ns francaises_ (Paris, 1892); Maurice Prou, art. "Baron" in _La
Grande Encyclopedie_.

(W. A. P.)

BARONET. Although the origin of this title has been the subject of learned
speculation, it is not known for certain why it was selected as that of "a
new Dignitie between Barons and Knights" created by James I. The object of
its institution was to raise money for the crown, as was also done by the
sale of peerage dignities under this sovereign. But the money was
professedly devoted to the support of troops in Ulster, that is, each
grantee was to be liable for the pay of thirty men, at 8d. a day for three
years. This amounted to L1095, which was the sum paid for the honour. When
it was instituted, in May 1611, the king, to keep the baronetage select,
covenanted that he would not create more than two hundred, and that only
those who had L1000 a year in landed estate and whose paternal grandfathers
had borne arms should receive the honour. But these qualifications were
before long abandoned. As an inducement to apply for it, it was made to
confer the prefix of "Sir" and "Lady" (or "Dame"), and was assigned
precedence above knights, though below the younger sons of barons. Eight
years later (30th of September 1619), the baronetage of Ireland was
instituted, the king pledging himself not to create more than a hundred
baronets. Meanwhile, questions had arisen as to the exact precedence of the
baronets, and James by royal decree (28th of May 1612) had announced that
it was his intention to rank them below the younger sons of barons. As this
had the effect of stopping applications for the honour, James issued a
fresh commission (18th of November 1614) to encourage them, and finally, as
"the Kinges wants might be much relieved out of the vanities and ambition
of the gentrie" (in Chamberlain's words), he granted, in 1616, the further
privilege that the heirs apparent of baronets should be knighted on coming
of age.

The baronetage of Nova Scotia was devised in 1624 as a means of promoting
the "plantation" of that province, and James announced his intention of
creating a hundred baronets, each of whom was to support six colonists for
two years (or pay 2000 marks in lieu thereof) and also to pay 1000 marks to
Sir William Alexander (afterwards earl of Stirling), to whom the province
had been granted by charter in 1621. For this he was to receive a "free
barony" of 16,000 acres in Nova Scotia, and to become a baronet of "his
Hienes Ki