Page:The Grammar of Heraldry, Cussans, 1866.djvu/87

Rh duke assumes the second title of his father, which is usually that of Marquess. Thus the eldest son of the Duke of Buckingham is the Marquess of Chandos. I have already stated that the unmarried daughters of a peer have the same rank which their eldest brother ordinarily enjoys during the lifetime of his father. All the sons of a duke are addressed as ‘Lord,’ and his daughters as ‘Lady.’

The rank of Marquess follows next. His sons are ‘Lords,’ and his daughters ‘Ladies;’ his eldest son bears his second title, which is Earl, or Lord of a place: the Marquess of Winchester’s eldest son, for example, is styled Earl of Wiltshire. Daughters and younger sons are addressed by their christian names, as Lady Mary, Lord Frederick.

The next degree and title in the order of rank in the peerage is Earl. His eldest son is generally by courtesy styled a Viscount, and all his daughters are ‘Ladies;’ but his younger sons have no title beyond that of ‘Honourable.’

Viscounts rank fourth in the peerage. The sons and daughters of a viscount and baron are styled ‘Honourable.’

Bishops succeed viscounts. The Bishop of London takes precedence of his brethren, being provincial dean of Canterbury; the Bishop of Durham, as formerly holding the rank of Count-Palatine, and Earl of Sedberg; and the Bishop of Winchester, as prelate of the Order of the Garter, follow next; then the remaining bishops, according to the priority of their consecration. The last-made bishop has no seat in the House of Peers.

Barons constitute the lowest order of British peers, and are addressed as ‘My Lord.’