KNIGHTS of the Shire, or Knights of Parliament, are two gentlemen of worth, chosen on the king's writ in pleno comitatu, by such of the freeholders of every county as can expend 40s. per annum, to represent such county in parliament. These, when every man who held a knight's fee in capite of the crown was customarily constrained to be a knight, were of necessity to be militis gladio cincti, for so the writ runs to this day; but now custom admits esquires to be chosen to this office. They must have at least 500l. per annum; and their expenses are to be defrayed by the county, though this be seldom now required.