a British title of nobility, next below a marquis, and above a viscount.

The title is so ancient, that its original cannot be clearly traced out. This much, however, seems tolerably certain, that among the Saxons they were called caldormen, quasi elder men, signifying the same with senior or senator among the Romans; and also schiremen, because they had each of them the civil government of a several division or shire. On the irruption of the Danes they changed their names to eorels, which, according to Camden, signified the same in their language. In Latin they are called comites, (a title first used in the empire), from being the king's attendants; a societate nomen sumusfertunt, reges enim tales fibi afficiant.

After the Norman conquest they were for some time called counts, or countess, from the French; but they did not long retain that name themselves, though their titles are from thence called counties to this day. It is now become a mere title: they having nothing to do with the government of the county; which is now entirely devolved on the sheriff, the earl's deputy, or vicecomes. In writs, commissions, and other formal instruments, the king, when he mentions any peer of the degree of an earl, usually styles him "truly and well beloved count," an appellation as ancient as the reign of Henry IV.; who being either by his wife, his mother, or his sisters, actually related or allied to every earl in the kingdom, artfully and constantly acknowledged that connexion in all his letters and other public acts; whence the usage has descended to his successors, though the reason has long ago failed.

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.