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It is a Degree erected Anno 9. Jac. 1. and the Grantmade by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of Eng-land. It is Hereditary to them, and the Heirs Male oftheir Bodies lawfully begotten, for ever 5 and by afubfequent Decree of the faid King, Precedence isgranted to them before all Banerets, except fuch asfhould be made by the King under his Standard, dis-play’d in an Army Royal in open War, and the Kingperfonally prefent, and next to and immediately afterthe younger Sons of Vifcount and Barons.

The Ground for erefting this Degree was partlyMartial 5 for tho’ themfelves were not enjoined perfonalService in the Wars, yet each Baronet was to maintainthirty Foot Soldiers for three Yeats in Ireland, after therate of Eight Pence per Day, for the Defence of thatKingdom, and chiefly to fecure the Plantation of Ulfter.

They were at leail to be defcended from a Grand-father, on the Father’s Side, that bore Arms, and hada Revenue of 1000 1 . per Ann. or Lands of old Rentsof equal Value with xooo I. per Ann. of improv’d Lands,or at leaft two Parts of three of fuch Eftate in Pofleffion ;the other third in Reverllon Expedant upon one Lifeheld only in Jointure.

The Year after, King James I. added fome new Pri-vileges and Ornaments, viz., to Knight thofe already,made that were no Knights 5 and the Heirs hereafter ofevery Baronet fhould, at the Age of One and TwentyYears, receive Knighthood ; likewife that all Baronetsmight bear in Canton, or in an Inefcutcheon, the Armsof Ulfter 5 and farther, to have place in the Armies ofthe King in the Grofs, near about the Royal Standard.

Since the Inftitution of Baronets in England, therehave been made divers in Ireland after the like Form tAnd the Knights of Nova Scotia in the Wejl-Indies wereordained in Imitation of Baronets in England by the faidKing James, A. D. 1 6zz. for the Planting that Coun-try by Scotch Colonies, and the Degree made likewifeHereditary.

These latter wear an Orange Tawny Ribbon as theirBadge, to diftinguifh them from other Knights 5 and itappears, there was an Intention, 1627. to move histhen Majefly, that all Baronets and Knights Bachelorsmight wear Ribbons of feveral Colours, fome Badgeor Jewel, in fuch Sort as did the Knights of the Bath,to diftinguifh the one from the other; But that Matterdropt. §. 5. We