grown on PLANTATIONS owned by a ‘plantocracy’ and worked by slaves from WEST AFRICA. Barbados was a ‘proprietary colony’ (colony held by owners under the Crown). A House of Assembly was founded in 1639. Slaves outnumbered free men after 1650.
A major slave revolt occurred in 1816, and emancipation was granted in 1834. Barbados became a CROWN COLONY in 1885. The Assembly was elected by universal suffrage from 1951. Barbados belonged to the Federation of the West Indies 1958–62 and became independent in 1966 (with the British monarch as head of State). Approx. population in 1921, 156,000; in 1965, 244,000.
BARBER, ANTHONY(b. 4 July 1920 at Hessle, Yorkshire, England; d. 16 Dec. 2005 at Ipswich, Suffolk, England, aged 85). A tax barrister, Barber was a Conservative MP (1951–64, 1965–74), and held posts in the British government in the 1950s–60s. He was Party chairman 1967–70. In 1970 he succeeded Ian MACLEOD as chancellor of the Exchequer, under Edward HEATH. He initially reduced public spending, but fear of rising unemployment prompted a reflationary Budget (March 1972). The ensuing ‘Barber boom’ (1973) resulted in accelerating INFLATION, a statutory INCOMES POLICY, a MINERS’ STRIKE and the government’s downfall. Barber left politics in 1974 and was created Lord Barber.BAREBONE’S PARLIAMENTIn England, 1653, during the Commonwealth, a single‐chamber assembly which replaced the RUMP PARLIAMENT. Its 137 members were nominated by the Army Council to represent English counties, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Convened on 4 July, it surrendered power to Oliver CROMWELL on 12 Dec. after moderates became alarmed by demands for radical reform of law and tithes. The Parliament’s nickname, derived from London MP and preacher Praise‐God Barebone, was intended to defame the assembly as a body of religious fanatics. See also COMMONWEALTH AND PROTECTORATE.BARING, EVELYN(b. 26 Feb. 1841 at Cromer, Norfolk, England; d. 29 Jan. 1917 at London, England, aged 65). From a banking family, Baring became a financial administrator in Egypt (1876–80; controller‐general of finance from 1879), and India (1880–3). In 1883, following Great Britain’s intervention, he was appointed consul‐general to EGYPT, becoming effectively its ruler. He reformed Egypt’s finances and introduced agricultural, social and legal improvements. He supported reconquest of SUDAN (undertaken 1896–8) and creation of a condominium (jointly ruled country). Baring was created Lord Baring (1892), Viscount Cromer (1899) and earl of Cromer (1901). He retired in 1907.BARLOW, WILLIAM
(b. c.1480 in Essex, England; d. 13 Aug. 1568 at Chichester, Sussex, England, aged about 88). Originally an Augustinian canon, by 1535 Barlow supported Church reform (see REFORMATION, ENGLAND) and was appointed prior of Haverfordwest (SW Wales) by Anne BOLEYN. In 1536 he became bishop of ST ASAPH (NE Wales), then of ST DAVIDS (SW). He attacked popular devotion to relics, saints and pilgrimages.
Under King EDWARD VI, Barlow moved (1548) to Bath and Wells (SW England), but resigned after MARY's accession (1553). Imprisoned, he recanted and then fled abroad. Under ELIZABETH, he was bishop of Chichester (S England) from 1559. His five daughters all married bishops. See also REFORMATION, ENGLAND/WALES.
