Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...

A posthumous Discourse concerning the Etymologie, An∣tiquity, and Office of Earl Marshal of England. By Mr. Camden.

SUCH is the uncertainty of Etymologies, that Arguments drawn from them are of least force, and therefore called by an ancient Grecian, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as proofs only, which do nothing but set a good face on the matter. Never∣theless, when as Plato will have them admitted, if there be a consonancy and correspondence between the name and the thing named, we will produce three Etymologies of this word Marshall, wherein the name is or hath been answerable to the Office in some part or other in signification. For the word, Mare∣scallus is used for a principal officer in the court, in the camp for a Ferrar, and an Harbinger. The Germans, from whom the word was first borrowed, called him Marescalk; the Latins mollifying the same, Marescallus; the office, Marescalcia: The French Marescaux; and we Marshall. All deduced from the German Marescalk; which according to the received opinion is compounded of Mare, or mark, which do both, say they, signify an Horse; and Scalk, which doth not signifie skilful, as some will, but an Officer, Ser∣vant, or Attendant. So Godschalck is interpreted God's servant; and in the old German nunc dimittas servum, this word Servus is translated Scalk. So that joyntly the word notifieth an officer and attendant about horses. This Etymology is confirmed first, ex legi∣bus Allamannorum, si quis Marescallus, qui 12 equis prae∣est, occidit, 4. solidis componat. Then out of Chonia∣tes, who writing the life of Baldwin, Emperor of Constantinople, saith, that this word Marescaldos noteth him, whom the Grecians called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which, according to the name, doth signifie him which marcheth foremost before the Army. To maintain this Etymology, they say, it may not seem strange, that so high an office as it is now, should be derived from horses; when as all preferment in anci∣ent time, as one saith, had the first rise from the Sta∣ble; and such as were there brought up, proved most serviceable horsemen; and many other names, which time hath advanced to high dignity, had very mean and small originals. But this Etymology lieth open to some objections, as, that the Marshals now have no command over the horses or stable; but certain it is, that in divers offices, albeit the functions are altered, the name remaineth. And as Varro writeth, Equiso among the Latins doth not only signifie Master and Ruler of the horses, but also of all other things com∣mitted to his charge; so accordingly it is to be sup∣posed, this word Marshal, not only to signifie an Officer of Horses, but also of other Civil and Mili∣tary matters appropriated to his function. It is said also, that Mare doth not signifie an Horse in the Ger∣man tongue, but as in ours, that which is more ig∣noble in that kind, and that names are to be imposed à potiori. And albeit it is most certain out of Pausa∣nias, that Mare signified an Horse to the old Gauls, as it doth still to our Britains their descendants; yet they say it is unfitting to compound one word of two different Languages. But Quintilian sheweth the con∣trary in Epirhedium, Anti-cato, Biclinium, Epitogium, being compounded of Greek, Latin, and other Tongues; and to this Etymology do they incline, which will have the Marshal to be called in Latin, Magister Equitum, rather than Tribunus Militum.

There is also another deduction of Marshal from Maer, the Latin word Major, and Sala, which sig∣nifieth a Kings-Court in the High-Dutch; for that they were Magistri domus, and principal officers for ordering the Court.

There is a third derivation of this name from Marke, as it signifieth a Marche, bound, or limit, and Scalck, which is Minister, as we said before. From Mark in this sense we have Marchio, for a Lord Marcher, and Mark-grave in the very same sense: and there∣fore he relieth upon this opinion, which calleth the Marshal in Latin, Praetor comitatus Augustalis, as be∣ing the civil Judge within the limits of the Court, which we call now the Verse; for that the Verge or Rod of the Marshal's authority sretcheth so far: and they also, which have the Marshal call'd in Latin, Desig∣nator castrorum: for it was incident to his office to be as it were an harbinger, and to appoint limits and lodgings both in war and peace. Of these Etymo∣logies happily one may be true, happily none.

When this word entred first into England, I can∣not resolve. I do not find that our Saxons used it, or any other name equivalent unto it, unless it was Stal-here, which signifieth Master of the Stable; but that may seem rather answerable to the name of Con∣stable; yet Esgar, who was Stal-here to King Edward the Confessor, writeth himself in a donation to Wal∣tham, Regiae Procurator aulae; whereas William Fitz-Osborne, in the Chronicles of Normandy, is called the Marshal. I believe that William Tailleur the Author spake according to the time he lived in, and not according to the time he wrote of. Fauchet, a learned-man in the French Antiquities, saith, the name of Marshal was first heard about the time of Lewis le Grosse, who was in time equal to our King Henry the first, and Stephen of England, and from thence doubtless we borrowed that name as many other. The first author that used the word in Eng∣land, was Petrus Blesensis, Chancellor, as he was then called, but indeed Secretary to King Henry the second of England, who used this word Marescallus for an Harbinger, in these words, complaining of them, Epistolâ 14. Vidi plurimos, qui Marescallis ma∣num porrexerunt liberalem, hi dum hospitium post longi fatigationem itineris cum plurimo labore quaesissent, cum adhuc essent eorum epulae semicrudae, aut cum jam fortè sederent in mensâ, quandoque etiam cum jam dormirent in stratis, Marescalli supervenientes in superbiâ & abusi∣one

abscissis equorum capistris ejectisque foras sine delectu & non sine jactura sarcinalis, eos ab hospitiis turpitèr ex∣pellebant.

