MARSHAL, or MARESCAL, (marescallus), primaril-
Marshal marily denotes an officer who has the care or the command of horses. Nicod derives the word from polemarchus, "master of the camp;" Matthew Paris from Martis senescallus. In the old Gaulish language, march signified "horse;" whence mareschal might signify "him who commanded the cavalry." Other derivations have been given by different authors; and the name itself has been applied to officers of very different employments.
MARSHAL of France, the highest dignity of preference in the French armies under the old government. The dignity of marshal came to be for life, though at its first institution it was otherwise. They were then only the king's first ecuyers under the constable; but in time they became the constable's lieutenants in the command of the army, the constable himself being then become captain general. At first they were but two in number; and their allowance was but 500 livres per annum in time of war, and nothing in time of peace; but in the reign of Francis I. a third was added; Henry II. created a fourth. Since it has been various; Louis XIV. increased it to 20. Their office at first was, to marshal the army under the constable, and to command in his absence. They did then what the marshals de camp do now; to which last they have given their title, and the least considerable part of their authority.
Earl MARSHAL of Scotland. His office was to command the cavalry, whereas the CONSTABLE commanded the whole army. They seem, however, to have had a sort of joint command, as of old all orders were addressed "to our constable and marischal." The office of earl marischal has never been out of the noble family of Keith. It was reserved at the Union; and when the heritable jurisdictions were bought, it was in the crown, being forfeited by the rebellion of Geo. Keith, earl marischal, in 1715.
Earl MARSHAL of England, is the eighth great officer of state. This office, until it was made hereditary, always passed by grant from the king, and never was held by tenure or sergeantry (by any subject), as the offices of lord high steward and lord high constable were sometimes held. The title is personal, the office honorary and officinary. They were formerly styled lord marshal only, until King Richard II. June 20. 1397, granted letters patent to Thomas Mowbray, earl of Nottingham, and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, by the name and style of earl marshal; and further, gave them power to bear in their hand a gold truncheon, enamelled with black at each end; having at the upper end of it the king's arms engraven thereon, and at the lower end his own arms.
King James I. was pleased, by letters patent, dated August 29th 1622, to constitute Thomas Howard, earl of Arundel and Surrey, earl marshal for life; and the next year, the same king granted (with the advice of the privy-council) letters patent, wherein it was declared, that during the vacancy of the office of lord high constable of England, the earl marshal had the like jurisdiction in the court of chivalry, as both constable and marshal jointly ever exercised. See CHIVALRY, Court of.
On the 19th of October 1672, King Charles II. was pleased to grant to Henry Lord Howard, and the
heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, the office and dignity of earl marshal of England, with power to execute the same by deputy or deputies, in as full and ample a manner as the same was heretofore executed by Henry Howard, Lord Maltravers, late earl of Arundel, Surrey, and Norfolk, grandfather to the said Henry Lord Howard; or by Thomas Howard late duke of Norfolk, grandfather to the said Thomas Howard, late earl of Arundel, Surrey, and Norfolk; or by Thomas Howard duke of Norfolk, grandfather of the said Thomas Howard duke of Norfolk; or by John Mowbray duke of Norfolk, or any other earl marshal of England; with a pension of 20l. each year, payable out of the hanaper office in chancery; and on default of the issue-male of the said Henry Lord Howard, with limitation to the heirs male lawfully begotten of the body of the said Thomas Howard earl of Arundel, &c.; and, on the default of such issue-male, to descend in like manner to the heirs male of Thomas late earl of Suffolk; and, on default of his issue-male, to the heirs male of Lord William Howard, late of Naworth in the county of Cumberland, youngest son to Henry Howard late duke of Norfolk; and, on default of his issue-male, to Charles Howard earl of Nottingham, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten.