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Earl - Law Dictionary Search Results

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Earl

Earl [fr. eorl, Sax.; eoryl, Erse; comes, Lat.], a title of nobility, formerly the highest in England, now the third, ranking between a marquis and a viscount, and corresponding with the French Comte and the German Graf. The title originated with the Saxons, and is the most ancient of the English peerage. William the Conqueror first made it hereditary. An earl has an hereditary seat in the House of Lords. In official instruments he is called by the sovereign 'trusty and well-beloved cousin,' an appellation as ancient as the reign of Henry IV., who was, as a fact, related to the greater part of the nobles (see Shakespeare's Henry IV., Second Part, Act 2, sc. 2), and took this public notice of it as a means of popularity.A title of nobility, formerly the highest in England but now the third highest ranking between marquis and a viscount, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 525.Earl, is the third degree of peerage in order of precedence, but the first in antiquity. (Cruise on Dignities (...


Earl

A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis and above a viscount The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count comte in France and graf in Germany Hence the wife of an earl is still called countess See Count...


Earl Marshal of England

Earl Marshal of England, a great officer of state who had anciently several courts under his jurisdiction, as the Court of Chivalry and the Court of Honour. Under him is the Heralds Office, or College of Arms. This office of Earl Marshal is of great antiquity, and has been since 1672 hereditary in the family of the Howards, the present holder being the Duke of Norfolk, 3 Steph. Com....


Earles-penny

Earles-penny, money given in part payment. See EARNEST....


Marshal (Earl)

Marshal (Earl). See CHIVALRY, COURT OF....


Earldom

Earldom, the seigniory of an earl; the title and dignity of an earl.The dignity or jurisdiction of an earl, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 525....


High Steward, Court of the Lord

High Steward, Court of the Lord, a tribunal instituted for the trial of peers or peeresses indicted for treason or felony, or for misprision of either, but not for any other offence. The office of Lord High Steward is very ancient, and was formerly hereditary, or held for life, or dum bene se gesserit; but it has been for many centuries granted pro hac vice only, and always to a lord of Parliament. When, therefore, such an indictment is found by a grand jury of freeholders in the King's Bench, or at the assizes before a judge of oyer and terminer, it is removed by a writ of certiorari into the Court of the Lord High Steward, which alone has power to determine it.The sovereign, in case a peer be indicted for treason, felony, or misprision, appoints a Lord High Ste-ward pro vice, by commission under the Great Seal, which, reciting the indictment so found, gives him power to receive and try it secundum legem et consuetudinem Angli'. When the indictment is regularly removed by certiorari, ...


Magna Carta

Magna Carta, [Latin 'great charter'] The English charter that King John granted to the barons in 1215 and Henry III and Edward I later confirmed. It is generally regarded as one of the great common-law documents and as the foundation of constitution liberties. The other three great charters of English Liberty are the Petition of Right (3 Car. (1628)), the Habeas Corpus Act (31 Car. 2 (1679)), and the Bill of Rights (1 Will. SM. (1689)). Also spelled Magna charta, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 963.This Great Charter is based substantially upon the Saxon Common Law, which flourished in this kingdom until the Normaninvasion consolidated the system of feudality, still the great characteristic of the principles of real property. The barons assembled at St.Edmund's Bury, in Suffolk, in the later part of the year 1214, and there solemnly swore upon the high alter to withdraw their allegiance from the Crown, and openly rebel, unless King John confirmed by a formal charter the ancient li...


Precedence or precedency

Precedence or precedency, the act or state of going before; adjustment of place.The rules of precedence may be reduced to the following list, in which those marked * are entitled to the rank here allotted them by 31 Hen. 8, c. 10; marked ' by 1 W. & M. c. 1; marked by letters-patent, 9, 10 & 14 Jac. 1, which see in Seld. Tit. of Hon. ii. 5, 46; marked ' by ancient usage and established custom, Camden's Brit., tit. 'Ordines'; Milles's Cat. of Hon. 1610; and Chamberlayne's Prest. St. of Eng., b. 3, c. iii; see 1 Bl. Com. 404.* The King's children and grandchildren.* The King's consort.* The King's uncles.* The King's nephews.* Archbishop of Canterbury (a).* Lord High Chancellor or Keeper, if a baron.* Archbishop of York.Prime Minister.By royal warrant dated December, 1905.* Lord Treasurer.* Lord President of the Council. } barons.* Lord Privy Seal.(a) The judges of assize, while on circuit, take pre-cedence of every subject.*Lord Great Chamberlain.But see Private Stat.1 Geo. 1, c. 3.* Lo...


Earldom

The jurisdiction of an earl the territorial possessions of an earl...


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