a British title of nobility, next below a marquis, and above a viscount. Earls were anciently called comites, because they were wont comitari regem, to wait upon the king for council and advice. The Germans call them graves, as landgrave, margrave, palgrave, rheingrave; the Saxons ealdormen, unless that title might be more properly applied to our dukes; the Danes, eolras; and the English, earls. The title, originally, died with the man. William the conqueror first made it hereditary, giving it in fee to his nobles, and allotting them for the support of their state the third penny out of the sheriff's court, issuing out of all pleas of the shire whence they had their title. But now the matter is quite otherwise; for whereas heretofore comes and comitatus were correlatives, and there was no comes or earl but had a county or shire for his earldom, of later years the number of earls increasing, and no more counties being left, divers have made choice of some eminent part of a county, as Lindsey, Holland, Cleveland, &c. Some of a lesser part, as Stafford, &c. Others have chosen for their title some eminent town, as Marlborough, Exeter, Bristol, &c. And some have taken for their title the name of a small village; their own seat or park, as Godolphin, Clarendon, &c. An earl is created by cincture of sword, mantle of state put upon him by the king himself, a cap and a coronet put upon his head, and a charter in his hand. All the earls of England are denominated from some shire, town or place, except three; two of whom, viz. earl Rivers, and earl Paulet, take their denomination from illustrious families: the third is not only honorary, as all the rest, but also officiary, as the earl-marshal of England.

Earl-marshal of England, is a great officer who had anciently several courts under his jurisdiction, as the court of chivalry, and the court of honour. Under him is also the herald's office or college of arms. He hath some pre-eminence in the court of Marshalsea, where he may sit in judgment against those who offend within the verge of the king's court. This office is of great antiquity in England, and anciently of greater power than now; and has been for several ages hereditary in the most noble family of Howard.