298 



BARON. 



Baron. hi m to the contempt of the people, often held a place 

 v~' of power and trust equally important to both." 

 Robertson's Hist, of Scotland, vol. i. p. 26. 



In no kingdom of Europe did the power of the 

 feudal aristocracy rise to a greater height than in 

 Scotland. Besides the usual circumstances of resi- 

 dence among their vassals, settling their disputes, 

 conducting them to the field, and protecting them 

 from injury, the Scottish nobles availed themselves 

 of a tendency which they perceived among their fol- 

 lowers to unite more closely under the dominion of 

 their " liege lords." The vassal, proud of the ser- 

 vice, and glorying in the magnificence of his chief, 

 considered himself, and wished to be considered by 

 others, as of the same family with him, while the 

 baron, encouraging the fiction, and at length, per- 

 haps, persuaded of its truth, willingly acknowledged 

 his kindredship with those who obeyed him, and saw, 

 with pleasure, that the attachment of his dependants 

 was strengthened by an additional tie. The whole 

 nation was divided into clans. In each of these every 

 individual bore the name of his feudal superior, re- 

 garded himself as a branch of his family, and was, 

 eager to support his pretensions. When engaged in 

 disputes with the king, therefore, the nobles, follow- 

 ed by a multitude of bold and martial retainers, de- 

 voted to their interest, were not often inclined to 

 yield. Retiring to their castles, frequently strong 

 by nature, and situated in regions almost inaccessible, 

 they violated, with impunity, the laws enacted by the 

 Scottish parliament, afforded protection to criminals, 

 refused to deliver them up, and set the authority of 

 the crown at defiance. Even so late as the time of 

 Mary, nearly one fourth part of the kingdom was 

 summoned to attend her chief justice in arms, before 

 a few robbers on the border could be tried for their 

 crimes. ( Keith, Hist, of Scotland, p. 198. ) Nor was 

 this all. In order still farther to establish their in- 

 dependence, the Scottish nobles entered into leagues 

 of mutual defence and support. It is not to be de- 

 nied, however, that these were originally formed, 

 rather with a view to repel the inroads of hostile 

 clans, than to limit the authority of the monarch. 

 But it is equally certain, that whenever a dispute 

 arose between any of the united families and the king, 

 the whole association would oppose the royal preten- 

 sions, and, according to their numbers and abilities, 

 would do so with success. In the reign of James II. 

 the most powerful of the Scottish barons was Wil- 

 liam Earl of Douglas. But though at the head of 

 vassals more numerous and warlike than any chief- 

 tain of his country had ever led to the field, this was 

 not the only source of his power. He was united in 

 firm alliance with the Earls of Crawford, Ross, and 

 Murray, and with the --/hole name of the Hamiltons. 

 These rendered him not so much the subject of the 

 king as his equal. And had not James, by a deed of 

 violence, deprived him of life, and thus dissolved the 

 association, it might have shaken the foundations of 

 the throne, and transferred the crown from the house 

 of Stuart to the family of Douglas. 



The history of the feudal establishment in general, 

 is replete with struggles between the nobles and the 

 monarch. In reigns when great vigour and activity 

 avere displayed by the king, there is reason to believe 



that he was often the aggressor; and that by his un- 

 usual exactions, he routed the barons, and in some 

 degree forced them to limit his encroachments, or to 

 resist his claims. One of the most powerful com- 

 binations of the English nobility, with a view to 

 lighten the burden of subjection, by ascertaining their 

 privileges, was formed m the reign of William the 

 Conqueror ; a ruler distinguished by the severity of 

 his government. It was the tyranny of this monarch 

 and of his immediate successor, that urged the barons 

 to demand a charter of their liberties from Henry I. 

 who, in the beginning of his reign, was placed in cir- 

 cumstances that rendered it necessary for him to court 

 the affections of his people. Other charters of a 

 similar nature were granted by kings, whose actions 

 are usually considered as the most splendid atchieve- 

 ment recorded in English history. On the contrary, 

 it is not to be disputed, that when the sovereign was 

 irresolute and capricious, the barons may have taken 

 advantage of his weakness, and brought forward 

 claims, which, had they been placed in diiferent cir- 

 cumstances, they would have judged it fit to sup- 

 press. Of this assertion, the reign of John affords a 

 conspicuous and memorable proof. Destitute of vi- 

 gour, skill, or perseverance, this wretched prince was 

 first deserted by his nobles, and then constrained to 

 retire before them. In proportion to his imbecility 

 and the calamitous state of his affairs, they assumed 

 a higher tone, multiplied their demands, and refused 

 to make concessions; till, on the plain of Rur.nymede, 

 they extorted from him the great charter of their 

 liberties, which every Englishman now regards as the 

 most valuable portion of his birth-right. This event 

 has been celebrated by Professor Richardson, in lines 

 worthy of its magnitude and importance : 



Hail, Runny-mead! 



Illustrious field ! like Marathon renowned, 

 Or Salamis, where freedom on the hosts 

 Of Persia, from her radiant sword, shook fear 

 And dire discomfiture ! Even now I tread 

 Where Albion's ancient Barons won the pledge 

 Of independence : 



gallant chiefs ! whether ye ride the winds, 

 Bound on some high commission to confound 

 The pride of guilty kings; or, to alarm 



Their coward spirits, through the realms of night, 

 Hurl the tremendous comet, or in bowers 

 Of blooming paradise enjoy repose; 



1 ween the memory of your patriot zeal 

 Exalts your glory, and sublimes your joys. 



Richardson's Poems. Aunny-mede. 



The division of the barons into the majores and 

 minores, the greater and lesser barons, must not be 

 passed over without particular notice ; as from this 

 division the House of Commons unquestionably took 

 its rise. According to the feudal constitution, the 

 immediate vassal of the crown, or those who held of 

 the sovereign in capite, were indiscriminately admit- 

 ted iato the national council. These were for the 

 most part, men of great estates and extensive in- 

 fluence. To such opulent individuals, attendance in 

 parliament could not be burdensome. In the pro- 

 gress of society, however, and by the operation of 

 circumstances, which cannot be specified here, the 

 property of the barons was gradually dismembered, 

 or separated into smaller portions; the number of 

 possessors holding the same rank was very greatly 

 S 



Baron. 



