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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
I have had the pleasure of receiving from my friend Mr. Pearsall, of Carlsruhe (who, by his very interesting communications, is already known to the Society of Antiquaries), a Description and Rubbing of the monumental brass of Bishop Hallum, in the cathedral of Constance; both which I hope may be acceptable to the Society, and therefore I beg leave to put them into your hands.
page 435 note a For instance, Euer Gnaden, (Anglicè Your Grace) which, in the middle ages, was reserved for the highest nobility, is now commonly given to persons of the lowest grade in the German aristocracy: i. e. to those who are two degrees below the rank of a knight, and may therefore be assimilated to our gentleman. Wohlgeboren (i. e. well-born) has sunk still lower. On a tombstone dated 1574, in Gernsbach church, near Baden-Baden, this honorary epithet is applied to Bernhard of Eberstein, a count of the empire with seat and voice in the Diet, and consequently a member of the high nobility. Now, however, it has become the property of the superior order of plebeians. To give it to the meanest member of the aristocracy, even to a captain in the army, with no other rank than that derived from his commission, would be a flagrant breach of good manners.