Peer
in general, an equal, one of the same rank and station. In this sense it is used by the common law of England, which declares that every person is to be tried by his peers. Peer also signifies in Great Britain a member of one of the five degrees of nobility that constitute the "peerage" (duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron), or more strictly a member of the House of Lords. The dignity and privileges of peers originated with the growth of the feudal system, the peers being originally the chief vassals holding fiefs directly from the crown, and having, in virtue of their position, the hereditary right of acting as royal counsellors. Subsequently not all the crown vassals appeared at court as advisers of the king, but only those who were summoned to appear by writ. This custom grew at length into a rule, and these summonses were considered proofs of hereditary peerage. Latterly the honor of the peerage has been exclusively conferred by patent. As regards their privileges all peers are on a perfect equality. The chief privileges are those of a seat in the House of Lords, of a trial by persons of noble birth in case of indictments for treason and felony, and misprision thereof, and of exemption from arrest in civil cases. The British peerage collectively consist of peers of England, of Scotland, of Great Britain, of Ireland, and of the United Kingdom, but only a portion of the Scotch and Irish peers are peers of Parliament.