an inhabitant of a borough, or walled town, or one who possesses a tenement therein. The word is also applied to the magistrates of some towns; as the bailiff and burgesses of Leicester.

Anciently, burgesses were held in great contempt; being reputed servile, base, and unfit for war; so that the gentry were not allowed to intermarry in their families, or fight with them; but, in lieu thereof, were to appoint champions. A burgess's son was reputed of age, when he could distinctly count money, measure cloth, &c.

BURGESS is now ordinarily used for the representative of a borough-town in parliament. Burgesses are supposed to represent the mercantile part or trading interest of the nation. They were formerly allowed, by a rate established in the reign of Edward III., two shillings a day as wages. It is much to be regretted, that the members for boroughs bear above a quadruple proportion to those for counties. The right of election of burgesses depends on several local charters and customs: though, by 2 Geo. II. c. 24, the right for the future shall be allowed according to the last determination of the house of commons concerning it: and by 3 Geo. III. c. 15, no freeman, except such as claim by birth, servitude, or marriage, shall be intitled to vote, unless he hath been admitted to his freedom twelve months before. No person is eligible as a burgess, who hath not a clear estate of L. 300 a-year.

BURGRAVE, properly denotes the hereditary governor governor of a castle, or fortified town, chiefly in Germany. The word is compounded of bourg, town, and graf, or grave count. The burggraves were originally the same with what we otherwise call castratans, or comites castratans; but their dignity was considerably advanced under Rudolph of Hapsburgh; before his time they were ranked only as counts, and below the princes, but under him began to be esteemed on a footing with princes. In some parts, the dignity is much degenerated, especially in the palatinate. There were formerly, according to Leti, fifteen families who enjoyed the title of burggraves, thirteen of which are now extinct. But this is differently represented by others.

In Bohemia the title of burggrave is given to the chief officer, or to him that commands in quality of viceroy. In Prussia, the burggrave is one of the four chief officers of the province. In Guelderland, the burggrave of Nimeguen is president of the states of the province.