BARONETS of Scotland, called also Baronets of Nova Scotia. This order of knights-baronets was instituted by Charles I. in the year 1625, when the first person dignified with the title was Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstone, a younger son of the Earl of Sutherland. The professed object of the institution was to encourage the plantation and settlement of Nova Scotia in North America: hence the king granted to each of them a certain portion of land in that province, which they were to hold of Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Stirling, with precedence to them and their heirs-male for ever, before all knights called equites aurati, all lesser barons called lairds, and all other gentlemen, except Sir William Alexander, His Majesty's lieutenant in Nova Scotia, his heirs, their wives and chil-
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dren. It was further provided that the title of Sir should be prefixed to their Christian name, and Baronet added to their surname; and that their own and their eldest sons' wives should enjoy the title of Lady, Madam, or Dame.
Malone has given the following curious note upon this subject, in his very learned Life of Dryden, prefixed to his edition of the prose works of that writer:—"When the order of baronets was first established in 1611, King James engaged that they should not exceed two hundred. However, towards the close of his reign, that number being completed, and the creation of baronets being found a useful engine of government (the courtier by whose influence the title was obtained receiving usually £1000 for the grant), it was not lightly to be parted with. A scheme, therefore, of creating Baronets of Scotland was devised, which, it was conceived, would be no infraction of the original compact, to confine the grants to a limited number; and as the English baronets were created under the great seal of England, for the reduction of Ulster in Ireland, so the Scottish baronets were created under the great seal of Scotland, for the reduction of Acadia, or Nova Scotia. The scheme, however, was not carried into execution by King James; but early in the reign of his successor several Scottish baronets were made. From this statement it appears, that there is no more necessity for calling a baronet created under the great seal of Scotland (whether he be an Englishman or Scotchman), a Baronet of Nova Scotia, than there is to denominate one created under the great seal of England a Baronet of Ulster." (Malone's Dryden, vol. i. pp. 28-29.)
BARONETS of Ireland. This order was likewise instituted by King James I. in the 18th year of his reign, for the same purpose and with the same privileges within the kingdom of Ireland as had been conferred on the analogous order in England; for which also the Irish baronets paid the same fees into the treasury of Ireland.