The first mention, that I find of a Marshal in re∣cord, is in the red book of the Exchequer, written in the time of Henry the second, which hath reference unto the time of King Henry the first: Regis avus, that is, Henry the first, fecffavit Wiganum Marescal∣lum suum de tenementis, quae de eo tenuit per servitium Marescalciae, suae, & Rex reddidit ea Radulpho filio Wi∣gani, tanquam Marescallo suo. What Marshal this was, I cannot determine. The second mention of Mar∣shal is in the first of King John, and hath also a re∣ference to the time of King Henry the first, in this Charter, where King John confirmeth the office of Marshal, unto William Marshal Earl of Pembroke, in these words: Johannes Dei gratiâ &c. Sciatis nos concessisse, & presenti nostrâ carta confirmasse dilecto & fideli nostro Willielmo Marescallo Com. de Pembroco & haeredibus suis Magistratum Marescalciae curiae nostrae, quem Magistratum Gilbertus Marescallus Henrici Regis avi Patris nostri & Joannes filius ipsius Gilberti disrati∣onaverunt coram praedicto Rege Henrico in Curiâ suâ con∣tra Robertum de Venoiz, contra Willielmum de Hast∣ings, qui ipsum magistratum calumniabantur; & hoc ju∣dicio, quia defecerunt se à recto, ad diem, quem eis consti∣tuerat praedictus Rex Henricus in Curiâ suâ, sicut carta ipsius Regis, quam vidimus, testatur.

Here is to be noted out of these authentick Records, there were Marshals in the time of King Henry the first, answerable in time to the first Marshals of France, that there were more Marshals than one; and that William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, had only Magistratum Marescalciae Curiae, that is, Marshal of the King's House: which office was so long in∣vested in that family, that it gave them a sirname; as also to other families, which have been Marshals in great houses. And lastly, that it was given to William Marshall and his heirs, and so it was cha∣lenged by them as hereditary. Nevertheless it is certain, that the next succeeding King, Henry the third, took away that office from Richard Marshall, the son of the said William; for among the grievan∣ces of the said Richard, he complained, as ap∣peareth in the History of Thomas Rudborne, that the King, in these terms, spoliavit me officio Marescalciae, quod haereditariò ad me pertinet & possedi, nec aliquo ad illud me restituere voluit requisitus. Happily upon this ground, which Rigordus the French Historian writ∣eth in this age of the Marshalship of France, Haeredi∣taria successio in talibus officiis locum non habet. And after he was dead, and his brethren, his five sisters and co∣heirs, which, as appeareth by the partition, had eve∣ry one a thousand five hundred and twenty pounds yearly rent, began to contend about the office of the Marshalship, and the Mannor of Hamsted-Marshal, in the county of Berkshire, belonging to the same; but Roger Bigod, son of the eldest daughter, with great difficulty obtained the same. For as Matthew Paris writeth 1246. Multiplicatis intercessionibus concessa est Marescalcia cum officio & honore Comiti Rogero Bigod ra∣tione Comitissae filiae Comitis magni Willielmi Marescalli primogenitae, matris suae. His nephew, Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, was enforced to surrender to King Edward the first this office, with all his inheritance in England, Ireland, and Wales, for certain insolen∣cies against the King: and this Roger, or his Unkle Roger, was he, which first stiled himself, as pride is highest when downfall nearest, Marescallus Angliae; whereas all his Predecessors used no other stiles than the simple addition of Marescallus, as Gulielmus, Richardus, Gilbertus Marescallus, Comes Pembrociae. And no doubt, but as the greatness of William Mar∣shall the elder, called the Great Earl, which he had gotten in the minority of King Henry the third, gave the first greatness to this office; so there was a far greater access of dignity thereunto, when King Ed∣ward the second granted to Thomas of Brotherton, his half Brother, a Prince of the blood, the lands of Bigod, and shortly after the office of Marshalship with the rights thereunto belonging, and performing the service accordingly. After the death of Thomas of Brotherton, we find William Montacute Earl of Sarum, Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, Hen∣ry Lord Piercy, John Fitz-Alane Lord Matravers, Thomas Holland Earl of Kent,, and then Thomas Mowbray, right heir unto Brotherton, had the office of Marshall of England, with the name, stile, title, state, and honour granted unto him in the 20th year of King Richard the second, de assensu Parliamenti sibi & haeredibus suis masculis de corpore. Yet nevertheless, the next year after, he being banished, it was granted to Thomas Holland Duke of Surrey, as amply as it was to him; that he might as well bear in the pre∣sence and absence of the King, a Rod of Gold, en∣ameled at both ends, with the King's Arms in the upper end, and his own in the lower end. After∣wards, according to the alteration of times, some∣times to the Mowbrays, and the Howards, descend∣ed from them; sometimes others, by interruptions upon sundry occasions, enjoyed the same dignity.

