a dignity or degree of honour next be- beneath a baron, and above a knight; having precedence of all knights excepfing thofe of the Garter, and being the only knighthood that is hereditary.

The dignity of baronet is given by patent, and is the loweft degree of honour that is hereditary. The order was founded by King James I. at the suggestion of Sir Robert Cotton, in 1611, when 200 baronets were created at once; to which number it was intended they fhould always be restrained: but it is now enlarged at the king's pleafure, without limitation.

They had feveral confiderable privileges given them, with an habendum to them and their heirs male. They were allowed to charge their coat with the arms of Ulfter, which are, in a field argent, a fifter hand, gules; and that upon condition of their defending the province of Ulfter in Ireland againft the rebels, who then harafled it extremely: to which end they were each to raife and keep up 30 soldiers at their own ex- pence for three years together, or to pay into the ex- chequer a fum fufficient to do it; which, at 8d. per day per head, was 1095l. So that, including fees, the expence of this dignity may be about 1200l. ster- ling. To be qualified for it, one muft be a gentle- man born, and have a clear efate of 1000l. per an- num.

Baronets take place according to the dates of their patents; by the terms of which no honour is to be erected between barons and baronets. The title Sir is granted them by a peculiar claufe in their patents, though they be not dubbed knights: but both a baro- net, and his eldest fon, being of full age, may claim knighthood.—The firft baronet who was created was Sir Nicholas Bacon of Redgrave in Suffolk, whose successor is therefore styled Primus Baronerorum An- glicae.

BARONETS of Scotland, called also Baronets of Nova Scotia. The order of knights baronets was alfo de- signed to be eftablifhed in Scotland in the year 1621, by king James I. for the plantation and cultivation of the province of Nova Scotia in America; but it was not actually instituted till the year 1625 by his fon Charles I. when the firft perfon dignified with this title was Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonfhone, a younger fon of the earl of Sutherland. The king granted a cer- tain portion of land in Acadia or New Scotland, to each of them, which they were to hold of Sir William Alexander (afterwards earl of Stirling), for their en- couragement who fhould hazard their lives for the good and increase of that plantation, with precedence to them, and their heirs-male for ever, before all knights called equites aurati, and all leffer barons called lairds, and all other gentlemen, except Sir William Alexan- der his majefty's lieutenant in Nova Scotia, his heirs, their wives and children; that the title of Sir fhould be prefixed to their Chriftian name, and Baronet added to their furname; and that their own and their eldeft sons wives fhould enjoy the title of Lady, Madame, or Dame. Baronets, Dame.—His majesty was so desirous of adding every mark of dignity to this his favourite order, that, four years after its institution, he issued a royal warrant, granting them the privilege of wearing an orange ribbon and a medal; which last was presented to each of them by the king himself, according to the words of the warrant. All the privileges of the order, particularly this of wearing the medal, were confirmed at the king's request by the convention of estates in the year 1639; and in order to establish them on the most solid foundation, they were again confirmed by an act of the parliament of Scotland in the year 1633. This mark of distinction fell to the ground with all the other honours of Scotland during the usurpation of the long parliament and of Oliver Cromwell. It continued in general, though not total, dilute after the Restoration. There have been former meetings of the order to revive the use of it, one in the year 1721, and another in 1734. These meetings proved ineffectual, because the proper steps towards its revival were not taken; but, under the auspices of our illustrious monarch George III. such measures were concerted in the year 1775 as have effectually established this honourable dignity.