PEE 
shops, abbots, &c. Afterwards the same 
term was applied to the vassals or tenants 
of the same lord, who were called peers, 
because they were all equal in condition, 
and obliged to serve and attend him in his 
courts; and peers in fiefs, because they all 
held fiefs of the same lord. Tiie term peers 
is now applied to those who ai e impannel- 
led in an inquest upon a person for convict- 
ing or acquitting him of any offence laid to 
his charge ; and the reason why the jury is 
so called, is, because by the common law, 
and the custom of this kingdom, every per- 
son is to be tried by his peers, or equals, a 
lord by the lords, and a commoner by com- 
moners. .See Jury. 
Peer of the realm, a noble lord who has 
a seat and vote in the House of Lords, which 
is also called the House of Peers. These 
lords are called peers, because, though 
there is a distinction of degrees in our nobi- 
lity, yet in public actions they are equal, as 
in their votes in Parliament, and in trying 
any nobleman, or other person impeached 
by the Commons, &c. See Parliament. 
All the peers who have a right to sit and 
vote in Parliament, are to be summoned at 
least tw'enty days before the trial of a peer, 
indicted for treason or felony : the method 
of proceeding in which, is, after the indict- 
ment is found, the King, by commission un- 
der the great seal, appoints one of the peers, 
and generally the Lord Chancellor, to be 
Lord High Steward, who in these cases sits 
as judge. In order to bring the indictment 
before him, a certiorari is issued out of the 
Court of Chancery; and another writ also 
issues for bringing up the prisoner, a pre- 
cept being made for that purpose by the 
Lord High Steward, assigning a day, and 
tile place of trial, and for summoning the 
peers, twelve of whom are at least to be 
present, and as many more as choose to be 
present. The day of trial being come, and 
the Lord High Steward being seated in his 
usual state, after the commission is read, 
and the particular ceremonies are over, his 
lordship declares to the prisoner at the bar, 
the cause of their assembly, assures him of 
justice, and at the same time encourages 
him to answer without fear ; on which the 
indictment is read over, and the prisoner 
arraigned; when, after hearing all the 
evidence produced for the King, and the 
prisoner’s answer, the prisoner is ordered to 
withdraw from the bar, when the lords go 
to some place by themselves, to consider of 
tiie evidence ; and afterwards, being return- 
ed in order to, give their verdict, the Lord 
PEG 
High Steward openly demands of the lords, 
one by one, beginning with the puisne lord, 
whether the prisoner, calling him by his 
name, be guilty of the crime for which he is 
arraigned ; when, laying their right hand 
upon their left breast, they separately an- 
swer, either guilty, or not guilty, upon their 
honour ; and if he be found guilty by a ma- 
jority of votes more than twelve, he is 
brought to the bar again, when the Lord 
High Steward acquaints the prisoner with 
the verdict of his peers, and passes sentence 
and judgment accordingly. It has been ad- 
judged, that where such trial is by commis- 
sion, as above, the Lord High Steward, af- 
ter a verdict given, may take time to ad- 
vise upon it, and his office continues till he 
passes judgment. 
A peer is not to be put upon any inquest, 
even though the cause has a relation to two 
peers ; but in trials w'here any peer is ei- 
ther plaintiff or defendant, there must be 
two or more knights returned on the jury. 
Where a peer is defendant in a court of 
equity, he is not to be sworn to his answer, 
but it may be upon his honour, as in the 
trial of peers : however, when a peer is to 
answer to interrogatories, or to make an af- 
fidavit, or is to be examined as a witness, 
he is to be sworn. 
PEERESS, a woman who is noble by 
descent, creation, or marriage. If a peer- 
ess, by descent or creation, marries a per- 
son under the degree of nobility, she still 
continues noble ; but if she obtains that dig- 
nity only by marriage, she loses it on her af- 
terwards marrying a commoner; yet, by 
the courtesy of England, she always retains 
the title of her nobility. No peeress can 
be arrested for debt or trespass; for though, 
on account of their sex, peeresses cannot sit 
in the House of Lords, yet they enjoy the 
privileges of peers, and therefore all peer- 
esses by birth, are to be tried by their 
peers. 
PEGANUM, in botany, a genus of the 
Dodecandria Monogynia class and order. 
Natural order of Multisilique. Rutace®, 
Jussieu. Essential character : calyx five- 
leaved, or none ; corolla five petalled ; cap- 
sule three-celled, three valved, many-seed- 
ed. There are two species, viz. P. har- 
mala, a native of Spain, and P. dauricum, a 
native of Siberia. 
PEGASUS, in astronomy, a constellation 
of the northern hemusphere, in form of a 
flying horse. 
Pegasus, in natural history, a genus of 
fishes of tlie order Cai'tilaginei. Generic 
