baronet, barronett

[In Sw., Dan., Dut., and Ger. baronet; Fr. bar on net: Ital. baronet to; Low Lat. baronettus, dim in. of baron (q.v.).] *I. Originally : A term apparently in use as early as the time of Edward III. for certain landed gentlemen not of the dignity of lords, summoned to Parliament to counterbalance the power of the clergy. King Edward the Thirde (as I remember) whoe, being greatly bearded and cro ed by the lordes of the cleargye. was advised to directe out his writtes to certayne gen tell men of the best abilitye and trust, entitling them therein barrons, to serve and sitt as barrons in the next Parliament. By which meanes he had soe many barrons in his Parliament, as were able to waigh doune the cleargye and theyr frendes, the which barrons, they say, were not afterwards lordes but only barro netts , as sundrye of them doe yet retayne the name."- Spenser : State of Ireland. IL. Subsequently : The name given to three titled orders. 1. Baronets of Great Britain: A titled order, the lowest that is hereditary. Speaking broadly, they rank in precedence next after the nobility, or, more specifically, next after the younger sons of viscounts and barous; but in reality they are inferior to the Knights of the Order of St. George or of the Garter, certain official dignitaries, and knights-bannerets created on the actual field of battle. The order was instituted by James I., on May 22nd, 1611, to raise money by fees paid for the dignity, and thus obtain resources for the settlement of Ulster. The number was to be limited to 200; but a device for increasing an honour so profitable to the Treasury was soon found, so that before the death of Charles I. 458 patents for the creation of baronets had been i ued; and by the end of 1878 there were 698 baronets in existence. The dignity is generally confined to the heirs male of the grantee. The badge of a baronet is sinister, a hand gules ( = a bloody hand) in a field argent. Etiquette requires that he be addre ed as "Sir A. B., Bart." 2. Baronets of Ireland : A titled order instituted by James I. in 1619. It is believed that this dignity has not been conferred on any one since the union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, but many of the titles granted before the union still remain in the British baronetage. 3. Baronets of Scotland: A titled order planned by James I., but actually instituted, not by him, but by Charles I. in 1625, just after the acce ion of the latter monarch to the throne. The object aimed at in the creation of the order was the planting of Nova Scotia (New Scotland). Each baronet by his patent received eighteen square miles of territory in that colony, with a sea-coast bounding it on one side; or a tract of land extending for three miles along a navigable river, and stretching for six miles inland. Since the union between England and Scotland in 1707, no baronets have been created holding rank in the latter country alone, but some titles existing previously still figure in the British baronetage.