102 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
judgement with the posteritie. But thouch the conferring of honour be 
meerely regall and to be done by us as we please yet we would proceed in 
no matter of suche moment without your advyce.” His Majesty further 
stated how confident he was that from so noble a purpose as this settle- 
ment of Nova Scotia not only the Baronets themselves but the whole 
Scottish nation would derive honour and profit. 
The Lords of the Privy Council of Scotland in their reply dated 
R3rd of Novr. 1624, expressed themselves as sensible of His Majesty’s 
great affection towards his ancient Kingdom of Scotland and of his 
“most judicious consideratioun in makeing choice of so excellent meanes 
both noble and fitt, for the goode of the same,” and after rendering 
thanks to the King for his goodness in consulting them, they proceed to 
state that they “ humblie wisse that this honour of Barronet sould be 
ccnferrit upoun none but upoun knichts and gentlemen of cheife respect 
fer their birth, place, or fortounes.” 
The Privy Council of Scotland issued a Proclamation announcing 
the King’s resolution and notifying the intended recipients of the honour 
to appear before the Council to record their names. His Majesty did not, 
however, live long enough to accomplish this crowning act of his great 
project, for in the following year he lay upon his death-bed ; where, 
“with plaintive but earnest words, the King again alluded to what was . 
still uppermost in his thoughts ; although to his son was to fall the privi- 
lege of carrying out his scheme. He spoke of it as a good work, a Royal 
work, and one for the good of the Kingdom in general, as well as for the 
particular interest of every baronet.”* King James died on the 27th of 
March, 1625, but his wishes were not forgotten by his son and successor. 
King Charles the First on succeeding to the Crown, lost no time in 
carrying out his Royal Father’s wishes with regard to the foundation of 
the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, and “ did erect, create, make, constitute, 
and ordain that heritable state, degree, dignity, name, order, title, and 
stile of baronet, to be enjoyed by every of these gentlemen who did 
hazard for the good and increase of that plantation : and so preferred 
‘them to that order and title, creating them and their heirs-male herit- 
able baronets in all time coming, with the place, pre-eminency, priority, 
and precedency in all commissions, brieves, letters-patent, namings, and 
writs, and in all sessions conventions, congregations, and places, at all 
times and occasions whatsomever before all knights called equites aurati, 
ail lesser barons commonly called Lairds, and before all other gentlemen 
excepting the ahove Sir William Alexander, his Majesty’s Lieutenant of 
Nova Scotia.” ? 
The Royal Charter under the Great Seal, “ under which the Nova 
Scotia Baronets were primarily created, and grants of lands conceded to 
