Posted by kathleen (elder) on June 29, 1997 at 16:04:22:
In reply to Re: Peerage posted by Arami on June 28, 1997 at 12:10:08
] ] ] . . . a title carried unwanted obligations.
] ] What sort of obligations? (I know absolutely nothing about titles, etc.)
] I am not an expert, either! However, peerage usually meant membership of the House of Lords, a political/government career out of a sense of duty and not choice, easier access to the Court and all its favours, expectation/temptation to get involved in various political factions, clubs, campaigns, sponsorships, suspicion - real or imaginary - of shady deals - that kind of thing. Not every wealthy man aspired to that kind of life.
As Elizabeth wrote to Mrs Gardiner, thank you for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars. It doesn't seem like it would be that big of a deal, but different burdens in different eras, I guess.
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