enjoy many great privileges, the principal of which are as follows:

They are free from all arrests for debt, as being the king's hereditary counsellors: therefore a peer cannot be outlawed in any civil action; and no attachment lies against his person; but execution may be taken

apon his lands and goods. For the same reason they are free from all attendance at court-leet, or sheriffs' torns; or, in case of a riot, from attending the posse

comitatus.

In criminal causes they are tried by their peers, who give their verdict not upon oath, as other juries, but upon their honour. A court is built on purpose, in the middle of Westminster Hall, which is pulled down when their trials are over.

of

To secure the honour of, and prevent the spreading

any scandal upon, peers, or any great officer of the realm, by reports, there is an express law, called scandalum magnatum, by which any man convicted of making a scandalous report against a peer of the realm though true, is condemned to a fine, and to remain in prison till the same be paid.

BARONETS.

This title was originally instituted by King James I., the 22nd of May, 1611, by letters patent under the great seal, to feed his unpardonable profusion, although under the specious plea of assisting him in the reduction of Ulster. The whole order was designed by the founder not to exceed two hundred persons, of which, if any became extinct for want of male-heirs, no new creations should be made even to fill the vacancies. King James indeed never exceeded the number, except by four in the room of the same number who were elevated to the peerage. But the great rule of the institution was, that none should be admitted unless upon good proof that they were men for quality, state of living, and good reputation, worthy of it; and, at the least, descended of a grandfather by the father's side,

that bore arms, and had also a clear revenue in lands of at least 1,000l. per annum.

Those who are conversant with the personal history of the kingdom, and will read over the first list, will be readily convinced that it was highly respectable. and that these requisites were complied with.

In the reign of Charles II., however, this list of baronets was increased to 888; and since the reign of George II., the number has been unlimited, and the qualifications necessary for admission into this order have been frequently dispensed with.

The order of baronets in Scotland was also projected by King James, for the plantation and cultivation of the province of Nova Scotia, in America; and his son, Charles I., executed his father's plan of institution, soon after his accession to the throne, the first person dignified with this order being Sir Robert Gordon, of Gordonstow, whose patent bears date May 28, 1625.

Knighthood.

THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER.

ACCORDING to the most authentic accounts, this most ancient and noble order was instituted by King Edward III., anno 1350, the 24th year of his reign.*

*The patron, St. George, was a person of great renown and chivalry, who, according to the learned Selden, suffered martyrdom at Lydia, under Diocletian. His fame was so great, that many temples and monasteries were dedicated to him in the Eastern countries, whence his reputation reached England, where his memory is still annually celebrated on the 23rd day of April, commonly called St. George's day.

Respecting the pristine institution, no positive information has yet been elicited. By some writers it is said, that the English monarch, having engaged in a war against France, to obtain that crown, which he claimed as descended to him in right of his mother, thought fit to allure to his party all such brave men as were eminent commanders and soldiers of fortune, with the view of exciting a spirit of emulation and military genius among his nobility. To this end he erected. a round table in the castle of Windsor, in imitation of King Arthur's at Winchester; and here the numerous guests were exercised at tilts and tournaments and royally entertained with magnificent feasts, to attach them to the king's party. On his return from his victorious expedition into France, he rewarded those knights who had served him valiantly with this distinguished badge or order; the total number so honoured being twenty-six, of which the king himself

was one.

Other authors assert, that, the same king displaying his garter as the signal of a battle which was crowned with success (supposed to be Cressy), gave rise to this order.

A romantic story has also obtained credence, that the fair Countess of Salisbury, in dancing with King Edward, let fall her garter, which the king took up, and tied round his own leg,* at which the queen being

*There may be more truth in this tradition than has been generally supposed. The Countess of Salisbury alluded to was probably that celebrated beauty, Joan Plantagenet, the Fair Maid of Kent, ultimately the wife of Edward the Black Prince. and mother of Richard II.-Ed.