Sentence:  <WSD>Esquires</WSD> and gentlemen are confounded together by Sir Edward Coke, who observes that every <WSD>esquire</WSD> is a gentleman, and a gentleman is defined to be one "qui arma gerit", who bears coat-armour, the grant of which was thought to add gentility to a man's family. It is indeed a matter somewhat unsettled what constitutes the distinction, or who is a real <WSD>esquire</WSD>; for no estate, however large, per se confers this rank upon its owner. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A male member of the gentry ranking below a knight.