Page:A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire Chunk 1.djvu/14

 INTRODUCTION. king had, with a civil and criminal jurisdiction ; andbyreason of hisroyal seigniory he had all the royal services and all the royal estreats which the king had; 50 that, in fact, a county palatine was in every respect a feudal kingdom of itself, hut held of a snperior lord.” * The second description of Earldom was that which derived the title only from a county. but hail no territorial possession annexed to it within the county, nor any of the privileges of an Earl Palatine, and whose revenue arose from participating in the profits derivable from the pleas of the county court. The third kind of Earidom was constituted by tbe crown’s granting a considerable tract of land, to be held “per .cerrieni no ins coiailelus.” For several centuries, Earbioms have bccn created by letters-patent, and the descent of the honour regulated accordingly. The ancient ceremony of investiture, as in other dionitics, has been discontinued ; and the custom of deriving the title from some county o’tewn has been extended, in consequence of the number of earls, to villages, private estates and fiomily surnames. The style of an Earl is, “Right Honourable,” and he is officially- addressed by the Crewn as “Our right trusty and well-beloved Ceusin.”± He hears also, upon some occasions, the title of “Most Noble and Puissant Prince.” Coronet—A circle chased ae jewelled, upon which rise eight pyrann’iical points, gold; each point bsarin a large silver ball, and between each point, close to the coronets rim, a strawberry-leaf, also gold cap of crimson-velvet, turned up ermine; thcreon a golden tassel. aThrqu cf. A Marquess (Morcliio), is the next degree of nobility. “His office (says Sir William Blsckstone) formerly was (for dignity and duty were never separated by our ancestors) to guard the frontiers and limits of the kingdom, which were called the marches, from the Teutonic word ‘marche,’ a limit ; as in parumilar wore the marches of Wales and Scotland, while each continued to be an enemy’s country. The persons who had command there were called Lords Marches, or Marquesses, whose authority was abolished by statute 27th Ilayeuv VIII., though the title had long before been made a mere ensign of honour.” The first English 1Iarquessate was conferred by King RICHARD II., in 1386, upon Robert de Yore, who was created Marquess of Dublin, and in the next year, Duke of Ireland. His grace was, however, banished and attainted in 1388, when his honeurs became forfeited. And the second creation of the same dignity occurs in the same reign, when John Beanfort, Earl of Somerset (eldest legitimated natural son of John of Gaunt), was created, 29th September, 1397, Marquess of Dorset. From tlsat period the dignity of Marquess appears to have remained dormant until the reign of Enwaan Vi., but thence- forward it became a regular and coinmois grade of nobility. A Marquessate is invariably created by letters-patent, and the descent regulated accord ugly. The style of a Marquess is “Most Henourable,” and he is officially addressed by the Crown as “Our right trusty and entirely-beloved Cousin.” He bears also the title, upon some occasions, of “Most Noble and Puissant Prince.” Coronet—-On a jewelled circle of gold, fc,ur straw-berry leaves and four pearls, alternately cap of crimson velvet, turned up ermine; thereon a golden tassel. LLItt. The Dukedom, the most elevated dignity in the English peenge,. was first introduced by King EnwAan III., who, in 1337, created - - s- his eldest son, Edward tIme Black Prince (then Earl of Chester), Duke of Cornwall, and subsequently Psince of Wales, when the 0jy- Dukedom merged in the principality, and has ever since been vested in the heir apparent to the crown, who, at Ins birth, becomes Duke of Cornwall. The second Dukedom was conferred, on the 6th March, 1351, upon Henry Plantagenet (sen and heir of the Earl of Derby), nuder the title of Duke of Lancaster, which dignity expired at his grace’s decease, in 1360, without male issue, hut was re-conferred, in 1362, upon John of Gaunt, who had espoused the duke’s second daughter, and eventually solo heiress, the Lady Blanch Planta* Caussa Qa Dignities. t This mode of aodreoa is(s ancient as Hameur IV., by n-hem it was first adopted. That pniim, being eifher by his wife, 010 ,notl,er, o, his sisters, actually related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully and constantly acknowlsdged that connexion in all his letters and other pnblic acts; from whence the usage has descended to his successors, though the reason has long age failed —Blael,vtom,e.