BARNETT, SAMUEL(b. 8 Feb. 1844 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, England; d. 17 June 1913 at Hove, East Sussex, England, aged 69). A Church of England clergyman who ministered in London from 1867, Barnett helped to found the CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY (1869). In 1884 he started Toynbee Hall in the deprived East End where university students could live among the poor (he was warden 1884–1906). It inaugurated the UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT MOVEMENT. Barnett also catered for spiritual and recreational deprivation by founding the Whitechapel Art Gallery (1901) and supporting country holidays for slum children.BARONIn England, term used in the late 11th–14th centuries for an important tenant‐in‐chief of the king (derived from Latin baro, meaning ‘man’). Barons, including EARLS, comprised the upper NOBILITY. In the 13th century they were known collectively as the ‘baronage’. During the 14th century the summoning of earls and selected barons to PARLIAMENT, and the creation of new ranks of nobility, transformed the status of baron to that of the lowest rank in the PEERAGE (lords summoned individually to Parliament). See also SOCIAL STRUCTURE, ENGLAND 1066 TO 16TH CENTURY.BARONETA hereditary status and title bestowed in England and Wales from 1611, ranking below the PEERAGE (nobility) and above KNIGHTS (i.e., part of the GENTRY). It was created by King JAMES VI/I as a means of raising money to tackle the Crown’s shortage of funds after the failure of the GREAT CONTRACT. Income from sales of baronetcies was used to defend English settlements in ULSTER (N Ireland). Baronetcies were conferred for Ireland from 1619, and for Scotland and NOVA SCOTIA from 1625.BARONIAL CONFLICT AND WARS
In England, struggles 1258–67 between King HENRY III and BARONS alienated by Henry’s reckless foreign policy, oppressive government and favouring of foreign relatives.
On 30 April 1258, after Henry had supported a relative in a dispute against a baron, leading nobles demanded reform of government (see LUSIGNANS). In June Henry accepted, by oath, the Provisions of OXFORD which subordinated his government to an elected Council and required co‐operation with PARLIAMENT. The reforms were extended in Oct. by the Provisions of WESTMINSTER. The Council collapsed in late 1260, enabling Henry to regain authority (e.g., appointing supporters to offices). On 12 June 1261 a papal bull was published which released Henry from his oath, causing the reformer Simon de MONTFORT to go abroad (July).
In 1263 Montfort returned (April), and reformers attacked royalists’ estates. The Provisions of Oxford were reimposed (16 July), with Montfort dominating government. During the summer, some reformers (e.g., Roger BIGOD) changed sides. On 1 Nov. a truce was agreed and Louis IX of France was asked to arbitrate. He condemned the reformers (Mise of Amiens, 23 Jan. 1264), yet opposition continued. On 14 May, at the battle of Lewes (Sussex), reformers captured Henry and his heir Edward. Montfort effectively ruled in the king’s name, looking to Parliament for support.
In 1265 Edward escaped (May), rallied support and defeated opponents at Evesham, Worcs. (4 Aug). Montfort was killed. Henry conciliated opponents with moderate reforms and land restitution (see KENILWORTH, DICTUM OF), though fighting continued until July 1267.
BARONY, IRELAND
Name used from the 16th century for subdivisions of SHIRES (or counties), totalling about 250. They are based on the Gaelic Irish unit the trícha cét (meaning ‘thirty hundred’), which refers to military musters and is recorded as a territorial unit from the 11th century. It has been suggested that most of the territories represent the areas of small kingdoms (see TÚATH).
After the Anglo‐Norman invasion (1169–70), the trícha cét was equated with the Welsh CANTREF. From the late 17th to 19th centuries baronies were important in county‐based government – used for assessing public works and levying CESS. In 1715 the Irish Parliament authorized the appointment of constables for baronies. See also LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES, IRELAND.
BARONY, SCOTLAND
A basic unit of local (judicial) administration from the 13th century to the 18th; until the later 15th century, most were roughly equivalent to parishes, and probably contained a dozen or so FERMTOUNS. Many were continuations of early THANAGES and 12th‐century knights' fees.
Formal development into baronies resulted from royal grants of judicial powers (over, e.g., theft, assault, accidental homicide). There were over 400 baronies c.1400, and more than 1000 in the 17th century. Barons' powers were reduced in the 1650s, and although they were not abolished by the Heritable Jurisdictions Act (1747), they fell into disuse. See also LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES, SCOTLAND; LAIRD.
BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY EVICTIONSIn England and Wales, 1662, following RESTORATION of the monarchy, the resignation of about 1000 clergy from their Church of ENGLAND livings for rejecting the Church’s ceremonies as prescribed in the newly revised PRAYER BOOK. Under the 1662 Act of Uniformity, clergy were