What belonged to that office anciently, I have read nothing, but that at a coronation of King Ri∣chard the first, William Marshal Earl of Pembroke, carried the Royal Scepter, which had the Cross on the top; and at the coronation of Queen Eleanor, Wife to King Henry the third, the Marshal carried a Rod before the King, made way both in Church and Court; and ordered the Feast, as Matthew Pa∣ris writeth. There is a Treatise carried about the Office of the Earl Marshall in the time of King Hen∣ry the second, and another of the time of Thomas of Brotherton; where I find confusedly what belonged to them in court and camp: as in court, that at the Coronation the Marshall should have the King's horse and harness, and the Queen's palfrey; that he should hold the Crown at the Coronation; that he should have upon high feasts, as the high Usher, the table∣cloths and cloth of state for that day; that he keep the hall in quiet; that he should bring offenders within the Verge before the high Steward; that he should assign lodgings, and when the King passed the sea, each man to his ship; that he should have for his li∣very three winter robes at Christmas, and three sum∣mer robes at Whitsuntide; that he should allow but twelve common women to follow the Court, (in which service, I suppose, he had Hamo de Gaynton his substitute, which was called Marescallus meretricum; by which service he held the mannor of Cateshall in the County of Surrey) that he should have a Deputy in the Kings-Bench; that he should keep Vagabonds from the Court. In Camp, that he should lead the for∣ward; that the Constable, with him, should hold courts in camp; that he should have certain special forfeitures, as armour and weapons of Prisoners; to appoint lodgings; to be abroad till all be lodged; to have fees of armourers and victuallers of the camp; to have all the armour and whole cloth of towns ta∣ken by composition; to have ransom of Prisoners escaped, if they be taken again; with many such like, too long here to be specified: and in peace and war the Marshal should execute the Constables command∣ments in Arrests and Attachments; and that appear∣eth by the process between Grey and Hastings. In the second statute of Westminster, held 13 Ed. I. when many grievances of the Marshall were complained of, it was ordained in these words, Marescallus de quo∣libet Comite & Barone integram Baroniam tenente, de uno palfrido sit contentus, vel de pretio, quale antiquitus per∣cipere consuevit, ita quod si ad homagium, quod fecit, pal∣fridum vel pretium in formâ praedictâ ceperit, ad militiam suam nihil capiat. Et si fortè ad homagium nihil ceperit, ad militiam suam capiat. De Abbatibus & Prioribus in∣tegram baroniam tenentibus, cum homagium aut fidelita∣tem pro Baroniis suis fecerunt, capiat palfridum vel pre∣tium, ut praedictium est. Hoc idem de Archiepiscopis & Episcopis observandum est. De his autem, qui partem Baroniae tenent, sive sint Religiosi, sive Seculares, capiat secundum portionem partis Baroniae, quam tenent. De Re∣ligiosis tenentibus in liberam elymosynam, & non per Ba∣roniam vel partem, nihil de caetero exigat Marescallus. And about that time were set down all the Droites belonging to the Earl Marshall in a Roll, which was laid up in the Wardrobe; but that vanished shortly after. For as it appeareth by Record, in the 18th of Edward the third, the Kind directed a brief to the

Barons of the Exchequer, of the fees, and all things else belonging to the office of Earl Marshal; and they returned in their certificate, annexed to the Brief, nothing but certain petty allowances of money, wine, candles for the Marshal and Magister Marescallus, and for the four Marshals for every day, qua faciant her∣bergeriam. And out of the red book of the Exche∣quer, they certifie in these words: De officio Mare∣scalciae survivit Gilbertus Mareschal, Comes de Strigal, cujus est officium tumultus sedare in domo Regis, libera∣tiones hospitiorum facere, ostia aulae Regis custodire. Ac∣cipit autem de quolibet Barone facto Milite à Rege & quolibet Comite eâ die palfredum cum sella. And by an inquisition taken about the 11th of Henry the fifth, it appeareth, that there belongeth to the Earls Mar∣shals disposing the office of the Marshal in the King's-Bench, the Marshal of the Exchequer, with the office of the Cryer before the Marshal, and the Marshal of the Hall of the King's House, and some other such places. But the greatest encrease of the authority of this Office hath been, since there were no Constables: for the Kings since that time have referred many matters to them, which in former times were proper to the Constable. Neither had the Marshal any pre∣cedency in respect of his place, until King Henry the eighth, in the 31st year of his reign, by Parliament assigned him place next to the Lord Constable, and before the Lord Admiral.

William Camden.