HONOUR or RANK.—The degrees of honour which are observed in Britain may be comprehended under these two heads, viz. nobiles majores, and nobiles minores. Those included under the first rank are, archbishops, dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, bishops, and barons; which are all distinguished by the respective ornaments of their escutcheons: and those of the last are baronets, knights, esquires, and gentlemen. There are some authors who will have baronets to be the last under the first rank; and their reason is, because their honour is hereditary, and by patent, as that of the nobility. See COMMONALTY and NOBILITY.