ALDERMAN

ALDERMAN, among our ancient Saxon Ancestors, was one of the three Orders or Degrees of Nobility. See NOBILITY, ETHELING WAS THE FIRST, ALDERMAN THE SECOND, and THANE THE LOWEST. See ETHELING, and THANE.The Alderman was the same as our Earl or Count; which Appellation, after King Athelstane’s Time, took place in lieu of Alderman. See EARL, and COUNT. In the Time of King Edgar, Alderman was also used for a Judge, or Justice. In this Sense, Alvin Son of Ethelstane, is styled Aldermanus totius Angliae; which Spelman interprets, Justiciarius Angliae.Thomas of Ely, in the Life of St. Ethelred, interprets Alderman by Prince, or Count; Egelwinus qui cognominatus est Alderman, quod intelligitur princeps sive comes.Matthew Paris, in lieu of Alderman, uses the Word Justiciarius; and Spelman observes, that it was the Norman Kings, who, instead of the Saxon Alderman, introduced the Word Justice. The Word in its original, is composed of Alder, Senior or Elder, and Man.

ALDERMAN